Location
Description
The City of East Palo Alto invites applications for the position of
PLANNING PERMIT TECHNICIAN
Salary: $5,725 - $6,959 Monthly
$33.03 - $40.15 Hourly
Plus an attractive benefits package
Deadline to Apply: Friday, October 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM
The City of East Palo Alto is actively seeking a detail-oriented, welcoming, problem solver for the Full-Time Planning Permit Technician position. The Planning Permit Technician performs a variety of routine to complex administrative and technical support duties related to City planning and in support of related services and activities of the Community and Economic Development Department. This role explains ordinances, requirements, City codes, and department procedures for building contractors, architects, engineers, builders, and the general public pertaining to land development, improvement permit requests and concerns. The selected candidate will receive and review plans and applications for completeness. In addition, they will gather, analyze, and summarize data and perform related duties, as assigned.
This position is expected to be in office Monday through Friday. Upon successful completion of probationary period, hybrid options may be available. This is an open competitive/ promotional recruitment, meaning that it is open to qualified permanent employees and any other applicants who meet the minimum qualifications. Two employment lists will be created for internal promotional and an open list of all other non-current EPA employees.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will:
- Be a proactive thinker and solutions-oriented professional who enjoys providing high quality customer service with a positive team spirit.
- Be a flexible self-starter who is enthusiastic, open to new ideas, creative, and works independently and with a team with minimal supervision.
- Possess the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with numerous deadlines, to multi-task and is detail-oriented and accurate in their work.
- Be an excellent communicator with strong writing and public speaking skills
- Have the ability to receive feedback and adjust.
- Be detail-oriented and have strong analytical skills.
- Possess experience maintaining effective and harmonious working relationships with all levels of staff, elected officials, community partners, and the public.
QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education: Equivalent to graduation from the twelfth (12th) grade. An Associate’s degree (or equivalent) desired. A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning can be substituted for experience.
Experience: Two (2) years increasingly responsible support experience in a planning, zoning, and/or environmental issues.
License and Certifications: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License and a good driving record, at the time of appointment.
ABOUT THE DIVISION: The East Palo Alto Planning Division is responsible for current and long-range planning within the city. The division maintains and updates the city’s General Plan and interprets and enforces the city’s Zoning Regulations. The division provides support to the Planning Commission.
Benefits
The City of East Palo Alto offers a competitive benefits package, including choices among plan options for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability, and CalPERS long-term care insurance.
Union Membership: This position is non-exempt and subject to the overtime rules of the Federal Labor Standards Board and is part of the Service Employees’ International Union group (SEIU).
Health Benefits: For medical coverage, the City contracts with Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente. The city pays 100% employee only Kaiser Coverage and 65% Dependent Coverage up to the Kaiser Coverage Plan. If enrolled in Kaiser High Deductible Plan, the City will contribute $2,000 into a Health Equity Savings Account prorated to date of hire.
Dental insurance: is through Delta Dental. The city pays full cost for employees only.
Vision: Supplemental Insurance with VSP (employee paid)
Long Term Disability: City paid.
Life Insurance: The City pays for coverage of $25,000
Retirement: CalPERS Classic Members - 2.5% @ 55 formula Employee pays 8% employee contribution. * Three (3) year average final compensation.
CalPERS New Members—2% @ 62 formula Employee pays 7.75% employee contribution. * Three (3) year average final compensation
Sick Leave: 3.7 hours biweekly
Vacation: Accrual ranges from 80 – 200 Hours per year based on years of continuous service with the City
Holidays: 13 Paid Holidays per year
Bilingual Pay: Additional $50 / pay period for those asked to translate in languages other than English in order to perform assigned job duties. The candidate will be required to pass a bilingual test.
Tuition Reimbursement: $600-$1,000 per year
Deferred Compensation Plan: The City offers an optional 457 Plan through Mission Square.
Employee Assistance Program: The City of East Palo Alto offers an employee assistance program for employees and dependents that provides counseling and other services for dealing with life’s challenges at no cost to the employee.
Flexible Spending Plan: Voluntary pretax employee contributions up to $2,650 for health care expenses and up to $5,000 for dependent care expenses per year.
Special Instructions
SELECTION PROCESS: It is important to complete all required application materials. Applications will be reviewed in detail to identify the most qualified candidates to move forward to the next phase in the recruitment process. The most qualified will be invited to a practical exam that may include, but is not limited to, a computer typing, written, or multiple-choice exam. Those who score the highest on the exam will advance to the next phase of the recruitment process.
The tentative schedule for the panel interview is November 4, 2025, and the final selection interview is November 11, 2025. Completion of the application is a required part of the application and examination process. “See Resume” will not be acceptable as completing the application.
APPLICATION PROCESS: To be considered for this exciting opportunity, candidates should apply through CalOpps.org. Please follow this link. https://www.calopps.org/city-of-east-palo-alto. Complete an online application and the required supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to provide enough information in the duties and responsibilities section of your application. All materials must be included to be considered as a candidate.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The City of East Palo Alto is not responsible for the failure of internet forms or email in submitting your application. Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process or additional inquiries about the position should advise the Human Resources Team at hr@cityofepa.org or (650) 853-3116.
THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER