If you are interested in Knightdale’s growing community and would like to contribute to its development, we invite you to apply to join Knightdale’s talented Development Services staff as a Planning Technician. In addition to providing excellent customer service to our citizens and development partners, this position will play a critical part in the development process and will have the opportunity to see projects go through the full development process.

In return for their commitment to serving the community, our staff is provided competitive salaries and a great benefit package. We are seeking a dedicated professional to join the staff of one of the fastest growing municipalities in our capital county. If you embody our core values of Accountability, Respect, and Customer Service, we are eager to meet you. We encourage you to read the detailed job description below and apply for our available Planning Technician position. Come and start something new with the Town of Knightdale.


Under general supervision, performs responsible office and technical duties related to the building permit process, certificates of occupancy, zoning, computer mapping, and the collection of revenues; performs related work as required. This position is classified as non-exempt and is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime regulations.

• Serves as initial Development Services Department point of contact for walk-in customers for planning and zoning related questions.
• Administers the Zoning Compliance Permit review process for new businesses and home occupations.
• Answers questions about general zoning procedures, review cycles, and zoning permits.
• Completes Temporary Banner Permits.
• Coordinates and administers the Town’s building and trade permit processes.
• Accepts, reviews, and processes building permit, trade permit, and various land use permit applications, ensuring completeness and accuracy, routing for review, calculating and invoicing fees, and issuing approved permit documents.
• Reviews building permit application packages and checks for compliance of the following:
  • Plot plans for single family dwellings, alterations, and additions to ensure compliance with established setbacks and easements.
  • Flood Plain/Neuse River Buffer encroachment.
  • Architectural compatibility.
• Works with Wake County Planning, Development, & Inspections (PDI) in the completion of building permit applications and scheduling all necessary inspections.
• Calculates and invoices permit fees, collects revenue for permits, issues receipts as needed, and maintains accurate records.
• Aligns monthly building permit list from Wake County and Knightdale Finance Department, ensuring that accurate reimbursements for services are refunded to the Town of Knightdale by maintaining a spreadsheet of data.
• Prepares reports for building permit revenue at the beginning of each calendar year and fiscal year in a spreadsheet format.
• Acts as clerk to the Land Use Review Board by completing the following:
  • Compiles the official agenda.
  • Distributes the agenda to members of each respective body.
  • Takes notes at each respective meeting to compose the official minutes.
  • Maintains Land Use Review Board members’ attendance records to be used for the Development Services Department’s performance measures reporting.
• Acts as clerk to the Board of Adjustment and assists with Variance and Administrative Appeal applications by completing the following:
  • Compiles the official agenda
  • Distributes the agenda to members
  • Takes notes at each meeting to compose the official minutes
  • Maintains members' attendance records
  • Assists with preparation of orders, staff reports, and other meeting materials as necessary.
• Assists the public in completing various forms and explains procedures, policies, and practices related to the Development Services Department.
• Responds to inquiries, complaints, and requests for information from the general public, developers, and contractors by phone, email, and walk in traffic.
• Calculates and collects a variety of zoning, building permit, and develop impact fees.
• Compiles summary reports of planning, zoning, and financial activities of the Development Services Department on a monthly and annual basis.
• Collects daily Development Services Department revenues and issues receipts for accurate record keeping.
• Transfers all Development Services Department fees to the Town Finance Department ensuring accurate record keeping.
• Serves as the primary back-up to the Planner/Code Enforcement Officer position.
• Performs other duties as required.

Equipment Operated: Computer, calculator, scanner, copier, plotter, telephone, and other assigned office equipment.

Reporting relationship: This position reports to the Assistant Development Services Director.

Working conditions:

• Employee may be subject to the hazards associated with field work in site surveys performing planning and zoning. Activities include both inside and outside environments, extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to loud noises, vibrations, traffic construction site safety issues, electricity and elevated places, chemical fumes, and close confined quarters both above and below ground.
• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operation functions of fingering, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work occasionally exerting 10 pounds of force.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze figures, perform accounting and transcription, operate a computer terminal, and perform extensive reading.

Job context: This position works 40 hours per week during the five day workweek from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position requires attendance at one to two evening meetings each month. Weekends and overtime are sometimes necessary to fulfill job duties upon approval from the Development Services Director. The stress level of this job is low to moderate.

Education: Graduation from a University or Community College supplemented with additional course work or training in zoning, accounting, record keeping, technical writing, computer operation, and computerized mapping, or an equivalent combination of education and training.

Experience: Administrative experience in a professional office setting including computer operation, billing, and revenue collections required; an equivalent combination of training and experience acceptable. Certification as a North Carolina Zoning Official preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of rules and regulations concerning planning, zoning, and computerized mapping.
• Thorough knowledge of the Town’s customer service principles, practices, and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the framework of municipal government.
• Skill in the operation of assigned computer equipment and office machines.
• Basic knowledge of computerized mapping.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Ability to adequately perform all billing and collections functions.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations quickly and accurately.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and members of the public

Special Requirements: Valid NC Driver License.