Rob Herring, Project Manager and reviewer on our Development Services team looks over tap-in plans at our 1200 Penn Avenue office.
Back in October 2020, we introduced the idea of our Development Services team. To refresh your memory, we explained that the team was a cross-departmental group specializing in guiding applicants through the permitting process. Let’s explore the role each of the seventeen team members has and how they keep development rolling.
Every permit applicant will interact with our engineering technicians (engineering techs) at some point in the process. Engineering techs fall under our Customer Service department. They are typically the first and last interaction with PWSA when submitting a permit. Their fundamental responsibilities include application intake, payment processing, initiating new customer accounts, maps and records requests, dye testing, answering phone and email inquiries, and document retention. Engineering techs are crucial members of our development team.
Next up, project reviewers in the Engineering department. Project reviewer is a generic term we use to describe the role because many of the reviewers actual titles vary. Their titles may be project manager, associate project manager, engineer, and more. Using an engineering lens, project reviewers make certain development permits meet PWSA minimum standards.
In addition to our project reviewers, our Geographic Information System (GIS) technicians and field inspectors fall under our engineering department. GIS techs play a role in fact-checking information about our existing sewer and water line network based on record drawings. Inspectors make sure that applicants complete construction work according to the plans approved by our project reviewers.
And finally, we have two team members that are part of our Public Affairs department, our industry relations manager and development coordinator. They make sure that all of our team members work together smoothly and coordinate with engineering and operations to resolve field construction issues. They help applicants through the permitting process, suggest process improvements, assist the implementation of Authority-wide projects. They are also responsible for championing the Development Services team and their work (like newsletter articles!). They attend community meetings and development industry events.
Each team member is an equally important part of the process. Our skill sets and backgrounds in engineering, urban planning, and customer service help keep this boat afloat.
Want to learn more about careers at PWSA? Visit our career page to view open positions! pgh2o.com/about-us/careers.
