Office Specialist I

Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Coverage

Dental Insurance

Retirement Plan

Gym Membership Reimbursement

Flexible Spending Accounts

Parental Leave

Job summary

The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services seeks an Office Specialist I in Augusta at Camp Keyes to deliver essential veteran benefit services. You will interview clients, set appointments, determine eligibility for programs, and assist at outreach events.

This role requires independent judgment, accurate data handling, and front-desk responsibilities while coordinating with multiple agencies and staff for timely service delivery.

Qualifications

• Competency in applying a proficient knowledge of modern office practices to perform advanced administrative tasks.
• Ability to use independent judgment, initiative, and discretion in varied matters.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial interviews to determine the nature of benefits sought by veterans and family members.
• Schedule appointments for senior staff and veterans services officers.
• Determine eligibility for state programs and oversee related certifications.
• Represent MBVS at outreach events and provide front-desk support.

Skills

Independent judgment

Office practices

Tools

Client management software

Job description

Department of Defense, Veterans' and Emergency Management Job Class Code: 6546 Grade: 16 (Administrative Services) Salary: $19.60 - $28.25/Hour Location: Augusta, ME Opening Date: November 6, 2026 Closing Date: November 23, 2026 Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is excited to hire an Office Specialist I with our Central Office in Augusta at Camp Keyes.

This position is located at our Central Office with the following duties:

Responsibilities include conducting initial interviews to determine the nature of benefits sought by the veteran and/or family member, providing scheduling appointments for senior staff and veterans services officers, making determinations on eligibility for state programs such as Honorable Service Veteran Recognition, Veterans State Park and Museum Pass, and Disabled Veterans Hunting and Fishing License program, and establish eligibility for Veterans Dependent Education Benefits (VDEB) program among other services. This position represents MBVS at outreach events and will require occasional travel. Additionally, this position provides phone coverage to various field and cemetery offices as needed. This position is responsible for performing a variety of complex modern office tasks, as well as the use of client management software that requires independent judgment and action, including making frequent decisions following department policy and procedures. Employees of this class are expected to carry out assignments with minimal supervisory assistance: Primary for the Veterans Dependent Education Benefit for program management, liaison between the Bureau and the Maine College System, and determine dependent eligible Primary for Central Office front desk, including greeting the public, answering phones, interacting with other agencies within Camp Keyes, and processing mail Determine eligible and issue certificates or licenses for Bureau programs such as Honorable Service Veteran Recognition, Veterans State Park and Museum Pass, and Disabled Veterans Hunting and Fishing License program Manage schedules for the Central Office, such as the Central Office Conference Room, the Bureau Director, or other Senior Staff as needed Document all customer interactions with the Bureau’s client management software. Draft and proof business correspondence Maintains and orders quarterly office supplies Knowledge of human resources practices and employee benefits. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and equipment related to data input and output quality control Ability to conduct research, gather information, and analyze results to reach a conclusion Ability to oversee and maintain inventory/supplies Ability to review input/output of information from electronic information systems and develop/implement quality control standards for data input structures and output quality assurance Ability to write clear and comprehensive reports. Ability to develop and recommend new work methods and administrative policies/procedures Ability to understand and promote management goals as they affect day-to-day operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Training, education, or experience in office and administrative support work that demonstrates 1) competency in applying a proficient knowledge of modern office practices to perform advanced administrative support tasks requiring specialized skills, and 2) the ability to use independent judgment, initiative, and discretion to make determinations on varied matters. All positions in this classification assume the qualifications of: Office Assistant I, Office Assistant II, Office Associate I and Office Associate II.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

• 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.

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.

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.

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.