Environmental Specialist II - Portland - 2022

Department of Environmental Protection; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 46,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

The Department of Environmental Protection in Portland, Maine seeks an Environmental Specialist II to perform stormwater compliance inspections and audits for industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges in the Southern Maine region.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree with science/engineering credits or equivalent, knowledge of water quality laws, and strong communication skills. This is a full-time, year-round position with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 15 science/engineering credit hours OR a four-year combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of water quality laws and stormwater regulations.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and communicate clearly.
• Ability to conduct and document multiple stormwater inspections.
• Willingness to work independently or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Perform compliance inspections and audits of various discharges in Southern Maine.
• Review NOI/NEC/NOT forms and SWMPs/SWPPPs for accuracy.
• Enter data into departmental databases and collaborate with agencies.

Skills

Water quality laws and regulations

Stormwater best management practices

Verbal and written instruction

Compliance inspections management

Teamwork and independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field

4-year combination of education and experience in environmental science

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 Water Quality, Division of Water Quality Management, is seeking to fill an Environmental Specialist II vacancy in Portland.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II Opening Date: September 25, 2026 Closing Date: End of the day October 16, 2026 Location: Portland* Position Number: 08300-2022 Position Type: Permanent Full Time/Year-Round Class Code: 9252 Grade: 21 (Professional/Technical Unit) Salary: $22.08 - $30.89 Per Hour** **(This includes a 2.5% Salary Adjustment). This is the earning potential over the course of nine steps; new hires start at step one. Annual step increases are based on performance reviews and authorization of such increases.

*NOTE: This is for the position located in Portland in the Southern Maine Regional Office, not the Central Maine Regional Office in Augusta. If you are interested in either location, please apply to BOTH open positions.

Interested applicants need to submit a Direct Hire Application, along with a Cover Letter, and a detailed Resume*** ***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 position is a stormwater compliance inspector in the Division of Water Quality Management (DWQM).

The position requires extensive fieldwork conducting compliance inspections and audits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges in the Southern Maine region based out of Portland.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS: Conduct compliance inspections and audits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges in the Southern Maine region. Review and comment on Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of No Exposure (NEC) and Notice of Termination (NOT) forms as well as Stormwater Management Plans (SWMPs) and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs). Complete data entry into the Department's applicable databases. Interact closely with other compliance inspectors and enforcement staff in the DWQM as well as federal and state regulatory agencies, the regulated community, and other interested parties.

For more information on the specifics of the position, please contact Holliday Keen at [phone].

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors’ degree from an accredited educational institution which includes 15 credit hours of science or engineering courses -OR- a four (4) year combination of education and experience in an environmental science or related area. Preference will be given to candidates with the following skills or experience: Knowledge of water quality laws and regulations Knowledge of stormwater best management practices Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and communicate effectively verbally and in writing Ability to manage compliance inspections associated with multiple stormwater permits Ability to work as both a team member and independently 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 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 ($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 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.
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for 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.

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.

Application Process

About Us

Join Maine State Government and Make a Difference in Your Community

If you're looking for a fulfilling career that allows you to serve the public and make a difference, consider working with Maine State Government! Our departments boast an array of professions, including attorneys, biologists, correctional officers, equipment operators, engineers, human resources professionals, information technology experts, law enforcement officers, nurses, park rangers, social workers, and transportation workers. With more than 100 agencies, boards, and offices, Maine State Government is the perfect place to explore various industries and interests. Whether you're interested in finance or forestry, there's an opportunity for you to help make Maine an even better place to live.