Office Associate II - 0584 (Anticipated Vacancy)

OFFICE ASSOCIATE II

• ANTICIPATED VACANCY-

Opening Date: October 02, 2024 Closing Date: October 23, 2024 Location: Augusta Position #: 00500-0584 Position Type: Full Time Class Code: 6542 Grade/Salary: Grade 13 - $35,984.00 - $51,812.80 Per Year

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

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position provides administrative and in-office support for the staff and members of the Board of Pesticides Control (BPC). These responsibilities require solid knowledge of modern office practices and office equipment operation necessary to perform diverse clerical functions, and interest in and understanding of issues related to pesticide policy, regulations, and professional licensure will be helpful in this role. Responsibilities require independent judgment on established work assignments, priorities, and schedules.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Triage pesticide-related inquiries from the public and stakeholders to provide timely, accurate responses or route them to appropriate team members for resolution.
• Create and use varied correspondence formats and compose standard business communications and reports.
• Duties as clerk of the BPC include compiling, producing and mailing board meeting materials, taking accurate minutes during meetings of the Board, processing travel vouchers and completing the clerk's report.
• Collect, count, reconcile and/or deposit fees in accordance with set procedures, and reconcile funds.
• Stay current and understand, discuss, explain, and apply applicable pesticide laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, paperwork, and terminology.
• Coordinate and support workshops, training, and orientation sessions with BPC staff.
• Scheduling and administering in-person certification exam sessions, grading exams and reporting results in accordance with set procedures.
• Navigate BPC database to answer customer questions about licensing and examination status and enter CEU's earned by licenses.
• Determine facts, detect errors and irregularities in program materials, and take appropriate action to resolve them in accordance with established procedures.
• Exercise good judgement in appraising work situations and making decisions/recommendations to effectively address problems.
• Order, organize, and log office supplies and provide BPC staff with printer/computer/copier support.
• Manage all components of the BPC's annual Pesticide Notification Registry, in accordance with established procedures.
• Other tasks as appropriate and directed.

For questions specific to the position, please contact the Hiring Manager, Alexander R. Peacock, at: alexander.r.peacock@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.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "APPLY" button below along with uploading a Cover Letter, and 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.

___

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.