PW Permits Reviewer

Salary: $35.61 Hourly
Location : City of Bellingham, WA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26- PW Permits Reviewer
Department: Public Works
Division: Public Works Engineering
Opening Date: 10/23/2026
Closing Date: 11/9/2026 8:30 AM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Local 1937

Nature of Work
Bring your energy and expertise to a fast-paced team that keeps the City moving! You'll review exciting commercial and residential projects, champion safe and reliable infrastructure, and collaborate closely with partners across Whatcom County.
JOB SUMMARY:

Reviews and approves permit applications for various commercial and residential projects within the City rights-of-way. Ensures compliance with water, stormwater, sewer, driveway, right-of-way, street obstruction, and utility installation standards. Provides customer service and technical information related to infrastructure requirements and processes, permit applications, and related issues. Collaborates with and reviews Whatcom County building permits involving City utilities.

For more information, please review the .
SALARY AND BENEFITS INFORMATION:
This position will start at Step 1 ($35.61/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $35.61- $46.46. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can and

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon., Nov 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM Pacific Time
Experience and Training

• Six years of experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work. Formal education or training in engineering technology or related field may substitute year for year for the experience requirement up to a two-year maximum.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. Candidates must submit a three-year driving abstract prior to hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist is required within twelve months of employment.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Selection Process
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
Application Review Process:

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around November 9, 2026.
2. If there are six (6) or more qualified candidates:
   • Applications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around November 20, 2026.
   • The top six (6) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Review will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1, 2026.
3. If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all will be invited to the Oral Board Interviews, tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1, 2026.
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following:
   • If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, the Oral Board Interview will be 100% of overall score. Applicants must have a passing total score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
   • If there are six (6) or more applicants that meet minimum qualifications, the Experience and Training Rating will be 40% of overall score and Oral Board Interview will be 60% of overall score. Applicants must have a total passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works. This position is represented by a union.

If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the and upload it to your application with your DD214.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.
01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.
Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

The Permits Reviewer position requires a minimum of six (6) years of experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work. Up to two (2) years of this requirement may be met through formal education or training in engineering technology or a closely related field. Do you possess a combination of experience and/or education equivalent to six (6) years?

• Yes
• No

03

Have you completed formal education or training in engineering technology or a related field that you would like considered toward the experience requirement? (Education can be substituted for up to a maximum of two years experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work).

• Yes
• No

04

If you are substituting education for work experience, please indicate how many years of experience you are requesting to substitute (Education can be substituted for up to a maximum of two years experience in construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other related technical engineering work) .
Please list your relevant degrees, certifications, or formal training in engineering technology or related fields, including the field of study and completion dates, AND briefly explain how this education relates to the Permit Reviewer role.

05

Please explain how your combination of experience and/or education meets the required minimum of six years of qualifying background for this role. Please include all relevant positions that contributed to your qualifying experience for this role. For each position, include the job title, employer, dates of employment, and a brief description of your primary duties related to construction inspection, surveying, utility operations, or other technical engineering work.
06

Do you have a valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one by time of hire and a good driving record? The successful candidate must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.

• Yes
• No

07

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist is required within twelve (12) months of employment. Please select your current level of certification.

• I currently have a Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist.
• I do not currently have a Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist, but I am willing to obtain it within twelve (12) months from date of hire.
• I am not willing to obtain a Washington State Certification as Cross Connection Specialist within twelve (12) months from date of hire and understand I do not meet minimum qualifications.

08

Please describe your experience preparing technical materials, summaries, or reports. Include one example that shows the type of information you prepared and the purpose it served.
09

Please explain your knowledge of basic civil engineering concepts