Environmental Licensing Specialist II

State of Maine•Ashland, ME

1d•$26 - $37

About The Position

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission announces an Environmental Licensing Specialist II vacancy. The Land Use Planning Commission is a 9-member citizen board that governs land use planning, permitting, and zoning in the portions of Maine that are unorganized, or de-organized, areas covering approximately 10.4 million acres. The staff is responsible for permitting, compliance, planning, and administrative functions, operating out of five regional offices (Ashland, East Millinocket, Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft/Greenville, and Wilton) and one central office in Augusta. The Permitting and Compliance (P&C) division provides permitting and compliance assistance to the public, issues permits, conducts field inspections, and enforces the LUPC's standards, among many other duties. BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position will be responsible for handling permitting and compliance tasks primarily within the LUPC’s Northern Region, both residential building permits and larger, more complex projects. The position may periodically assist with permitting and compliance in other regions, as workloads across the service area fluctuate, and may be asked to assist with planning projects that have a local or regional focus. This position reviews permit applications, enforcement cases, and prepares decision documents. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires travel primarily within the Northern Region but also outside of that region to conduct field visits and meet with property owners. It involves inspecting existing development and land uses, assessing technical information, and applying land use standards. The successful candidate will have experience interacting with and working collaboratively with the public. They will also have knowledge of the laws and rules applicable within the LUPC service area, understand erosion and sediment control methods, and possess the ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to extract and apply information from technical documents, communicate effectively orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

Requirements

Intermediate education, training and/or experience in environmental science or a related scientific field demonstrating a seasoned ability to analyze and process permits, applications, licenses, and technical information, or demonstrated directly related experience working with environmental laws, rules, regulations, and complex technical evaluations in a scientific and/or legal field.
Experience with caseload oversight is preferred.
experience interacting with and working collaboratively with the public
knowledge of the laws and rules applicable within the LUPC service area
understand erosion and sediment control methods
possess the ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations
demonstrated the ability to extract and apply information from technical documents, communicate effectively orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work collaboratively in a team environment

Nice To Haves

Experience investigating, assessing, and evaluating land use activities for compliance with zoning and/or regulatory requirements.
Experience effectively communicating regulatory requirements; experience in conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Experience in permit writing and report writing to effectively document findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Responsibilities

handling permitting and compliance tasks primarily within the LUPC’s Northern Region, both residential building permits and larger, more complex projects
assist with permitting and compliance in other regions
assist with planning projects that have a local or regional focus
reviews permit applications, enforcement cases, and prepares decision documents
travel primarily within the Northern Region but also outside of that region to conduct field visits and meet with property owners
inspecting existing development and land uses, assessing technical information, and applying land use standards

Benefits

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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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 14.11% 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.