Senior Code Administrator

General Summary

Principal code administration staff person for department, and supervisor to other code administrators on staff. This position has full responsibility for preparing, reviewing, coordinating, and disseminating information regarding land use matters and county ordinances, as well as administering and enforcing those ordinances, including but not limited to:  private on-site wastewater treatment systems (POWTS), zoning, floodplain, land division, and airport height limitation.  Work performed and records kept must be accurate, clear, and provided in a timely fashion.  This position is responsible for providing truthful and accurate written and verbal communications.   

Duties and Responsibilities 

Essential Job Functions 

1. Serve as principal code administration staff person for department, directing and coordinating county land use regulatory programs as well as supervising, evaluating, coordinating, directing, assisting, and overseeing professional development of other code administrators on staff.
2. Conduct pre-application conferences and assist the public and members of the development community in preparing applications for permits.  Perform pre- and post-application technical review for all permit types.  Determine whether projects comply with ordinance standards, perform on-site inspections, then approve or deny applications.  Establish and maintain accurate records and prepare detailed reports.  Prepare recommendations and reports to the Board of Adjustment, Resource Planning Committee, and Department Head.
3. Research and disseminate verbally, in writing, and/or in meetings information in response to questions posed by the development community, local government officials, and general public concerning POWTS, zoning, floodplains, land divisions, airport height limitations, and land use matters.  Also proactively disseminate new/educational information to same entities regarding same topics.  Provide educational information and technical support to individual municipalities through attendance at community meetings.
4. Primary responsibility for preparing and scheduling public hearings before the Resource Planning Committee and Board of Adjustment.  Clerk day and/or evening public hearings (up to 4x/month), providing technical information and taking minutes.  Prepare follow-up reports and ordinances for county board and members of the public.  Attend county board regarding reports and ordinances.
5. Maintain surveillance to determine if unauthorized projects have been initiated. Investigate alleged zoning, POWTS, and other violations.  Follow through on violation to a resolution, which may include preparing complaints and evidentiary information for the County Corporation Counsel.  Testify at public hearings and court proceedings as required.
6. Draft documents such as legal notices, restrictive agreements and zoning complaints, chronology of cases, and memoranda to other departments.
7. Cooperate with various state, federal, and local agencies.  Maintain files of other agency applications, permits, and other relevant information. Attend conferences, workshops, or seminars to stay up-to-date on zoning laws, trends, and other information pertinent to ordinance administration.
8. Assist in review/update and implementation of ordinance changes by developing recommendations regarded needed amendments to regulations, permit fees, application forms, etc.

General Job Functions

1. Administer, enforce, and provide information and assistance regarding county land use ordinances and related permits and procedures to members of the public, other governmental units or agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

Requirements 

Training and Experience

1. Graduate of an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Urban or Regional Planning, Natural Resource-related field, Geography, Landscape Architecture, or Public Administration. Master’s Degree preferred.
2. Minimum of eight (8) or more years of progressive work experience in zoning administration.
3. WI Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector within six (6) months of employment. 
4. Possess a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Training and Experience

1. WI Certified Soil Tester within one (1) year of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

1. Ability to effectively supervise the quality of work and performance of professional subordinates. 
2. Knowledge of POWTS, zoning and land division ordinances, laws, regulations, and processes.
3. Ability to study, analyze, and compile information on POWTS and zoning problems and violations and arrive at solutions.
4. Ability to read and interpret POWTS plans, blueprints, construction sketches, aerial photographs, legal descriptions, plats, certified surveys, zoning and floodplain maps.
5. Ability to read, interpret, apply, and explain provisions of ordinances and statutes and apply proper regulations and recognize ordinance improvement needs
6. Ability to secure facts through on-site investigations and inspections and maintain accurate records.
7. Ability to effectively communicate with elected officials, members of the development community, and the general public, utilizing both written and verbal skills. Ability to write detailed reports and correspondence and to make public presentations.
8. Ability to calculate a variety of mathematical problems.
9. General knowledge and use of computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, and GIS.
10. Ability to work independently, with little supervision, including prioritizing and scheduling workloads appropriately and ability to manage a multitude of tasks.

Physical & Working Conditions

Approximately 75% of the zoning-related work and 25% of the sanitarian-related work is performed in a normal office setting.  Over three-quarters of the office work time is spent stationary, manipulating objects with the hands and using medium fingering and near vision; the remaining one-fourth of the time is performed moving around.  About one-half of the office work time is spent talking and hearing. 

Approximately 25% of the zoning work and 75% of the sanitarian work is performed outside of the office, with frequent driving of a motor vehicle required.  Inspections include exposure to wet or humid conditions, high heat and extreme cold, and uneven terrain.  Approximately one-half of the zoning work time outside the office is performed standing or walking using far vision, viewing/looking at objects over twenty (20) feet away.  While conducting on-site zoning inspections, the following are performed:  climbing (stairs, terrain), balancing, bending/twisting and reaching, with low lifting and carrying of up to 10 lbs.  On occasion, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, or crawling is required.  Some exposure to mechanical equipment and fast-moving vehicles when conducting inspections.  With the sanitarian-related work, there is the potential of exposure to hazardous environments (soil cave-ins and/or falling material) and health substances or diseases which can be prevented with the use of proven safety precautions (poison ivy and poison oak).  Sanitarian inspections require the ability to lift up to 70 lbs. repeatedly throughout the workday (septic tank covers). Inspections include frequent climbing, stooping, crouching when inspecting trenches, and collecting soil samples. 

In an effort to provide for continuity of County government and to cope with the problems of the emergency, you may be required to work during a proclaimed state of emergency, consistent with Sec. 323.14, Wis. Stats. and County emergency management plans and programs. 

The above is intended to describe the general content of the requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.