Why It's a Great Opportunity: In this role with Pierce County, you will respond to and investigate citizen complaints and code violations of the Property Maintenance, Public Nuisance, and Land Use Codes. Your efforts will play an integral role in enforcing and/or referring violations to appropriate agencies for compliance with County codes and ordinances. These County codes and ordinances pertain to land use, zoning, signs, shorelines, home occupations, related land use documents, wetlands, illegal dumping, nuisance vehicles, and grading. You will use all enforcement tools such as abatements, boarding, infractions, civil penalties, certificate of non-compliance and criminal charges. To ensure accountability, you will need to write staff reports, and may testify at hearings. The Code Enforcement Section prides itself on being empathetic, team oriented, and always willing to help one another.
Why It's a Great Department: PPW is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provides unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire. We are responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!
Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.
How to be Successful in the Role: Your success will come from utilizing problem solving skills, and the ability to communicate with a diverse group of people. You will learn and utilize the Pierce County Property Maintenance, Public Nuisance, and Land Use Codes, and PALS+. Having the ability to manage competing priorities will also ensure your own success.
Your Future in this Role: Throughout the onboarding process you will meet with your team, supervisor, manager and the PPW senior admin team regularly to discuss expectations, set goals, identify priorities, gain familiarity with current policies, procedures, and strategic measures. Pierce County offers professional development through the Leadership Certification program, robust online learning, and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career.
Core Daily Responsibilities:
- Conduct plan review and approve or fail applications for sign permits; inspect footing/setback and final on sign permits in accordance with approved plans.
- Initiate suspension of permits based upon unsatisfactory compliance with the sign code, zoning code, or related land use codes and ordinances.
- Respond to multiple citizen complaints generated by public service requests as they pertain to signs, animals, zoning, shorelines, home occupations, cottage industries, nuisances, illegal dumping, nuisance vehicles, and other related development issues.
- Conduct field investigations, interview witnesses, research property information, review applicable codes, photograph site and gather evidence on purported violations.
- Resolve sensitive, and at times volatile, complaints through enforcement of codes and mediation between parties.
- Carry a limited Sheriff’s commission which allows incumbents to issue citations and view information from the Criminal Justice Information System.
- Respond to complex questions and information requests generated by the public, other county departments and outside jurisdictions.
- Provide technical information to Development Center staff on questions pertaining to related codes and ordinances or other land use matters.
A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A resume and cover letter are required for this position.
- A four-year degree from a college or university with major course work in Planning, Engineering, Public/Business Administration or related field and one or more years work experience in planning, code enforcement, or related field inspection and enforcement work.
- Additional experience or training may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- ICC or WABO certification
As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.
Satisfactory physical condition, as evidenced by a county approved physical examination, may be required prior to appointment to the position.
To be considered for this opportunity please:
- Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.org/jobs.
- If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
- If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
- Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.
This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.
At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?
