Job Announcement

Fairfax County boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. County government sits at the heart of this dynamic community of almost 1.2 million residents and seeks employees eager to bring their energy, enthusiasm and skills to serve Fairfax residents and to shape the county's future. Land Development Services (LDS) is the steward of the county's land development and building construction codes and regulations, and its staff members embrace their essential role as "first preventers." Every day, through careful review, permitting and inspection of site and building construction, our staff protect the health, safety, welfare, and environment for those who live in, work in, and visit Fairfax County. Our department also serves as the gateway to much of the county's economic development, reviewing over 30,000 building and site plan submissions, issuing nearly 70,000 building permits, and conducting over 220,000 building and site inspections each year. If you would like to join a creative, collaborative, innovative team doing meaningful work, then LDS is the place for you.

The successful candidate must be solution-oriented and decisive, seeking creative ways to facilitate permitting, site, and building-related inquires and submissions during the review and approval of building and site-related plans and permits, while providing excellent customer service to applicants, residents and other stakeholders to the development processes. This position works in concert with the Customer Experience Team (CET) Manager, the Permit Services Branch Manager, the Permits & Land Disturbance Supervisor and the Customer and Technical Support Center (CTSC) Chief, along with other senior staff to develop and implement strategic goals.

The position:

• Provides technical and customer support to Land Development Services (LDS), Customer and Technical Support Center (CTSC) business areas.
• Maintains a strong working knowledge of appropriate codes, ordinances and policies used in the review of permit applications, supporting documentation and related data.
• Assists customers with and/or evaluates complex applications for commercial and residential building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, site-related plans and other plans, permits and submissions that are processed by the CTSC, for all types of construction that occur in the county to ensure compliance with all applicable codes.
• Staff’s various customer service counters, including assisting and directing customers in person and via the telephone, email and virtual services.
• Assists in the development of comprehensive training programs to support applicable business areas.
• Serves as a single point of contact to coordinate the permitting process of complex projects, as appropriate.
• Provides solutions to complex and confusing code information related to the permit process and advises applicants of the submission requirements, required documentation, and required approvals for their specific project.
• Supports efforts to identify solutions to gaps in customers service, collaborating with other sections and divisions, as needed.
• Interprets, administers, and ensures the consistent application of state and county codes related to the permit application process.
• Provides process improvement feedback.
• Prioritizes work assignments.
• Performs other tasks and duties, as assigned.
• Liaison with other departments and agencies.
• Position may include a supervisory role.

Note: This job announcement will be used to fill multiple positions.
The positions are available in the Permit Application Center and the Customer Experience Team, both within (CTSC).

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)
Performs advanced engineering technical support work in plan and permit review and acceptance and other engineering technical support programs for compliance and industry requirements under limited supervision;
Performs quality control and assurance review of technical programs to triage common errors and to ensure compliance;
Independently develops and presents recommended course of actions to resolve project issues, non-compliance and mediates sensitive complaints;
Responds to citizen inquiries and requests for work through site investigation, review of records and plans, research of prior complaints to determine program levels of service and recommends agency actions;
Investigates problems or malfunctions, and recommends solutions or corrective actions;
Scales plans using architect or engineering scale or planimeter for highly complex or irregular structures to determine square footage for fee calculations;
Determines the use group of the structure, type of construction and whether related equipment permits are required;
Scales site-related plans and calculates disturbed and impervious areas to ensure if projects are eligible for waivers and/or exceptions;
Engages in safe working practices and complies with safety programs and guidelines;
Reports unsafe working conditions;
Complies with safety competencies.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Thorough knowledge in the practical application of engineering science and technology to include applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design, maintenance, or production of approved plans, permits or construction and maintenance of structures, facilities or equipment;
Thorough knowledge of county, state and federal laws, codes and regulations pertaining to the appropriate technical field;
Knowledge of occupational hazards and applicable safety practices;
Ability to comprehend and comply to safety practices;
Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems;
Ability to use relevant information and judgment to evaluate whether plans, specifications, permits or inspection results are in compliance with standards or meet specification requirements;
Ability to estimate technical and/ or resource requirements for development of projects;
Ability to review and interpret technical documents such as maps, plans or schematics to plan work;
Ability to design, analyze and effectively use systems, components and methods within the framework of quality control and continuous improvement;
Ability to enter and maintain information utilizing software or adaptive devices;
Ability to create graphical representations;
Ability to select, utilize and maintain tools and technology, including adaptive tools and new technology to facilitate work or a process;
Ability to collect, compile, and interpret research data;
Ability to respond to sensitive complaints, provide detailed technical explanations and resolve sensitive complaints;
Ability to maintain effective work relationships and work in a team environment;
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to: high school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus four years of engineering technical support work. Click here to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to"

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
VDHCD Permit Technician Certification within 12 months of employment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong customer service skills and/or public contact experience.
• Advanced knowledge/experience with Fairfax County permitting and plan review processes.
• Experience with electronic permitting and plan review software.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate technical topics to internal and external customers.
• Ability to read/interpret construction documents.
• Familiar with the Virginia Construction Code, the ICC Family of Codes, the local Building Code and/or other Fairfax County Ordinances.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Position requires incumbent to be mobile with periods requiring sedentary tasks. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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