Permit Services Specialist

City of Pasadena, CA

$78K — $92K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED equivalent; Associate's degree preferred.
  • 5-7 years of experience in building permit and/or e-permit processing.
  • Experience with EnerGov and Bluebeam or similar systems.
  • Ability to lead and provide guidance to a team of permit technicians.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to resolve customer issues.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and guide the Permit Center staff with scheduling and monitoring work.
  • Resolve customer complaints and issues related to the permit process.
  • Oversee and analyze workflow processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Coordinate address assignments and changes for new construction.
  • Manage records access requests and compliance with Public Records Act.
  • Prepare reports and maintain cooperative relations with stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Valuable experience in municipal government and community development.
  • Opportunity to lead a team in a dynamic department.
  • Engagement in problem-solving with diverse community members.
  • Potential for professional growth within the City of Pasadena.
Full Job Description
Salary : $78,155.17 - $92,823.74 Annually
Location : City of Pasadena, CA
Job Type: 2025 - REGULAR FULLTIME 40+ HRS A WK
Job Number: 27-036
Department: Planning & Community Development
Opening Date: 09/03/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

The City of Pasadena's Planning and Community Development Department is currently seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Permit Services Specialist. The Permit Services Specialist may lead the permit technicians and supports the e-permit services for the Department's Land Management System (LMS). The position is essential in LMS management, ensuring that the LMS is maintained and operated efficiently. The position participates in the work of employees engaged in issuing permits in the Permit Center; assists the Permit Center Manager with the oversight and completion of Public Records Act and Subpoena requests for the Permit Center and Building Division, and performs related administrative duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and has the desire to provide excellent service to internal and external customers. They are comfortable working as the lead person of the permit technicians, skilled at coordinating and overseeing the work and providing training and guidance to Permit Technicians with limited supervision of the e-permitting services. They are excellent at problem-solving and are experienced with adhering to and enforcing established policies and procedures. The ideal candidate will have experience with EnerGov and Bluebeam or similar land management and plan review systems.

Please note: This recruitment is open continuous with first consideration given to those who apply by September 24, 2026. This recruitment may close at any time. Apply today!

Essential Functions
The major responsibilities of this position are listed below. For more detailed information, please review the
  1. Leads, provides work guidance and direction and participates in the work of Permit Center staff; participates in scheduling, assigning and monitoring work of other employees for completeness, accuracy and conformance with City/departmental standards; provides information, instruction and training on work processes, proper uses of equipment and safe work practices; provides input to supervisor on employee work performance and behaviors; estimates personnel, equipment and material requirements for assigned jobs; may order work materials and supplies; assists in ensuring a fair and open work environment in accordance with the City's commitment to equal employment opportunity.
  2. Resolves escalated customer issues and addresses difficult/contentious customer complaints regarding the permit process; communicates complex rules, regulations and policies; assists with permit extensions; assists with the issuance of Temporary and Final Certificates of Occupancy.
  3. Oversees workflow processes and procedures; performs quality assurance to verify customer service techniques are applied properly; recommends changes in policies and procedures; implements and trains employees on new processes and procedures.
  4. Analyzes and identifies parcel map changes; assigns addresses to new construction sites/ suites; reviews change-of-address requests; researches address availability, conducts site visits and coordinates meetings for address assignments.
  5. Coordinates records access requests and release of information in response to Public Records Act and subpoena requests.
  6. Prepares and coordinates a variety of work reports and records; attends meetings; establishes and maintains cooperative working relations with the public, contractors, other utilities and City staff.

Qualification Guidelines
CORE COMPETENCIES
The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

Problem Solving - Ability to resolve constituent's problems independently and efficiently.
Customer Service - Attending to the needs and expectations of customers.
Self-Management - Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.
Oral Communication - Engaging effectively in dialogues.
Attention to Detail - Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  • Graduation from high school or GED equivalent and
  • Five years of progressively responsible experience in building permit and/or e-permit processing;
  • Graduation from an accredited two-year college with an Associate's degree is preferred.

SELECTION PROCESSThe selection process will consist of a training and experience evaluation, written test of analytical skills, the interview panel, department-level interviews The probationary work period is one year this classification is assigned to the LIUNA Bargaining Unit.

VACANCY INFORMATIONThere is currently one vacancy in the Permitting Section of the Planning and Community Development Department.

The resulting eligibility list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in other departments.

Special Requirements
Must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and comply with the City's Motor Vehicle Safety Policy during the course of employment.

International Code Council (ICC) Permit Technician Certification is desired.
01

To further assist us with reviewing your qualifications, please answer the following questions. Please complete all sections of this form truthfully and completely. Your responses will be validated if you are considered one of the most qualified applicants.Please enter your initials to reflect that you have read and understood this statement:
02

What is your highest level of education achieved?
  • High School diploma or equivalent
  • Some college
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's or advanced degree
  • None of the above

03

Please select the best option which describes your responsible experience in building permit and/or e-permit processing.
  • Less than 5 years
  • 5 - 7 years
  • More than 7 years

04

Select the option that best describes the years of experience in supervising, providing work guidance and directions to other team members.
  • Less than 2 years
  • 2 - 3 years
  • More than 3 years

05

Do you possess an International Code Council (ICC) Permit Technician Certification?
  • Yes
  • No

06

Briefly describe your experience in leading team members, as well as a project that you have taken a lead role in to improve efficiency and service.
Required Question

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