ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

(LAND USE PLANNING COMMISSION-LUPC)

Opening Date:

May 10, 2024

Closing Date:

May 24, 2024

Location:

Greenville

Position #:

01750-0351

Position Type:

Full Time

Class Code:

9252

Grade/Salary:

Grade 21 - $43,492.80 - $58,531.20/Annually

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) announces an Environmental Specialist II vacancy. 

COMMISSION DESCRIPTION: The Land Use Planning Commission is a 9-member, citizen board that governs land use planning, permitting, and zoning in the portions of Maine that are unorganized or de-organized, areas covering approximately 10.4 million acres. The Commission’s staff is responsible for permitting, compliance, planning, and administrative functions, operating out of five regional offices and one central office in Augusta.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position will be primarily responsible for handling routine permitting and compliance tasks within the LUPC’s Moosehead Region with an office located in Greenville and, on occasion, assisting with larger and more complex projects within the region under the guidance of higher-level staff. The position will also assist with permitting and compliance in other regions, as workloads across regions fluctuate, and may be asked to assist with planning projects with a local or regional focus.

This position reviews residential permit applications, prepares decision documents, and handles enforcement cases. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires travel primarily within, but also outside of, the Moosehead Region to conduct field visits and meet with property owners, and involves inspecting existing development and land uses, assessing technical information, and applying land use standards. 

The successful candidate will have knowledge or the ability to learn the LUPC’s rules or, more generally, zoning requirements and related land use standards; understand erosion and sediment control methods; and possess the ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to extract and apply information from technical documents, communicate effectively orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

Partial remote work is an option for this position once the probationary period has been completed.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Billie J. Theriault at (207) 435-7969.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited educational institution which includes 15 credit hours of science or engineering courses -OR- a four (4) year combination of education and experience in an environmental science or related area.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following: 

• Experience investigating, assessing, and evaluating land use activities for compliance with zoning and/or regulatory requirements.
• Experience effectively communicating regulatory requirements; experience in conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Experience in permit writing and report writing to effectively document findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants will need to complete and submit an online State of Maine Direct Hire Application, along with a Cover Letter, detailed Resume, and atleast one (1) writing sample of a technical nature at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#acf

Direct Hire Application forms can be obtained by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml 

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO APPLY ONLINE: Please mail the application materials listed in the "How to Apply" section to: Natural Resources Service Center, c/o Kristin McCamish, 32 Blossom Lane, Marquardt Building, Augusta, ME 04333-0155.

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No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3 weeks of vacation leave. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,523.28-$12,380.40 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.41% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?
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