Closing Date: Friday, November 14th, 2025, at 9:00 PM (PST) OR When 100 Applications Are Received

Position: Specialist I - Building and Safety

Department: Community Development

Annual Salary: $69,326.40 - $88,480.08

Exempt - Not Eligible for Overtime

Benefits-eligible & 401(a) payment equals 5% of base salary.

General Summary: 

Under general supervision, performs a variety of technical, administrative, and paraprofessional duties in support of the department operation and/or assigned project.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assists with office and administrative support as well as technical support, including preparing correspondence, reports, other communication materials, and responding to customers and the public.
• Accepts, reviews, and processes building permit applications and related documents to ensure they are complete and accurate.
• Reviews minor construction plans for compliance with building, plumbing, electrical, and other codes and ordinances.
• Fee calculation and collection: Calculates, collects, and receipts all required permit fees.
• Customer service: Acts as a primary point of contact for the public, providing information about building codes, the permit process, and assisting with issues at the public counter.
• Enters and maintains data in permit tracking systems, manages files, prepares reports, and helps with public records requests.
• Coordination: Coordinates with other departments, inspectors, and outside agencies on permit-related activities.
• Inspection support: Assists with scheduling inspections, processing inspection reports, and issuing certificates of occupancy.
• Schedules staff training and coordinates travel for the Building & Safety division.
• Serves as the division administrative liaison for Prime Gov and works with the City Clerk to upload information for the division.

The duties listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive.  An employee may also perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor.  This position is considered exempt.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• One (1) year of experience

Core Competencies:

• Problem Solving – Analytically and logically evaluating information
• Learning Agility – Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to work
• Handling Stress – Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Safety Focus – Showing Vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Customer Focus – Attending to the Needs and expectations of customers
• Informing – Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Teamwork – Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Allocating Resources – Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness

Guiding Principles

1. Put people first.
2. Be visionary.
3. Be an ambassador for Lancaster.
4. Be Fiscally Responsible.
5. Be Creative.
6. Always Improving.
7. Be Adaptable and Resilient.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Ascend/Descend stairs/ladders/balance (moderate)
• Position self to bend or twist (frequent)
• To move, transport, position items up to 25 lbs. (frequent)
• Exposed to outdoor weather conditions (infrequent)
• Operate Equipment (none)
• Stationary or squatting position (frequent)

Environmental Factors:

• Work under time pressure (moderate to frequent)
• Interruptions (frequent)

Essential Cognitive Functions:

• Analyze (continuous)
• Computations (frequent)
• Generate Written Work Product (moderate)
• Independent Problem Solving (continuous)
• Interruptions (frequent)
• Maintain Positive Public Relations (continuous)
• Organize (frequent)

Disaster Service Worker:

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100-3109, all public employees are declared disaster service workers subject to disaster service activities as may be assigned to them in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disaster.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

The City of Lancaster will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the City of Lancaster is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting www.dfeh.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/.