Assistant Planner

Why Kirkland?

Incumbent is responsible for performing central cash receipting, utility billing support, sales and collection service activities, and providing general information to the public.

• Provides information about the City's development regulations and policies to the general public and permit applicants - over the telephone, at the counter, through e-mail, and at meetings. Routes inquiries concerning specific development permits to project planners.
• Conducts technical review of single-family and other minor residential and commercial building permit applications.
• Processes minor administrative development applications to ensure compliance with City development regulations and policies, and conditions of approval for prior discretionary development permits.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.

• Accepts development permit applications for filing, reviews for completeness, calculates and receipts fees, enters permits into permit tracking software and routes to supervising planners for further processing.
• Ensures that the public counter information is up to date, including City codes, maps, and forms.
• Supports Code Enforcement, including code analysis and site visits.
• Performs research tasks as assigned.
• Prepares standard City legal documents associated with building permits and minor administrative development applications.
• Works with other members of the Department in collaborative problem solving and completion of tasks.
• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent customer service/public relations skills.
• Knowledge of land use codes and land use practices.
• Ability to analyze code provisions.
• Knowledge of basic environmental functions and values.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to operate personal computer programs, including those involving word processing and permit tracking.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: Experience in providing customer service.
• Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

• Undergraduate degree in planning or related field is desired.
• General knowledge of planning and/or zoning.
• Ability to perform site visits.
• Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to secure a reasonable transportation accommodation to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

Job includes extensive customer contact at the counter and on the telephone, as well as desk work. May involve attendance at meetings in City Hall or occasionally off-site and before or after normal working hours. Reports and correspondence are typically prepared at the computer terminal. This position encounters foot hazards as defined by the WAC, which may include any of the following: falling objects, rolling objects, piercing/cutting injuries, or electrical hazards. Frequent site visits to building sites or vacant properties can occasionally involve rugged and dirty conditions.