Planning & Research Associate I - Augusta - 1035 - Limited Period

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The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry is seeking to fill a limited period Planning & Research Associate I position out of the Augusta headquarters.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

ENDING HUNGER CORPS

PLANNING & RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I

-LIMITED PERIOD-

Opening Date: September 01, 2026

Closing Date: End of the day September 15, 2026

Location: Augusta

Position Number: 00500-1035

Position Type: Limited Period - Full Time

Class Code: 0039

Grade: 20 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $20.68 - $28.88 Per Hour

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

*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: The primary purpose of this position is to recruit AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) to staff positions at the government, community and educational sites that are under the umbrella of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (DACF) Ending Hunger Corps. This is a fundamental program in Maine’s legislative initiative to end hunger in Maine by 2030.

This position is responsible for developing and coordinating recruitment and Member activities for Ending Hunger Corps. This includes work in functional areas such as recruitment, examination, position description writing, monitoring those recruited in order to ensure compliance and program impact, and the processing of data and forms pertinent to the Ending Hunger Corps program compliance with AmeriCorps requirements. Travel throughout the state for recruitment events and Member supervision is required.

This position will also supervise volunteers and volunteer groups and be a visible presence among the community. It will monitor volunteer services to ensure that information received is current and accurate. It will also participate in annual program review and analysis.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Kim Lengert at: [email protected]

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A six (6) year combination of education, training, and/or experience providing knowledge of the principles of research and planning.

Preference will be given to candidates who have worked in volunteer services.

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 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.

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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.