Public Health Nurse Navigator

Department of Health and Human Services; United States; Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Vacation leave 3+ weeks

Health insurance coverage

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a Public Health Nurse I in Augusta, Maine. This position offers partial telework with management approval and compensation in the $29.74–$40.53 per hour range, inclusive of a recruitment stipend.

Responsibilities include prioritizing and routing public health referrals, coordinating care with hospitals and providers, processing CradleMe referrals, and supporting nursing projects and PHN operations.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
• Active RN license in the state.
• Experience with public health referrals and nursing processes is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess resources for clients using nursing skills.
• Coordinate client care with hospitals, providers, schools and public agencies.
• Process referrals through the CradleMe system.
• Assist management with nursing projects.
• Represent PHN in the community and promote PHN services.
• Provide nursing services to support program needs and continuity of care.

Skills

Nursing background

Public health nursing

Communication skills

Independent work

Interagency collaboration

Education

RN license

Tools

Electronic Medical Records

Job description

Public Health Nurse I

Opening Date: September 21, 2026

Closing Date: October 2, 2026

Job Class Code: 4051

Grade: 20 (Nurses)

Salary: $29.74 - $40.53 per hour* *This is inclusive of a 15% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number: 02033-0441

Location: Augusta - This position allows for partial telework with management approval.

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

Core Responsibilities

As a Public Health Nurse Navigator, you will be part of the Central referral team that is responsible for prioritizing, reviewing and assigning public health referrals. You will be monitoring receipt of new referrals, determining appropriate services required, working with providers to obtain additional information as needed, and for ensuring completeness of referrals processed. You are the initial contact for referrals to the public health nursing team. Additionally, the Public Health Nurse Navigator will work with the referral team to identify and prevent any barriers to a smooth process for submitting referrals to public health nursing. Work is performed under limited supervision.

• Use your nursing background and skills to assess the appropriate resources for clients.
• Coordinate client care with hospitals, medical providers, schools, and other public agencies in order to ensure necessary services are delivered.
• Process referrals received through the CradleMe referral system.
• Work with the management team to assist with nursing projects.
• Represent Public Health Nursing within the community, promote awareness of PHN services, and support community understanding and access to available resources.
• Provide nursing services and perform other nursing duties as assigned to support program needs, continuity of care, and overall PHN operations.

Preferred Candidates

• Experience with Electronic Medical Records systems
• Knowledge of public health programs, current nursing principles and practices, and nursing process
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and written
• Ability to work well independently

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

Licensing/Registration/Certification Requirements

Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse as issued by the State Board of Nursing. (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in the class).

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 experience and passion set you apart.

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 mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well‑being of the citizens of Maine.

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.
• 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.

Culture and Opportunities

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.