Childhood Lead Poisoning- Case Investigator

Department of Health and Human Services; Water Street (PA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a case investigator for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in Augusta. You will join a multidisciplinary team identifying and removing lead sources, coordinating environmental inspections, and helping families ensure safer homes.

You will gain comprehensive training, work with property owners and licensed risk assessors, and support efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through proactive case management and

Qualifications

• A six-year combination of education and/or experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering which includes two years of environmental experience.
• Qualifying education must include at least 15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework from an accredited educational institution.
• Ability to perform field work and travel to visit homes and work directly with families and landlords.
• Strong problem solving and communication skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Identify sources of lead exposure and coordinate environmental lead inspections with the multidisciplinary team.
• Support efforts to prevent, detect, and eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Maine communities.
• Collaborate with staff nurses to identify lead hazards in homes and environments and interpret inspection results.
• Order abatement of lead hazards and monitor compliance with orders.
• Coordinate with families, owners, and licensed risk assessors to abate exposures and improve living conditions.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Field work travel

Education

Six-year combination of education/experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering

15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework

Tools

Electronic data systems

Job description

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: November 6, 2026

Closing Date: November 20, 2026

Job Class Code: 9253

Grade: 23 (Pro/Tech)

Salary: $55,265.60 - $77,563.20*

*This is inclusive of a 7.33% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number: 02000-3564

Location: Augusta

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. This position allows for partial telework with management approval.

Core Responsibilities

• The Maine CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is looking for a case investigator to join as a key player in our team’s efforts to identify and remove sources of lead exposure from children’s environments.
• Our Program works to prevent, detect, and eliminate childhood lead exposure, helping ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and healthy environment.
• Working together, our multidisciplinary team supports Maine’s goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning by providing a comprehensive response to children and families affected by lead exposure and by working with property owners to address lead hazards and prevent future poisonings.
• This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference through public service. If you are motivated by helping others, solving problems, and improving the health of communities, you will find purpose in this work.
• In this role, you will become an expert on identifying lead hazards in housing, with comprehensive training provided. Your work will directly support safer homes and healthier futures for Maine children.
• When the Maine CDC identifies a child with lead poisoning or with lead-based substances in their environment, you and the interdisciplinary case team will work with the child’s family, property owners, and licensed lead risk assessors to investigate and abate sources of lead exposure.
• As a key member of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, you will:
  • Collaborate with staff nurses to identify potential sources of lead exposure in a child’s home and other environments.
  • Coordinate environmental lead inspections, interpret inspection results, and help families take actions to protect their children from lead exposure.
  • Order abatement of lead hazards to ensure identified lead hazards are removed from children’s environments.
  • Monitor compliance with abatement orders and elevate cases requiring administrative fines for non-compliance to management.
  • Collaborate with staff nurses to connect families with services to support health, safety and development.
  • Work with team members to maintain a quality assurance program through consistent communication, shared accountability, and a focus on continuous improvement.
  • Monitor case outcomes and data trends, and work with colleagues to identify and resolve issues to strengthen the Program’s public health impact.
  • Perform occasional field work or travel to visit homes and work directly with families and landlords.

Minimum Qualifications

• A six (6) year combination of education and/or experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering which includes two (2) years of environmental experience.
• Qualifying education must include at least 15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework from an accredited educational institution.

Preferred candidates will also have

• Well-developed problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate complex information to a variety of audiences.
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of internal and external partners.
• Experience with case management, including documenting client interactions, case actions, and document handling, and the use of electronic data systems to handle case information.

Agency information

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers. The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 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 contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards 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 non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks 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.

Equal Opportunity

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.