ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II (LUPC)

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) announces an Environmental Specialist II vacancy. The Land Use Planning Commission is a 9-member, citizen board that governs land use planning, permitting and zoning in the portions of Maine that are unorganized or deorganized, areas covering approximately 10.4 million acres. The Commission’s staff is responsible for permitting, compliance, planning, and administrative functions, operating out of five regional offices and one central office in Augusta.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position will be primarily responsible for handling less complex permitting and compliance tasks within the LUPC’s Downeast regional office located in Bangor and may assist with larger and more complex projects within the region under the guidance of senior staff. The position may assist with permitting and compliance in other regions, as workloads across regions fluctuate and may be asked to collaborate with the Planning Division on projects that have a local or regional focus. This position reviews permit applications and enforcement cases and prepares decision documents. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires travel primarily within the Downeast region to conduct routine field visits and meet with property owners to inspect existing development and land uses, assess observed and provided information, and apply land use standards. The successful candidate will preferably have experience interacting with and working collaboratively with the public. They will also preferably have some knowledge of LUPC’s rules or, more generally, with zoning requirements and related land use standards and understand erosion and sediment control methods. While preferred, knowledge of land use regulations, particularly LUPC’s standards, are not required and on the job training will facilitate one’s understanding and familiarity with them. The ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations is vital for this role. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, work collaboratively in a team environment, and work efficiently without continuous supervision.

The successful candidate will have experience interacting with and working collaboratively with the public, local and state officials, and stakeholder groups. The successful candidate also will have knowledge of the laws and rules applicable within the LUPC service area; understand erosion and sediment control methods; and possess the ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to extract and apply information from technical documents, communicate effectively orally and in writing, to establish and maintain effective working relationships, and to work collaboratively in a team environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: In order to qualify for this position, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution which includes 15 credit hours of science or engineering courses -OR- a four (4) year combination of education and experience in an environmental science or related area.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

• Experience investigating, assessing, and evaluating land use activities for compliance with zoning and/or regulatory requirements.
• Experience effectively communicating regulatory requirements; experience in conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Experience in permit writing and report writing to effectively document findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

A complete application must include one writing sample of a technical nature.

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 using13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave 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 ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 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 ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.16% 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.
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• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
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• Learn aboutadditional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Maine State Government is an Equal Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.