Customer Service Representative

Job Summary
The purpose of this position is to perform customer service and administrative support by providing information to the external and internal customers and processing and tracking submitted applications for the Town of Bluffton (Town).

Essential Job Functions
Provides a high-quality service to Town employees and customers

Answers questions and assists customers in person, electronically, and by phone regarding submission of various applications to the Growth Management Department; provides information related to all applications including but not limited to submittal requirements, review/inspection schedules, fees, process, and other relevant information.

Reviews applications for compliance with minimum submittal requirements; enters data into the application software system; and reviews completed applications for accuracy prior to release.

Verifies contractor licensing for issuance of building permits.

Verifies documentation required for inspection as received; ensures proper attachment in EnerGov software.

Scans application materials into EnerGov software including historical records for archiving purposes.

Reviews and attaches document files to corresponding permits.

Processes fee payments; reconciles daily receipts; and maintains accurate records for accounting purposes.

Processes all Town miscellaneous fee payments including fees for special events permits, rental of recreational facililtiles; election filings etc.

Distributes facility rental keys to public as needed.

Performs emergency and disaster-related duties as assigned.

Maintains files and plan sets to be forwarded to County assessor.

Receives, sorts, processes, and distributes incoming and outgoing mail and packages.

Provides Department administrative back-up for the preparation and distribution of agendas, minutes, and packets for Boards and Commissions.

Establishes and maintain effective working relationships with the supervisors, the general public, Town employees, Town authorities, contractors, developers, architects and other related professionals.

Attends professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of planning, zoning, building code administration, and customer service.

Releases power to utility companies.

Assists Department staff with special projects.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education and Experience:

Associate’s degree; and two (2) years of related work experience in the construction field, a construction office, or a customer service environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses or Certifications:

Valid South Carolina driver’s license.

Special Requirements:

None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of contractor licensing requirements.

Knowledge of the business processes of the Town.

Knowledge of standard office procedures.

Knowledge of the operations of the Town’s Growth Management Department.

Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of urban planning.

Knowledge of community development programs, practices, and procedures as well as municipal government related state and federal application processes.

Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.

Skill in operating a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks including permit tracking software.

Skill in applying ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of job duties.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with supervisors, the general public, Town employees, Town authorities, contractors, developers, architects and other related professionals.

Ability to deal with difficult people in a courteous and professional manner.

Ability to meet deadlines.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions.

Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions.

Ability to research and organize facts.

Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.

Ability to select, evaluate, analyze, and interpret data from several sources.

Ability to be tactful, discrete, and persuasive.

Ability to multi-task.

Physical Demands & Work Environment
The work is medium work. The employee is frequently required to apply 30 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is occasionally required to exert up to 50 pounds of force to move objects. In addition, positions in this classification typically require, feeling, grasping, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, discriminating among sounds, lifting, mental acuity, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, expressing ideas by the spoken word, visual acuity to analyze data/work with color or depth perception/determine accuracy or observe facilities, and walking.

Duties are performed primarily in a moderately noisy business office with copy machines, phones, and printers along with some light foot traffic.

The Town of Bluffton has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.

The Town of Bluffton commits to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees, complying with local, state and federal laws. The Town’s policy is to employ qualified persons without discrimination regarding race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, country of national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political affiliation, ethnicity, or status in any other group protected by federal/state/local law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.