Project Analyst

Why it's a great opportunity: In this role with Development Services, you will support responsible growth, protect public safety, and ensure efficient, predictable permitting experiences for our community. As a project and process leader, you will coordinate complex permitting workflows, track review timelines, analyze operational patterns, forecast future permit and application demand, collaborate with internal teams on fee setting, and help review teams deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes. Your work will regularly involve using data visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI, Power Query, and Workday to inform decisions and improve performance.

You will partner closely with planners, engineers, building and fire plans examiners, customer service staff, and technical specialists to keep permit reviews moving efficiently, ensure deadlines are met, identify risks early, and continuously pursue improvement opportunities. Through this cross-disciplinary coordination, you will help strengthen communication, maintain statutory and internal review expectations, and provide actionable insights that support issue resolution.

Overall, you will help drive innovation and operational excellence across our permitting systems, business processes, and project delivery efforts, advancing the mission of the Development Services teams and improving how Pierce County serves its residents, builders, and community partners.

Why it's a great department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Workshere.

How to be successful in the role: Success in this role comes from supporting coordinated, efficient, and timely completion of permit reviews through strong project and workflow leadership. You will help review teams stay informed, aligned, and equipped to meet statutory and internal timeframes. Using data-driven insights, you will identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities that strengthen consistency and service delivery. Your ability to translate operational patterns into clear actions, whether through analytics, process mapping, forecasting, or recommending workflow improvements, will help teams resolve issues and maintain predictable, high-quality outcomes.

Your future in this role: You will have access to robust professional development, including online learning, training workshops, and cross-departmental collaboration opportunities. This role builds a strong foundation in project leadership, analytics, and operational improvement—all skills that create multiple avenues for growth within Pierce County. As you gain experience, you will be well-positioned for future advancement across permitting, planning, operational management, or process improvement roles that directly shape how Pierce County serves its communities.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Represent the Department and County at a wide variety of board meetings, committees, public hearings, and community meetings.
• Work closely with other divisions, departments and outside agencies on projects and program development.
• Facilitate planning committee meetings and public hearings/forums as appropriate.
• Participate in local and statewide workgroups regarding planning and policy development.
• Manage the development and implementation of department-wide strategic plans, and performance and accountability assessments; and/or other administrative programs or functions.
• Provide leadership in the management, development and reporting of department activities through the department’s performance measures, monthly or quarterly information reports, annual summaries, and other reporting for the Department Director.
• Prepare or oversee the preparation of sensitive and complex special studies and write reports and compile related statistical information.
• Coordinate and conduct office and workflow process teams in analysis, implementation, and enhancement of work processes. Assist teams in coordinating impact of processes on other teams and County/outside entities. Assist with documentation of processes for teams and department.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

• Additional education and experience that clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the classification may substitute on a year for year basis.
• Four years of project management experience, AND
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, data analytics, project management or a related field. 
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP is preferred. 
• Experience in permitting, planning, regulatory processes, or government operations.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs. 
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need. 
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.