Education Specialist II

MaineGuide; Augusta, Northern (ME, KY); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Health Insurance Coverage

Dental Insurance

Retirement Plan

Gym Membership Reimbursement

Job summary

Maine Department of Education is seeking a professional to provide outreach, professional learning, and technical assistance to school administrative units and community programs to support public preschool partnerships and the ECNG program.

The role involves interpreting Maine and federal rules, developing MOUs, evaluating applications, monitoring sites for compliance, and managing ECNG funding and reimbursements to ensure timely delivery of services.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Education or required specialty/subject area and two years of professional level experience.
• A Master's Degree may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Professional teaching certification may be required depending on the specialty.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach, professional learning, and technical assistance to SAUs and community programs for public preschool partnerships.
• Design, implement, and monitor the Early Childhood Nutrition Grant (ECNG) program.
• Explain Maine’s preschool and CACFP rules to partners and operators.
• Develop MOUs between SAUs and licensed programs; support documentation and program implementation.
• Evaluate and approve applications and agreements to ensure compliance.
• Develop and update program standards; monitor sites for compliance; manage ECNG funding and reimbursements.

Skills

Early childhood development

Policy and regulations

Program administration

Interpret regulations

Program planning

Professional learning

Communication & collaboration

Organization & technology

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education

Master's Degree (substitution for experience)

Job description

Department of Education

Opening Date: October 08, 2026

Closing Date: October 23, 2026

Grade: 24 / Professional/Technical

Job Class Code: 3042

Salary: $54,017.60 - $80,288.00/Annually

Position Number: 200025298

Position Type: Full-Time

Location: Augusta

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

DESCRIPTION:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide outreach, professional learning, and technical assistance to SAUs and community-based early childhood programs (e.g., licensed child care programs, Head Start programs, etc.) to support the development and expansion of public preschool partnerships. The position is also responsible for the design, implementation, and monitoring of the Early Childhood Nutrition Grant (ECNG) program. Through a variety of formats, the position supports SAUs and community-based early childhood programs in understanding the regulations governing the development and implementation of partnerships for the provision of public preschool programming, including the ECNG program. The position interprets and explains Maine’s public preschool and federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) rules and regulations to public preschool partnership program operators; supports the development of public preschool memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between SAUs and licensed community-based programs; provides personalized technical assistance to new partnership programs for completing required documentation and implementing programming; evaluates, processes and approves applications and agreements to ensure compliance with program requirements; develops and updates program standards and guidelines to support compliance with federal and state regulations; monitors and evaluates partnership sites to ensure compliance with program requirements; and manages ECNG funding and reimbursement processes within established timeframes.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Expertise in early childhood development and education (birth–5), including pedagogy, inclusive and learner-centered practices, curriculum, assessment, developmentally appropriate practices, experiential learning, and Maine’s Preschool Early Learning and Development Standards.
• Knowledge of Maine and federal early childhood systems, programs and regulations, including public education, special education, Head Start, child care licensing, child nutrition programs, and other state and federal policies affecting young children and families.
• Knowledge of program administration and compliance management, including application development and processing, contracts, budgeting, financial oversight, allowable expenditures, reimbursement methodologies, monitoring, evaluation, reporting including but not limited to data collection, and on-site program reviews.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, rules, and regulations and effectively communicate their implications to providers, school districts, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Skills in planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating programs and initiatives, including data analysis, documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement practices.
• Skills in professional learning, technical assistance, and organizational development, including facilitating groups, supporting systemic change, and providing guidance to improve program implementation and compliance.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, with experience working effectively with SAUs, state agencies, community organizations, internal teams, and other partners.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and technology skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meeting deadlines in a regulatory environment, identify effective solutions, and use current computer programs and applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A Bachelors Degree in Education or required specialty/subject area and two (2) years professional level experience in required specialty/subject area. A Masters Degree in Education or required specialty/subject area may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Individual positions may require a professional teaching certificate in assigned specialty/subject area as issued by the State Department of Education & Cultural Services.

Preference will be given to those with:

• Experience with administration of child nutrition programs

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

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 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.

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.

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.