Career Center Consultant

Department of Labor; Sanford (ME); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

13 paid holidays

12 days sick leave

3+ weeks vacation leave annually

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Department of Labor in Maine is seeking a CareerCenter Consultant to deliver employment and career development services. You will interview jobseekers, assess needs, and connect customers with training, education, and workforce resources.

You will also work with employers to address labor market needs and provide outreach and workshops. Join the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Employment Services to help individuals achieve career goals while supporting community workforce development

Qualifications

• Interpersonal skills and empathy in interactions.
• Strong customer service mindset and responsiveness.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to guide customers and provide career guidance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews and career assessments to identify customer strengths and goals.
• Assess needs and develop service strategies, referrals, and training opportunities.
• Determine program eligibility and coordinate supportive services.
• Manage caseloads and maintain accurate case records per requirements.
• Conduct outreach in community locations to expand access to services.
• Develop and facilitate workshops on employment and career development.
• Coordinate job fairs and employer outreach to connect jobseekers with opportunities.
• Collaborate with employers to understand workforce needs and provide services.
• Provide front-line assistance in CareerCenter Information Centers for customers.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Communication

Counseling

Job description

Department of Labor Job Class Code: 0723 Grade: 20 (Professional/Technical) Salary: $21.61 - $30.18/Hour Location of Position: Portland, Springvale Opening Date: November 3, 2026 Closing Date: November 18, 2026 Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Are you passionate about helping individuals achieve their employment and career goals? Do you enjoy working directly with people and providing personalized, customer-focused service? If so, consider joining the Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Employment Services as a CareerCenter Consultant.

CareerCenter Consultants provide a broad range of employment and workforce development services to jobseekers and employers. Consultants work directly with jobseekers to assess employment, career, education, and training needs; provide career guidance; develop individualized service plans; determine eligibility for applicable programs; and connect customers with employment, education, training, and supportive services. Consultants may manage caseloads of customers participating in education and training programs and facilitate workshops, hiring events, and other employment-related activities. Consultants also engage with Maine employers to understand workforce needs and provide business services, including recruitment assistance, labor market information, workforce development resources, and connections to training and apprenticeship programs.

What You Will Do

• Conduct interviews and employment and career assessments to identify customer strengths, interests, skills, employment goals, and barriers to employment, and provide individualized career guidance.
• Assess jobseeker and employer customer needs and develop appropriate service strategies, including referrals to Maine Department of Labor programs, workforce partners, community resources, employment opportunities, and training services.
• Determine eligibility for applicable programs and services, coordinate supportive services, and provide referrals to employment, education, training, and other workforce resources.
• Manage assigned customer caseloads, including customers participating in education and training programs, and maintain accurate and timely case records and documentation in accordance with program requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct outreach and provide services in community and off-site locations to expand access to CareerCenter services and engage individuals and businesses that may benefit from employment and workforce development assistance.
• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate workshops and informational sessions on employment, career development, job search strategies, education, training, and other workforce-related topics.
• Participate in and coordinate job fairs, hiring events, informational sessions, trade shows, and other employer and community outreach activities to connect jobseekers and employers with workforce resources and opportunities.
• Develop relationships with and consult with employers to understand workforce needs and provide business services, including labor market information, recruitment assistance, workforce development resources, and referrals to training, apprenticeship, and other employment and training programs.
• Provide front-line assistance in CareerCenter Information Centers, helping customers navigate employment and workforce resources, access technology and equipment, conduct job searches, and connect with appropriate CareerCenter and partner services.

What Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities needed

• Knowledge of job search strategies and placement techniques.
• Ability to observe and evaluate individual characteristics, capabilities, and interests in terms of their occupational significance.
• Ability to interview and counsel individuals.
• Ability to interact with a diversified customer base.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and/or work experience that demonstrates competency in:

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively working with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences, effectively communicates and works with coworkers as team members.
• Customer/Quality Skills: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers’ apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.
• Accountability Skills: Holds self-accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives and sets priorities. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Accountable to own development including learning necessary job knowledge and associated laws, rules, and policies. Identifies and participates in learning opportunities. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Planning/Organization Skills: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals for self and strategies to achieve them. Using flexibility and resiliency skills, appropriately and effectively adjusts work, plans and priorities to changing circumstances. Monitors own progress and evaluates outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing information and guidance.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Familiarity with workforce development resources.
• Problem solving and resource navigation.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

• 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 annually. 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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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 ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% 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.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

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.

Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.