Department: Neighborhood and Business Development
City of Syracuse residency is required for this position. If you are not a resident, you have six (6) months from your date of hire to establish residency.
Job Description
The work involves responsibility for performing a variety of administrative and technical support duties within the Zoning Office. An employee in this position serves as a key support role in coordinating communications, managing records, and assisting with zoning-related processes and public-facing functions. The position supports planning and zoning operations by assisting professional staff, contributing to regulatory and compliance-related activities, and ensuring the accurate preparation and maintenance of zoning documentation and records. Work requires the ability to handle sensitive information, interact with the public, and utilize both physical and digital systems to support departmental operations. The employee exercises attention to detail and organizational skills while working under the general supervision of an administrative superior.
Typical Work Activities
- Answer the Zoning Office telephone line and direct calls as appropriate. Respond to Zoning e-mail inbox and distribute inquiries accordingly.
- Prepare responses to zoning and permitting related FOIL requests and coordinate responses with Corporation Counsel’s Office, assist with Codes and Permitting related FOILS as needed.
- Prepare legal notices for publication, prepare and transmit notice cards to members of the public, prepare public notices for websites of Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and City Planning Commission (CPC). Assist professional planning staff in assembling and distributing packets for CPC and BZA Boards, preparation of agendas, drafting staff reports for BZA and CPC meetings, and drafting minutes for BZA and CPC meetings.
- Assist with zoning/parcel history research in paper files, card indexes, and digital platforms (AS-400, On-Base, IPS) in support of development applications and requests for Zoning Certifications and Zoning Determination Letters.
- Prepare Zoning Certifications and Zoning Determination Letters.
- File management, organize filing system for zoning archives, coordinate with City research specialists.
- Assist with daily Technical Team recordkeeping. Keep Team page on SharePoint up-to-date.
- Other administrative duties as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree; or four (4) years of paraprofessional or professional-level work experience in urban planning or a related field, or its part-time equivalent.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, research capability, and archive management skills. Familiarity with or capacity to work in a variety of digital data storage and permitting software platforms including IPS, Camino, EPR, On Base, and AS400, among others.
- Expertise using Microsoft software, including Office 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Planner, among others.
- Ability to understand and carry out complex verbal and written directions.
Benefits
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Click here to apply
The Affirmative Action Policy of the City of Syracuse is to provide equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, creed, age (18 and over), marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity or gender expression, sexual or affectional preference or orientation, or any other classified group within the protected class. The City also complies with 31 CFR part 51. If you have a disability for which you wish special accommodation to be made, contact the Office of Human Resources at 315-448-8780 or personnel@syr.gov.
The City of Syracuse may conduct a criminal background check with regard to the employment sought.