Environmental Licensing Specialist I - 1289 - Portland

State of Maine; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Coverage

Retirement Plan

Parental Leave

Public Service Student Loan Forgive.

Wellness Benefits

Job summary

State of Maine, Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Licensing Specialist I, is based in Portland and focuses on licensing responsibilities. The role involves reviewing proposals for compliance and drafting permitting decisions, with opportunities to participate in public meetings and hearings.

You will work with applicants, consultants, and agencies to assess environmental impacts, with some remote work allowed subject to policy, and a path toward professional growth within the

Qualifications

• Education, training and/or experience in environmental science or another applicable scientific field.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing and processing permits, applications, licenses, and technical information.
• Experience with environmental laws, rules, and regulations, and complex evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Review development proposals for compliance with Maine environmental laws and regulations.
• Draft permitting decisions and recommend approval or denial of applications.
• Coordinate with applicants, consultants, and attorneys; participate in meetings and hearings.

Skills

Environmental science

Permits analysis

Regulatory compliance

Technical evaluation

Education

Environmental science degree

Tools

GIS skills

Database management

Computer skills

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.

The Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Land Resources (BLR) announces an Environmental Licensing Specialist I position, based in Portland. This position will focus on licensing responsibilities.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING SPECIALIST I

Opening Date: October 28, 2026

Closing Date: End of the day November 13, 2026

Location: Portland

Position Number: 08310-1289

Position Type: Permanent Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 9272

Grade: 22 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $49,296.00 - $68,785.60 Per Year*

*This is earning potential over the course of nine steps; new hires generally start at step one. Annual step increases are dependent on obtaining successful performance reviews and the authorization to issue such increases.

**For us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a junior level project management position, working at the intersection of environmental policy and environmental protection by reviewing development proposals and evaluating whether they comply with Maine’s environmental protection laws and regulations. You will draft permitting decisions and recommend approval or denial of permit applications or recommend changes needed to meet approval criteria. As part of this evaluation process, you will work directly with applicants, their consultants and attorneys and participate in pre-application and pre-submission meetings to provide regulatory guidance; you will lead coordination with other State resource agencies to identify and assess potential environmental impacts of proposed development; meet with federal and municipal officials reviewing the same projects; and conduct site visits. You will work with limited oversight as you gain experience. You also will have the opportunity to participate in public meetings, public hearings, and administrative appeals before the Board of Environmental Protection.

There will be some remote work opportunities in this position with management approval and following the DEP Telework Policy.

For questions specific to the job, please contact Alison Sirois at: [phone] or [e-mail]

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education, training and/or experience in environmental science or another applicable scientific field and demonstrated experience analyzing and processing permits, applications, licenses, and technical information, or demonstrated directly related experience working with environmental laws, rules, regulations, and complex technical evaluations in a scientific and/or legal field.

Preference will be given to candidates with skills and/or experience in:

• Education that emphasizes concepts and techniques involved in natural resources protection and/or management.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Demonstrated interest in the implementation of environmental policy.
• GIS/database management/other computer skills.
• Experience in interpersonal relationships and/or customer service in a fast-paced work environment.

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

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 using13 paid holidays,12 days of sick leave, and3+ weeks of vacation leaveannually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays85%-100%of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60-$14,369.04 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 contributes14.06%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 leaveis one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receiveforty-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 aMaineSaves457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Learn aboutadditional wellness benefitsfor 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? 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 lived experience and passion set you apart.