Environmental Specialist III (Environmental Assistance Representative) - 200024726

Department of Environmental Protection; United States; On-site; USD 72,868,000 - 102,141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Coverage

Retirement Plan

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Department of Environmental Protection in Augusta or Portland seeks an Environmental Specialist III (Environmental Assistance Representative). This in-office role provides multimedia regulatory and technical assistance and helps the regulated community understand environmental requirements.

The position emphasizes strong communication, customer service, adaptability, time management, and teamwork, with salary posted as hourly earnings across nine steps.

Qualifications

• This position requires a six-year combination of education and/or experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering including two years of environmental experience.
• Qualifying education must include at least 15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework from an accredited institution.
• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Responsibilities

• Respond to on-call/general inquiries and track assistance in databases.
• Assist the public and regulated community in navigating licensing systems.
• Evaluate and assist with licensing, environmental assessments, guidance documents, and grants.
• Contribute to department initiatives and supervise seasonal aides.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Customer service

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Science/Engineering coursework 15 credits

Job description

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III (ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE)

Opening Date: October 14, 2026 Closing Date: End of the day October 27, 2026 Location: Augusta or Portland Position Number: 200024726 Position Type: Full Time/Year-Round Class Code: 9253 Grade: 23 (Professional/Technical Unit) Salary: $25.43 - $35.68 Per Hour* *This is earning potential over the course of nine steps; new hires generally start at step one. Annual step increases are based on performance reviews and authorization of such increases.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION

This position provides multimedia regulatory and technical assistance, helps guide the regulated community with understanding environmental requirements, and supports other special projects that advance the Department’s mission. Success in this position requires a solutions-driven mindset, strong communication and customer service skills, adaptability, effective time management, a professional and respectful demeanor, and the ability to adeptly prioritize work independently while also collaborating with a team.

This position is primarily an in-office role, with days split between the Department’s offices in Augusta and Portland.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Respond to on call/general inquiries in a thorough and timely manner and track assistance via OIA's databases.
• Assist the public and regulated community in navigating the Maine Enterprise Licensing System (MELS).
• Evaluate and assist with licensing, environmental assessments, guidance documents, and grant applications.
• Contribute and provide support to OIA initiatives and Department programs.
• Oversee and coordinate the work of seasonal aides.

For more information on the specifics of the position, please contact Beth Callahan at: [e-mail]

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

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

• 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.

OUR VALUES AND INCLUSION

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.