Department of Labor - Employment Services

Job Class Code: 0723
Grade: 20/Professional & Technical
Salary: $20.68-$28.88/Hour
Location: Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston or Portland

Limited Period

Opening Date: November 18, 2024

Closing Date:  December 9, 2024

The Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Employment Services is seeking someone with experience in workforce development or clean energy, infrastructure or construction sectors, to support jobseekers and employers in connecting with clean energy careers. This position focuses on coaching and connecting Maine residents and Mainers with credentials from other countries, states, or military experience to employment and training resources leading to well-paying clean energy jobs in Maine. Navigators work with clean energy employers, industry associations, and businesses to understand workforce needs/opportunities, employment requirements, culture, and environment to support recruitment, retention, and advancement efforts.

Job tasks include assisting job seekers with clean energy career planning, navigation of available training opportunities, and referral to clean energy job and apprenticeship opportunities.  The successful candidate will establish community-based connections, conduct outreach to Maine businesses, deliver informational sessions to groups and individuals, virtually and in person, coordinate services with community partners, track outcomes, and evaluate processes to identify continuous improvement opportunities. Services will be provided to groups and individuals, virtually and in-person at Maine CareerCenters, employer, and community partner locations. 

Primary responsibilities include: 

• Develop customized employment and training plans with customers interested in entering the clean energy sector or to advance their skills and earning potential within the clean energy sector.  
• Track data on service delivery using data management systems.
• Refer those interested in immediate employment to relevant clean energy job placement opportunities including Apprenticeship. 
• Develop relationships with educational institutions in order to make effective referrals to relevant training and educational programs.  
• Research and analyze data related to labor market information and labor market trends.
• Communicate relevant Labor Market information to customers.
• Conduct outreach to and with community service providers, local workforce boards, employers, groups, community organizations, and others to build awareness of Clean Energy Navigator services.  
• Deliver informational sessions and workshops on clean energy career and training opportunities.  

Skills or knowledge required:

• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work effectively.
• Ability to read and interpret federal policies and guidelines, and complex forms and documents.
• Ability to gather and analyze information; and make sound recommendations.
• Ability to maintain accurate, complete, and well documented records.
• Knowledge of standard computer desktop programs.

Minimum qualifications:

Any combination of education and/or work experience that demonstrates competency in:

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively working with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences, effectively communicates and works with coworkers as team members.
• Customer/Quality Skills: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers’ apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.
• Accountability Skills: Holds self accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives and sets priorities. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Accountable to own development including learning necessary job knowledge and associated laws, rules, and policies. Identifies and participates in learning opportunities. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Planning/Organization Skills: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals for self and strategies to achieve them. Using flexibility and resiliency skills, appropriately and effectively adjusts work, plans and priorities to changing circumstances. Monitors own progress and evaluates outcomes.

Preference will be given to those applicants:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience serving people with diverse backgrounds.
• Experience working with businesses and community organizations, particularly for workforce development purposes.
• A high level of experience in Microsoft office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 
• Experience using virtual platforms and understanding of virtual services.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Mahir.Hassanov@Maine.gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  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 require a paper application, please download and print one here https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process or contact our office at 207-623-6700.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Security & Employment Service Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-287-2018.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

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, 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%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 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. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.09% for Confidential employees. 

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.

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.