Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager - Ellsworth - Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Anticipated Vacancy

State of Maine•Ellsworth, ME

1d•$57,034 - $80,954•Onsite

About The Position

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is seeking a Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager for its Ellsworth branch. This on-site leadership role is responsible for supervising daily branch operations, including vehicle registrations, titles, driver licensing, testing, cash handling, and ensuring compliance with Title 29-A. The branch is in a rebuilding phase, and the Manager will play a key role in strengthening accountability, team culture, and operational consistency while maintaining high standards of public service. This position requires strong, hands-on leadership and daily in-person supervision.

Requirements

Education, training, and/or experience in business management, public administration, or another closely related field demonstrating competency in reviewing and explaining laws and regulations; planning and coordinating business operations; maintaining records; reviewing financial data; providing customer service; and acting in a formal or informal leadership capacity.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
Successful candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form upon hire.
The successful candidate must pass a National Criminal Background check, including fingerprinting.

Nice To Haves

Digital fluency and a process-improvement mindset: Comfort learning and adopting new technologies, experience streamlining or digitizing paper-based work, clear written communication, curiosity about emerging workplace tools, and the judgment to evaluate and verify their output before relying on it.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Regional Manager and fellow Branch Managers to align operations with the Bureau’s Strategic Plan priorities.
Plans, organizes, assigns, evaluates, and directs the work activities of staff to ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
Interviews, selects, and trains staff to ensure sufficient and qualified personnel.
Reviews work and performance against established standards; identifies training needs and recommends appropriate personnel actions.
Complete and submit performance evaluations within established timelines.
Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance documentation.
Collaborate with Human Resources on recruitment, onboarding, and disciplinary processes.
Conducts daily cash reconciliation and reviews financial and inventory reports for accuracy.
Maintains accountability for collected monies, license plates, stickers, and another controlled inventory.
Ensures facility safety, security, and accessibility standards are met.
Responds to complex or irregular inquiries regarding motor vehicle laws, regulations, and procedures.
Coordinates with law enforcement and administrative offices as required.
Implements and comply with all applicable human resource laws, policies, and procedures.
Model, reinforce, and uphold high standards of courteous, accurate, and efficient service while ensuring teams consistently meet service expectations in a public-facing regulatory environment.
Lead teams through high-demand workloads while maintaining professionalism, accuracy, and responsiveness statewide.
Build and sustain effective teams by fostering collaboration, accountability, and a respectful, productive workplace culture.
Apply analytical thinking and sound judgment to complex operational decisions while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
Communicate complex rules, policies, and changes clearly to staff, leadership, municipalities, and the public.
Identify issues, assess risk, and implement practical, solution-focused responses while supporting staff through challenges.
Lead teams through evolving policies, procedures, technologies, and modernization initiatives while maintaining clarity, morale, and performance.
Represent the Department with integrity, accountability, and professionalism, setting expectations for ethical conduct and public trust.
Lead, coach, and manage employees across varying levels of performance, including addressing challenging behaviors and holding staff accountable in a fair, consistent, and respectful manner.
Ability to have difficult or sensitive conversations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity while supporting improvement and maintaining standards.
Guide onboarding, training, and ongoing development to ensure staff readiness and operational resilience.
Demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, discretion, and sound judgment in high-stress or sensitive situations.
Champion innovation, learning, and process improvement to enhance service delivery statewide.
Lead the team through a system modernization with positive communication and support.
Ensure smooth, compliant daily operations.
Set and reinforce clear performance standards.
Conduct regular staff meetings and one-on-ones.
Support onboarding and training.
Apply progressive discipline appropriately.
Maintain accuracy, accountability, and a professional, customer-focused environment.

Benefits

13 paid holidays
12 days of sick leave
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
Personal leave for overtime-exempt employees
Health Insurance Coverage: The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums
Dental Insurance: The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums
Retirement Plan: The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
Gym Membership Reimbursement: up to $40 per month
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Living Resources Program: employee assistance program
Six weeks of fully paid parental leave for all employees welcoming a child
Additional unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary Deferred Compensation: MaineSaves 457(b) account