Education Specialist III

Department of Education; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 56,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Parental leave

Retirement Plan

Job summary

The Maine Department of Education seeks a skilled professional to plan, develop, coordinate, and evaluate statewide educational programs in a designated specialty. You will work with local, state, and federal authorities to implement evaluative techniques, assess program effectiveness, and advise the State Board of Education on progress.

This role requires supervising professional staff, managing funds, and coordinating teacher education initiatives.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of education administration and teaching methods.
• Knowledge of subject matter, issues, and problems of the assigned specialty area.
• Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the Department.
• Ability to interpret statutory provisions for local school authorities and the public.
• Ability to plan and organize educational programs.
• Ability to supervise subordinate professional personnel.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Plans and develops comprehensive educational programs to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.
• Directs work activities of staff to achieve unit goals and apply policies consistently.
• Counsels subordinate staff to exchange information and identify solutions.
• Reviews and evaluates grant applications and approves or recommends changes.
• Consults with superintendents and committees to determine fund use.
• Coordinates vocational and technical education programs at various levels.
• Organizes and instructs workshops for administrators and teachers.
• Advises the Commissioner with specialty area information.
• Identifies goals and objectives in specialty areas to assess programs.

Skills

Education administration

Teaching methods

Communication

Policy interpretation

Program planning

Supervision

Resource advisory

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education

Master's Degree in Education

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State. Department of Education Opening Date: September 28, 2026 Closing Date: October 09, 2026 Grade / Admin Unit: 26 Professional/Technical Services Job Class Code: 3060 Salary: $56,264.00 - $83,761.61/Annually Position Number: 014006032 Location: Augusta Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

DESCRIPTION: This is professional services work in planning, developing, coordinating, administering, and evaluating educational programs in a specific specialty/subject area. Responsibilities include working with local, state, and federal officials in developing, implementing, and coordinating statewide educational programs, including implementation of evaluative techniques to ascertain the effectiveness of programs and program expenditures. Work includes advising the State Board of Education in assessing educational progress. This classification is distinguished from lower level Education Specialist classifications in that this is planning, developing, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs with increased complexity and scope. Work is performed under limited supervision.

Representative Tasks

• Plans and develops comprehensive educational programs in a specific specialty/subject area in order to ensure compliance with federal and state legislative intent or identified educational need.
• Plans, organizes, assigns, and directs the work activities of subordinate professional staff in order to facilitate the attainment of the unit's work goals and to ensure the consistent application of program and technical policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Confers with and counsels subordinate staff in order to exchange information, identify problems, and formulate possible solutions.
• Reviews and evaluates federal and state grant applications in order to approve grants or recommend changes.
• Consults with school superintendents and school committees in order to determine most effective use of available funds.
• Coordinates programs of vocational and technical education at secondary and post-secondary school and adult levels in order to ensure programs are made available.
• Coordinates and consults with teacher education institutions in order to ensure pre and in-service training is available.
• Advises Commissioner in order to provide information regarding specialty/subject area.
• Organizes and instructs workshops for local school administrators and teachers in order to provide specialty/subject area information.
• Identifies goals and objectives in specialty/subject area in order to assess program.
• Consults with school administrators and teachers on specialty/subject area matters in order to provide guidance and technical assistance.

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: Knowledge of education administration and teaching methods and materials. Knowledge of subject matter, issues, and problems of assigned specialty/subject area. Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to and enforced by the Department. Ability to interpret and explain statutory provisions to local school authorities and the public. Ability to formulate and administer rules and regulations. Ability to plan and organize educational programs. Ability to supervise subordinate professional personnel. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to write clearly and effectively. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to prepare comprehensive reports.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelors Degree in Education or required specialty/substance area and four (4) 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 or educational administration certificate as issued by the State Department of Education.

Contact Information

For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact [e-mail]. The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

Benefits

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.