Office Assistant II

Department of Health and Human Services; Lewiston (ID); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Lewiston seeks an Office Assistant II to greet callers, route inquiries and support OCFS staff. You will manage phones, schedules, and lightweight records with attention to accuracy and confidentiality.

This role requires strong communication, basic Word/Excel, and solid organization in a fast-paced, team-based office. Training is provided, and excellent customer service is valued as part of Maine's public service ethos.

Qualifications

• Outlook or comparable e‑mail application.
• Excel or comparable spreadsheet application.
• MS Word or comparable word processing application.
• Performing receptionist duties.
• Data entry (both narratives and billing data).
• Keyboarding (words per minute).

Responsibilities

• Primary management of incoming calls to the Augusta OCFS office on an assigned schedule.
• Serving as backup to the clerk assigned to telephone duty when they are away from their desk or out of the office.
• Receiving and directing 100-200 phone calls daily; engaging with callers to understand needs.
• Managing and distributing incoming and outgoing communications for the office, including mail, faxes, and other publications.
• Redact adoption records for prospective adoptive parents.
• Filing closed assessments and permanency records.

Skills

Outlook

Excel

MS Word

Reception duties

Data entry

Keyboarding

Job description

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Opening Date: September 30, 2026 Closing Date: October 14, 2026 Job Class Code: 6538 Grade: 08 (Admin Svcs) Salary: $16.80 - $23.24 per hour* *This is inclusive of a 4.00% recruitment and retention stipend *New employees begin at Step 1, $16.80 per hour Position Number: 02022-7332 Location: Lewiston

Agency information: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers. The Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS), within DHHS, is responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families through community networks, local resources, and life-long family connections throughout Maine.

Core Responsibilities

This critical Office Assistant II position engages with callers, visiting providers and families to guide them to the appropriate OCFS staff and services as part of the OCFS goal of providing excellent customer service. As a member of a fast-paced team-oriented office environment, a well-qualified candidate will be professional, well spoken, patient, possess strong organizational skills, and demonstrate a history of excellent customer service skills, both phone and in person. The candidate will demonstrate the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities for a wide variety of office tasks supporting the overall OCFS mission. Your duties will include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for primary management of incoming calls to the Augusta OCFS office on an assigned schedule. Serving as backup to the clerk assigned to telephone duty when they are away from their desk or out of the office - Receiving and directing 100-200 phone calls daily; engaging with callers to understand their needs and assisting them with connecting with the appropriate OCFS staff or program;
• Managing and distributing incoming and outgoing communications for the office, including mail, faxes, and other publications and print materials;
• Redact adoption records for prospective adoptive parents;
• Burn CD’s for Clifford Orders, Court, etc.
• Filing closed assessments and permanency records
• Supporting other administrative processes for OCFS programs as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must have training, education, or experience in office and administrative support work that demonstrates 1) competency in applying a general knowledge of modern office practices to perform routine, varied office support tasks often requiring the operation of technical office equipment, and 2) the ability to use independent judgment in prioritizing the work and selecting the most appropriate course of action within set procedures. Please address your skills level in each of the following in your resume or cover letter:

• Outlook or comparable e‑mail application
• Excel or comparable spreadsheet application
• MS Word or comparable word processing application
• Performing receptionist duties
• Data entry (both narratives and billing data)
• Keyboarding (words per minute)

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.

For additional information about this position, please contact Merlyn Haines at 207-795-4542.

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 Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 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 contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards 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 non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks 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.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

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.

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.