At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people "I work for the County of Marin." Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Department of Human Resources website. Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

With an emphasis on customer service, the Community Development Technician I/II (CDT) performs a variety of specialized technical work to support the review of building permits and planning permits. Duties include verifying completeness and accuracy of applications, tracking the progress of applications routed to other divisions and County departments, conducting permit history research, and reviewing minor building and planning permits. Additionally, the CDT educates applicants about the permit process, explains general to moderately complex permitting policies and procedures, and determines and collects fees. Duties for the CDT will include:

• Assists the public and developers with planning, zoning, building, and development questions including the entitlement process.
• Provides customer service at the public counter, by telephone, or by other means of communication regarding applicable ordinances, regulations, requirements, processes, and procedures related to permitting, planning, land use/zoning, and County regulations and requirements.
• Assists staff and the public with the review of a variety of building and land development permit applications for accuracy and completeness to ensure conformance with legal standards, and compliance with County requirements; inputs information into the computer system; routes plans and information.
• Reviews building permit applications, engineering and architecture plans, specifications, and supporting documents for completeness and compliance with County requirements; 
• Explain plan review corrections to architects, engineers and contractors and provides information in response to code-related inquiries;
• Performs a wide range of moderately complex clerical and paraprofessional administrative and office support duties in support of the Department;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Flex recruitment:

There is currently one (1) full-time, regular hire Community Development Technician I/II vacancy in the CDA: Current Planning Division. Candidates will be considered for the level(s) which they meet minimum qualifications.

Hybrid schedule:

The Community Development Agency has embraced a hybrid work schedule that considers that some duties of this position may be performed remotely. However, the successful candidate must be able to report to County facilities for meetings, work assignments, and/or disaster service work upon short notice, as needed and deemed appropriate. During the initial probationary period, the successful candidate may be required to work primarily onsite before establishing a hybrid work schedule.

Our Highly Qualified Candidate has: 

Knowledge of:  Extensive knowledge of construction drawing conventions and general information presented on construction plans; extensive knowledge of legal authority of department with regards to public disclosure, right of entry, denial of services, permits, enforcement actions administrate regulations and appeals processes; basic arithmetic; technical terminology, practices, and techniques.

Skill in: Utilize specialized computer software including permit systems; operating Window Based Personal Computers, copiers, fax machines and scanners.

Ability to: Read and review building plans and specifications for completeness; read land use maps, assessor's maps, plot maps, specifications, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing drawings, and other related documents; use architectural and engineering scales to calculate dimensions and features; calculate and assess fees; independently respond to and resolve complex and difficult day-to-day problems and/or complaints encounter by staff, the public and other in the course of handling office operations and procedures; explain, interpret and apply complicated and specialized information, polices, and governmental guidelines and regulations to departments, staff, the public and/or others; research complex data, compile statistical information, and prepare reports for management; learn, understand and apply various state and local laws, codes, ordinances and regulations; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing; work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner; work independently within established policies and procedures; coordinate, train and supervise staff.

The ideal candidate: has exceptional customer service skills and is able to effectively communicate and explain program requirements and concepts to a diverse client population. This individual has public counter experience assisting customers with processing permits and/or coordinating plan reviews, has the ability to read construction plans (e.g., engineering and architecture plans), and has worked with public agency permitting software. College coursework in a related field is highly desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Applicable codes, regulations, procedures and requirements.
• Zoning regulations.
• Basic construction practices and materials.
• General permit application procedures.
• Permit fee structures and basic mathematical skills.
• Procedures and business systems for cash receipts processing.

Ability to:

• Interpret, explain, and apply relevant departmental and County codes and regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with the public and other staff.
• Assist the public in the completion of permit applications.
• Identify relevant application fees.
• Interpret basic elements of architectural and landscape plans and documentation.
• Utilize computer software applications to carry out assigned duties.
• Establish effective working relationships with co-workers, other employees, engineers, architects, builders, and the public.
• Interpret basic elements of architectural and landscape plans and documentation.

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to qualify is:
 
Community Development Technician I:
One year of clerical or customer service experience in a planning, building, or environmental health related field; OR substantial coursework in planning, building, environmental health, real estate, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or the social or environmental sciences.
 
Community Development Technician II:
One year of experience as a Community Development Technician I or equivalent classification that provides technical information to the public and processes applications and related documents related to planning, building, environmental health, real estate, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or the social or environmental sciences; OR one year of experience dealing with development application and permit processes for a private agency. Education in planning, building, environmental health, real estate, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, the social or environmental sciences, or a closely related field may substitute for up to six months of the required experience.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early in the process and prior to Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific for first consideration. 

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.
 
Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.  If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Stephen Schoengarth, Human Resources Analyst, at 415-473-6946.