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The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry has a full-time position as a Planning and Research Associate I in the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

PLANNING & RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I

Opening Date: February 27, 2026

Closing Date: End of day March 13, 2026

Location: Augusta

Position Number: 00500-0948

Class Code: 0039

Grade: 20 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $20.68 - $28.88 Per Hour

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This Full-time position assists the Emergency Food Assistance Director in the ordering, receiving, shipping and distribution of USDA foods and other commodities to emergency feeding organizations and distributing agencies of the state. The position will manage inventory, make statewide deliveries, manage onsite distribution, and assist in compiling data used to track program parameters and to evaluate and project the program needs.

The DACF Emergency Food Assistance Program is responsible for the distribution of USDA foods through two federal programs, implementation of the State’s Hunters for the Hungry Program, and assisting with the receipt and distribution of any other donated items. We may also be called to provide food assistance in emergencies and natural disasters, volunteer management, and internal and external customer service.

Tasks include:

• Ability to communicate with the public
• Maintaining relationships with emergency feeding organizations USDA/FNS, contractors, and other departments.
• Driving delivery vehicles, forklift operation, and manual lifting.
• Conducting physical inventory assessments and reporting.
• Occasional statewide travel.
• Other tasks as assigned.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Gus Nelson at: (207) 287-7513 or Gustav.Nelson@maine.gov

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

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 ($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.

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.

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