If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Social Service Program Manager

Opening Date: April 3, 2026

Closing Date: April 16, 2026

Job Class Code: 5094

Grade: 28 (Supervisory)

Salary: $64,334.40 - $91,332.80 per year*

*This is inclusive of a 1.00% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number: 03000-4553

Location: Augusta

Core Responsibilities:

As Housing Programs Manager you will:

• Manage and oversee Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP), Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSHP), Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), and Rental Subsidy Programs

• Supervise two contract PATH Coordinators, and a Housing Specialist in the effective delivery of programming and management of provider contracts.

• Allocate finances to meet client needs, as reported and assessed through monthly and quarterly reports from housing and outreach agencies pertaining to client utilization and urgent needs

• Review and approve monthly billing

• Assist the Grant Manager in preparing and submitting HUD and COC grant renewals according to federal Notice of Funding Availability

• Monitor contracts to ensure accountability and compliance with regulations

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to community-based providers contracted with OBH homelessness and housing programs

• Review and issue decisions on Reasonable Accommodation requests

• Review and issue decision on appeals filed with agencies

• Propose resource development plans in response to State Administrative directives

• Secure resources through HUD, State grant funds, Federal SAMHSA office, by providing detailed reports on needs and resource availability and assisting with grant applications

• Initiate policy changes through active participation and collaboration with Statewide Homeless Council, Maine Continuum of Care, and other stakeholder groups

• Work across team of OBH, other DHSS Offices, Maine State Housing Authority, and community organizations to problem solve and collaborate, while developing resources to support a complete continuum of care

• This position requires occasional in-state travel to monitor contracts, conduct site visits, and attend stakeholder meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, your background must include four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in social service or mental health/developmental disabilities programs and a Bachelors Degree. At least three (3) years of the required experience must be in a supervisory and/or administrative capacity. Equivalent related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preference will be given to candidates with professional experience in housing and/or homelessness programs.

The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Exceptional leadership skills demonstrated through prior experience successfully managing program(s) and supervisees.

2. A demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships, such as with state/federal officials and stakeholder groups.

3. A demonstrated ability to multitask by handling competing priorities and navigate prioritization of tasks.

4. A proven ability to identify, analyze and report on key metrics that measure the success of social service programs and to identify and formulate desirable program enhancements to make recommendations to leadership.

5. Experience working with rental assistance and housing programs. Please be specific in describing any programs you managed, job title, experience, etc.

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 experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within DHHS is responsible for providing leadership and active partnership in Maine’s comprehensive system of support to communities and individuals with substance use and mental health conditions through a network of community providers.

The OBH takes responsibility for a behavioral health continuum of care that serves the whole person, the whole community. We promote a population health approach that includes a full spectrum of services from prevention, to early intervention, treatment, crisis care, and recovery. Our role is to ensure Mainers with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders are not just symptom free but living a life of dignity, hope, and meaning. We partner with providers, communities, and citizens to offer support, resources, education, training, technical assistance, and services.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Taylor LaCroix, Associate Director of Housing, at Taylor.LaCroix@Maine.gov

To apply, please upload a current resume and cover letter addressing the five competency areas identified in the Requirements Section.

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

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 Fit – 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 ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 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 ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• 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 six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

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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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.