Planning & Research Associate I (Ending Hunger Corps Recruitment Specialist) - 1035

PLANNING & RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I

(ENDING HUNGER CORPS RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST)

Opening Date:

August 28, 2023

Closing Date:

September 15, 2023

Location:

Augusta

Position #:

00500-1035

Position Type:

Full Time (Limited Period)

Class Code:

0039

Grade/Salary:

Grade 20   -    $39,395.20 - $52,894.40/Annually

Do you want to make Maine a more just and food-secure state? Do you love discovering mission-driven people and connecting them with life-changing opportunities to strengthen their communities? This might be the next job for you!

Ending Hunger Corps (EHC) is an AmeriCorps VISTA project focused on helping State agencies and Maine non-profits implement Maine’s roadmap to end hunger by 2030. We are looking for a compassionate, highly organized individual who can develop and implement an outreach and recruitment strategy to find our next cohort of VISTA volunteers and get our project up to its full 25-member strength. This is a full-time, limited period position as Planning and Research Associate I/Ending Hunger Corps Recruitment Specialist. 

*The position is located in Augusta and may work according to DACF’s Telework Policy. 

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 ending hunger in Maine by 2030. 

This position is responsible for developing and coordinating recruitment activities for Ending Hunger Corps. This includes work in functional areas such as recruitment, examination, position description writing, and the processing of data and research that is pertinent to the Ending Hunger Corps program. Travel throughout te state for recruitment events 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.

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

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES REQUIRED:
•    Knowledge of recruitment methods, sources, and techniques applicable to national service volunteerism, particularly VISTA programs
•    Knowledge of record keeping procedures and practices
•    Ability to create materials relatable to current volunteer service positions
•    Ability to present ideas publicly, and communicate those ideas effectively to a broad range of audiences through multiple platforms, including social media
•    Ability to write clearly and effectively 
•    Ability to apply procedural instructions and understand policy and procedure

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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 ($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 13.00% 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.

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.               

Salary : $39,395 - $52,894