Public Service Executive I

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maine Office of New Americans is dedicated to making Maine a home of opportunity for all, by welcoming and supporting immigrants to strengthen Maine’s workforce, enhancing the vibrancy of Maine’s communities, and building a strong and inclusive economy. As the Director of Maine’s Office of New Americans (ONA), you will lead the work of the ONA. You will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to improve the long-term economic and civic participation of immigrants into the State’s workforce and communities. This position will be responsible for carrying out the operations of the office, including supervising professional staff, interacting with the ONA Advisory Council, and reporting on the activities of the ONA to the Governor and the Legislature. The position offers the unique opportunity to shape the strategy of the office; to work across public agencies, institutions, community-based organizations and other partners to improve economic opportunity for immigrants in Maine. This is a full-time, salaried position responsible for significant cross-agency work and stakeholder engagement. GOPIF is looking for an individual with experience and expertise in workforce and economic development, policy development, and stakeholder engagement, preferably in areas related to immigrant inclusion. This is a hybrid position headquartered in Augusta, with occasional travel in Maine and to national convenings/conferences as necessary and appropriate. Mileage is reimbursed for work-related travel. The position will report to the Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) and will supervise one staff member.

Requirements

To qualify, your background must include a minimum of 7 years of professional experience, and may include a mix of public policy, federal or state government, law, workforce and economic development, community organizing, advocacy, education, or nonprofit or industry leadership.
A proven ability to navigate complex organizations, develop trust with senior leaders, and build trusted relationships among diverse groups of colleagues and stakeholders.
Professional or lived experience with the barriers, challenges and opportunities experienced by immigrant Mainers.
Demonstrated success in identifying challenges and designing policy-level solutions; with experience working within school, federal, state, or local government, community organizing, and/or nonprofit advocacy.
Effective communications skills, including communicating with diverse populations.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to deliver on long-term projects as well as shift to address emergent needs.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team and to supervise staff.
Strong meeting facilitation skills and experience.
Experience using data and field work to generate insights and creatively solve problems.

Nice To Haves

GOPIF recognizes the value that an array of experiences will bring to the position, including lived experience, non-traditional educational backgrounds, and multilingualism.

Responsibilities

Lead the operations of the ONA, including implementation of a strategy and vision that align with State and Administration priorities for immigrant civic and economic integration.
Build and maintain strong relationships with immigrant communities, state agency leadership, municipalities, School Administrative Units, employers, advocacy groups and others, to understand challenges and opportunities related to the immigrant experience in Maine.
Facilitate the ONA Advisory Council and consider its recommendations on matters impacting immigrants in the State.
Direct office operations, budget, and staff supervision.
Serve as the public face of the Maine ONA, including representing the office at events, with community stakeholders, and in the media.

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.
Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 18.91% 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.
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.
State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness.