Department:

Planning and Development Services

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community and being the friendly, knowledgeable face that helps residents and businesses achieve their goals? Join Sarasota County’s Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department as a Customer Engagement Specialist, where you’ll play a key role as the front-line representative of our Business Services division. This is a fantastic entry point into the department, offering meaningful work, great work-life balance, outstanding benefits, and the foundation for long-term career growth and advancement.

In this role, you’ll be the primary point of contact for customers navigating the permitting process, whether it involves building, site development, or environmental permits. You’ll also provide hands-on guidance with our online permitting system, listen to feedback, resolve issues, and recommend improvements that make the process better for everyone. As part of a collaborative, high-performing team, you’ll work closely with departments across the County to ensure exceptional service while building a career you can be proud of.

About the Position

In this role, you will be responsible for...

Customer Engagement

• Be the first point of contact for customer feedback, ensuring timely and professional responses.

• Work with different disciplines to solve overlapping permitting or service issues.

• Identify root causes of service challenges and recommend process improvements.

• Share customer perspectives with leadership to help shape better services.

• Host and participate in discussions with stakeholders to share updates and gather feedback.

Online Permitting System Assistance

• Guide customers through the County’s online permitting system (Accela) to support smooth, efficient processing.

• Test and provide feedback on system updates and new releases.

• Collaborate with internal teams and stakeholders to optimize system use and performance.

• Support educational initiatives, like “Lunch and Learn” sessions, to keep staff and the public informed.

• Provide ongoing support to ensure permitting processes are clear, consistent, and user-friendly.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (no weekends!)

As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must have the following:

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university with 3 years of job-related experience.

• -OR- Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in a job-related field with 1 year of job-related work experience.

• -OR- 5(+) years of professional related experience can be substituted for the degree, at management discretion.

• Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.

• Strong background in customer engagement, facilitation, and clear communication (both written and verbal).

• Experience or familiarity with development, construction, permitting, planning, zoning, building, or local government review processes.

• Proven problem-solving, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills.

• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and time management abilities.

• Advanced knowledge or professional certifications in related fields (development, construction, planning, permitting, building, zoning, etc.) are highly desirable.

• Experience or familiarity with Accela permitting system is highly desirable. 

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: up to $60,000, based on experience.

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or