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.
About the Role:
Under the general supervision of the Manager of Permit Services, the Permit and Land Disturbance Manager oversees the daily operations of the Permit Application Center. This role ensures consistent, high-quality customer service while maintaining compliance with all relevant county, state, and federal codes and regulations.
Key Responsibilities:
Manages daily operations of the Permit Application Center to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
Supervises engineering technicians by directing and prioritizing work assignments and ensuring consistent coverage at the public counter.
Evaluates permit applications for compliance with applicable building codes, standards, and ordinances.
Manages staff that review site-related plans for compliance with county and state-related codes and ordinances, federal flood plan regulations and requirements related to addressing, soil and water quality.
Reviews submitted documentation for adherence to county, state, and federal requirements.
Analyzes building systems and components using basic engineering principles and calculations.
Reviews inspection results, notices of violation, and coordinate with code enforcement staff to support case resolution.
Provides accurate code interpretations and technical information in response to customer and staff inquiries.
Delivers strong customer service through in-person, phone, and virtual channels.
Collaborates proactively with colleagues inside and outside the business unit to support efficient service and timely resolution of customer needs.
Meets all required county, agency, and job-specific training, including emergency management and safety-related courses.
Promotes and models safety best practices; communicate expectations clearly and resolve safety-related issues promptly.
Supports recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes.
Seeks continuous professional development through training, mentoring, and self-study.
Position may be underfilled as a Code Specialist I; the Underfill Requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.
Employment Standards
Minimum Qualifications:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field of study directly related to the industry being regulated such as engineering, architecture, urban planning, biological or environmental science, public administration, law enforcement, legal studies or a related field; plus two years of progressively more responsible complaint resolution and/or code enforcement experience in the industry being regulated. Underfill Requirements This vacancy may be underfilled at the level of Code Specialist I (Grade S20, $58,043 - $101,575). The employment standards for the Code Specialist I are: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field of study directly related to the industry being regulated such as engineering, architecture, urban planning, biological or environmental science, public administration, law enforcement, legal studies or a related field. Click here to view the complete details and KSAs for the Code Specialist I. Upon completion of an underfill agreement (which will require that the employee meet the employment standards stated above in addition to obtaining competencies defined by the hiring agency) the employee will be elevated to the level of Code Specialist II. Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Code Specialist I within one year of the job announcement's closing date. Certificates and Licenses Required VDHCD Permit Technician. Necessary Special Requirements The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in engineering technical support. Experience in the field of land development. Experience leading and/or supervising a team. Strong customer service skills and/or public contact experience. Advanced knowledge/experience with Fairfax County permitting, land disturbance, and plan review processes. Excellent oral and written skills, including ability to effectively communicate technical topics to internal/external customers. Ability to read/interpret construction documents. Familiar with the Virginia Construction Codes, the ICC Family of Codes, the local Building Code and/or other Fairfax County Ordinances like Chapter 124 (Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance).
Physical Requirements:
Ability to operate computer driven equipment. 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 exercise. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for 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. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.
Benefits:
Merit Positions Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:
- Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- LiveWell Program
- Flexible Spending Programs
- Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)Paid Holidays
- Contributory Retirement Plan
- Deferred Compensation
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employees' Child Care Center
- Continuous Learning Opportunities
- Please click here (Download PDF reader) for a summary of our benefits.
NOTE:
Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student AidFor additional details please visit the County's benefits webpage.
Non-Merit Positions:
Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year. Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
Flexible Spending Program:- Deferred Compensation
- Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
- No benefits
