CLASS SPECIFICATION

PERMITTING SERVICES SPECIALIST I

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is entry level professional engineering/scientific work in one area of specialization: residential/commercial construction, including fire protection/life safety and zoning/land use; right-of-way construction; sediment control/storm water management; floodplain management and special protection areas; and private water supply/sewage disposal. The incumbent develops proficiency at performing engineering/scientific reviews and analyses and client consultation on engineering/technical construction document review matters. Contacts are with the public and developers, contractors, architects, engineers, attorneys, other professionals, managers, and organizations to exchange information, coordinate case-management and operational matters, and obtain information necessary to provide services. Public service and assistance is provided on demand to clients, individually and in groups, by questioning clients to determine the nature of the assistance needed.

Employees in this class are responsible for the detailed review of construction design plans, drawings, calculations and other technical information for regulation and code compliance, technical and procedural soundness and integrity, impact on surrounding areas, life safety, access by the disabled, etc. Employees meet with clients to discuss requests for exceptions from code requirements, work with clients to resolve interpretive problems with field staff, and facilitate casework in consultation with Permit Technicians, with the assistance/direction of higher level specialists and/or the supervisor. Employees in this class perform recurring assignments independently; however, new situations and deviations or problems are referred to a higher level specialist or supervisor for assistance. The employee's work is reviewed to ensure that results are accurate and that procedures used are correct. Guidelines; which include a multiplicity of standards, procedures, policies, and manuals; are normally available but do not cover all situations encountered in the work. The complexity of the work is characterized by the analysis necessary to determine the interrelationships among information submitted in the plans and technical documents, which may not be clear, in order to determine code compliance. Additionally, consultation with clients is performed in a context of a very high expectation of personalized customer service. The scope of the work encompasses a range of activities which directly affect the provision of permitting services and which affects the proper and safe construction of various types of facilities throughout the County. The majority of the work is performed in an office environment with no unusual physical demands, although it can entail infrequent field visits and travel by automobile. Inherent in the work is the occasional exposure to abusive, aggressive and unpredictable behavior from clients/the general public.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

With guidance from higher level Specialists and/or supervisor, performs engineering and scientific calculations and analyses; reviews engineering plans for compliance with applicable engineering principles and practices and applicable codes, laws, and policies. This work may involve infrequently overseeing/performing investigatory or corrective field investigations or inspections.
Works with engineers, other professionals, and Permit Technicians to assure that individual permitting cases are processed cordially and expeditiously.
Meets with architects, engineers, developers, contractors and property owners to discuss code compliance issues.
May serve on teams created to work on permitting projects of high public interest and technical complexity.
May recommend new/changes in standards, codes, regulations, and procedures to higher level managers.
Prepares analyses, reports, and correspondence on technical/engineering issues.
Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: One year of professional, paraprofessional or technical experience in an engineering/technical field appropriate to the assigned position.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate engineering or technical field.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of and the ability to apply the modern principles and practices of the engineering/technical field to which the position is assigned.
Knowledge of applicable codes, statutes, and regulations related to the engineering/technical field to which the position is assigned.
Knowledge of, or the ability to acquire knowledge of, and a commitment to, customer-service and client-focused service-delivery systems.
Knowledge of, or the ability to acquire knowledge of, computer applications relevant to the assigned engineering/technical field.
Skill in obtaining compliance with applicable permitting, engineering, and code requirements.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships among staff, community representatives, and representatives from other jurisdictions, and the ability to work effectively as a team participant.
Ability to work with managers, employees, clients, and professional peers to discuss problems to achieve agreements.
Ability to acquire the knowledge of the legal mandates which define/limit the public-service mission of the division and department.
Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to conduct field investigations/inspections in conditions of moderate discomforts and risks, and the ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside of the office.

LICENSE:

Private Water Supply/Sewage Disposal: Certification by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland State Board of Environmental Sanitarians as a Registered Environmental Sanitarian.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed or promoted to this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History Review.

Class Established: March 2001
Revised: December 2005