Planning & Research Associate II - 0116 - Augusta

MaineGuide; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Retirement plan (MainePERS)

Gym membership reimbursement

Flexible spending accounts

Parental leave

Job summary

The State of Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry seeks a Planning & Research Associate II to manage LWCF projects from eligibility assessment to completion. You will coordinate grant applications, reimbursements, and data management, working with a diverse team including other agencies and federal staff.

Strong project management, budgeting, and communication skills are essential, along with travel across the state and proficiency with Microsoft 365, ArcGIS, and related

Qualifications

• Eight year combination of education, training, and/or experience in planning and research principles, practices, and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Manage full lifecycle of LWCF projects: assess eligibility, coordinate grant applications and awards, facilitate reimbursements, shepherd projects to completion.
• Collaborate with grant recipients, state agency staff, and National Parks Service.
• Maintain LWCF project database and GIS layers; support data collection and reporting.

Skills

Project management

Outdoor recreation

Grant/navigation guidance

MS 365 & GIS tools

Written and verbal communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Adobe

Google Earth

ESRI ArcGIS

Grants.gov

Grantsolutions.gov

SharePoint

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.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

PLANNING & RESEARCH ASSOCIATE II

Opening Date: November 10, 2026

Closing Date: End of the day November 30, 2026

Location: Augusta

Position Number: 01740-0116

Position Type: Permanent Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 0040

Grade: 23 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $51,500.80 - $72,259.20 Per Year

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 is professional services work providing significant support for the state-side delivery of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Every park receiving LWCF assistance must be managed for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. This program allows you to improve the quality of life for the people of Maine, forever.

In this role you will help to manage the full lifecycle of LWCF projects by assessing project eligibility, coordinating the grant application and award process, facilitating reimbursement requests, and shepherding each project through to successful completion. You will be part of a team that includes grant recipients, state agency cohorts and National Parks Service staff. Through program data collection and management, and the use of grant management software, you will also help to manage the LWCF project database and related GIS layer. To thrive in this role, you will need strong customer service and project management skills.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Required:

• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously and ensure work is completed effectively and within established deadlines and available resources.
• Knowledge of outdoor recreation/park infrastructure, development and maintenance costs, budgeting and execution.
• Ability to assess prospective applicant project needs and provide advice and guidance on scope and other funding options.
• Knowledge of and skills using Microsoft 365 suite of programs, Adobe, Google Earth, ESRI ArcGIS, Grants.gov, Grantsolutions.gov, Microsoft SharePoint and related data and word management tools.
• Confident written and verbal communicator.
• Ability to independently travel to all corners of the state at times requiring overnight stays.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Doug Beck at: [e-mail]

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: An eight (8) year combination of education, training, and/or experience providing a knowledge of planning and research principles, practices, and techniques.

Preference will be given to:

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree (or greater) in parks and recreation management, natural resources management, landscape architecture, public policy, or other directly related fields and four years’ experience in outdoor recreation management, and/or related field. Preference will also be given to those with the following:

• Experience developing policies for an organization or network.
• High degree of comfort with public speaking.
• Creative ability, including the ability to write, copy, create graphics, and develop basic marketing tools.
• Experience developing, implementing and/or managing construction project budgets and timelines.
• Direct experience in parks and recreation service delivery with municipal or state government.
• Experience in convening stakeholder groups, and helping such groups achieve positive outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects under deadline.

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 aMaineSaves457(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?
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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.