Program Project Manager (Senior Planner) - Land for Maine's Future - 1092 (Augusta)

PROGRAM PROJECT MANAGER

(SENIOR PLANNER)

Opening Date: March 07, 2025 Closing Date: March 24, 2025 Location: Augusta* Position #: 09510-1092 Position Type: Full Time Class Code: 0603 Grade/Salary: Grade 25 - $54,412.80 - $76,315.20 Per Year

Do you have a passion for Maine’s wild places, open spaces, and working lands (our way of life)? Would you like to be able to visit iconic mountains, deep forests, and vibrant city green spaces and say, “I helped protect that?” Would you like to be part of the team working to lessen the effects of climate change while supporting some of the State’s most important economic and cultural foundations? If so, this job may be for you!

The Land for Maine’s Future Program (LMF) at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is recruiting for a Program Project Manager for the coastal zone and working waterfronts.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: As the Program Project Manager in this position, you will use your leadership skills to shepherd assigned projects through the LMF funding process, from initial inquiry to funding (and beyond). Although your portfolio will contain a variety of Conservation & Recreation (“C&R”) and Water Access (“WA”) projects, your focus will be on working waterfront (“WWF”), C&R, and WA projects in the coastal zone. You will analyze details of complex real estate transactions, conservation easements, and associated documents to ensure that applicants have met their commitments to the LMF Board (and the Public), and you will draft WWF covenants and other LMF project agreements to protect the conservation values for which your projects were funded. You will use your expertise with the WWF program and your excellent communication skills to help shape LMF policy in this sector as we look to the future, recognizing the unique role commercial fishing plays in the State of Maine’s identity, economy, and conservation efforts. Other tasks include helping your colleagues maintain the LMF website and database, assisting with the development of the LMF "workbook" for each funding round, issuing calls for proposals, assisting with reporting requirements, responding to inquiries from the public or potential applicants, and researching and presenting topic-specific issues for the Board’s consideration.

• Remote work options are available for this position to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and with the approval of management.
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s Degree in assigned area and four (4) years of related work experience. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Assigned Areas: Environmental sciences, law, community planning and development, public administration or a related field.

The Successful Candidate Will Have

• Familiarity with LMF policies and guidelines and related statutes/authorities, land acquisition policies/procedures, and priorities of state natural resource agencies.
• Knowledge of land conveyancing concepts and conservation easement principles and practices.
• Ability to analyze complex legal/real estate documents.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to make decisions while also identifying decisions appropriate for the LMF Director or Board.
• A deep desire to work with others to protect natural and working lands in Maine.
• Ability to understand issues, solve problems, and trace implications promptly and efficiently.
• Strong organizational skills.
• A working knowledge of standard office programs (particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe).
  
  

The ideal applicant understands Maine's commercial fishing industry and its associated challenges and wants to be part of the solution. They can quickly acquire a working knowledge of each LMF program (C&R, WA, WWF, and Working Farmland Access and Protection “WFAP”).

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "APPLY" button below along with uploading a Cover Letter and a current Resume. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your Resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

If you can't apply online and you require a paper application, please download and print one here: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process. Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with a Cover Letter and Resume, before the closing date, to: Natural Resources Service Center, c/o Kristin McCamish, 32 Blossom Lane, Marquardt Building, Augusta, ME 04333-0155. Please be sure that the title, and position number, of the job you are applying for is included.

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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. 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 ($11,196.96-$13,172.88 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 ($358.08 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.29% 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.