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Maine Pesticide Control Board Director with State of Maine, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Augusta, Maine

Type of position state government
Employer State of Maine, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Location Augusta, Maine
Salary Grade/Salary: Grade 31(Confidential) – $68,432.00 – $93,184.00/Annually
Benefits 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 ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 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 ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes at least 18.21% 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 four weeks 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.

Closing date of competition November 24, 2023
Date position available October 30, 2023
Description of duties

The Board of Pesticides Control is the state’s lead agency regulating pesticide use and sales. The Board of Control is affiliated with the Department for administrative and staffing purposes.  Policy decisions are made by a seven-member board.

 

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a high-visibility role that sits at the intersection of science and public policy, requiring frequent interface with the agricultural community, pest management professionals, the Maine legislature, environmental groups, the general public, and more. This position supervises a professional staff of 14. The work demands an even-tempered, science-literate leader who can manage numerous disparate tasks and priorities while directing work in ways that are clear, transparent, and responsive.

 

This professional supervisory position provides direction to pesticide regulatory programs for the State of Maine under the oversight of the BPC. To meet BPC mandates, this position oversees the following program areas: licensing pesticide applicators and distributors, registering pesticides used in the state, administering federal and state pesticide laws and regulations, and determining pesticide policy through regular public meetings. Responsibilities include administering laws and regulations, disseminating technical pesticide information, managing a budget, supervising professional staff, presenting to professional groups, and serving as the primary contact to the board and the Maine Legislature. Work is performed under administrative direction from the Division of Animal & Plant Health Director. 

Qualifications sought

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Ability to interpret and amend regulations and laws related to regulating pesticides.
  • Ability to act as a liaison to represent the Department on pesticide issues with the public, commodity groups, and other state and federal agencies.
  • Ability to staff and take direction from a public board.
  • Ability to write, submit and administer the budget in order to have adequate resources and funds to administer the program.
  • Ability to manage personnel and oversee the work of the program to ensure effective operations.
  • Ability to write reports and press releases and answer inquiries to provide information related to pesticide issues.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  A bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.  Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. 

PREFERENCES:  Preference will be given to candidates with management experience and public or private regulatory experience.

Contact for additional information For questions specific to this position, please contact Megan Patterson at (207) 592-0911.
Application procedure  
Submit what HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates need to complete and submit a State of Maine Direct Hire Application, Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at:
https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#acf

Direct Hire Application forms
can be obtained by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml

Submit to HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates need to complete and submit a State of Maine Direct Hire Application, Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at:
https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#acf

Direct Hire Application forms
can be obtained by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml

Additional Information 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.