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.

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, is currently recruiting to fill an Office Associate II position in Old Town.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

OFFICE ASSOCIATE II

Opening Date: September 14, 2026

Closing Date: End of the day September 28, 2026

Location: Old Town

Position Number: 01715-5673

Position Type: Permanent Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 6542

Grade: 13 (Administrative)

Salary: $17.73 - $25.53 Per Hour*

*(This includes a 2.5 % Salary Adjustment)

Interested applicants need to submit a Direct Hire Application, along with a Cover Letter, a detailed Resume*, and 3 professional references.

*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 position provides administrative and in-office support for the staff and members of the Forest Protection Division. These responsibilities require solid knowledge of modern office practices and the operation of office equipment necessary to perform diverse clerical functions. An interest in and understanding of wildfire management and natural resource conservation law enforcement programs will be helpful in this role. Responsibilities require independent judgment on established work assignments, priorities, and schedules.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Procurement contracts and navigating the state purchasing processes
• Ability to answer phone calls from the members of the public and stakeholders, answer questions about basic agency information, and direct callers to Forest Rangers for further intervention and education.
• Ability to write and issue open burn permits to members of the public. Stay current and understand, discuss, and explain rules and regulations regarding open burning.
• Create and use varied correspondence formats and compose standard business communications and reports.
• Process wildland fire reports and payroll within procurement guidelines. Collect and process regional wildland fire staff documentation and interact with the agency's Mobilization Coordinator.
• Coordinate and support workshops, trainings, and orientation sessions with Forest Protection staff.
• Navigate and help update Forest Protection’s wildland fire plan on an annual basis.
• Review program materials to detect errors and irregularities and take appropriate action to resolve them in accordance with established procedures to ensure they are factual and accurate.
• Exercise good judgment in appraising work situations and making decisions/recommendations to effectively address problems.
• Work with the regional ranger to organize and log office supplies and provide BPC staff with printer/computer/copier support.
• Document and track agency town warden appointments, resignations, and updated contact information, interacting with the state office for up-to-date listings.
• Other tasks as appropriate and directed.
• Processing of charge card receipts for all of the central region staff

For questions specific to the position, please contact Ben Goodwin, at: Ben.Goodwin@maine.gov

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Training, education, or experience in office and administrative support work that demonstrates 1) competency in applying a solid knowledge of modern office practices to perform complex, varied office support tasks, and 2) the ability to use independent decision-making on the appropriate processes to follow, information to process, and actions to take in accordance with standard procedures. All positions in this classification assume the qualifications of: Office Assistant I, Office Assistant II, and Office Associate I.

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 at least 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 a MaineSaves 457(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?

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.

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.