CareerCenter Consultant (Multiple Limited Period Vacancies) Statewide - Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston, Portland

Department of Labor - Employment Services

Job Class Code: 0723
Grade: 20/Professional & Technical 
Salary: $20.68 - $28.88 (Hourly)

Location: Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston or Portland

Limited Period: Anticipated End Date June 7, 2025

Opening Date: November 14, 2024

Closing Date:  December 2, 2024

The Maine Department of Labor is now filling limited period CareerCenter Consultant positions. If you have a passion for helping people, enjoy working one-on-one with people, and are customer service focused, this may be the opportunity for you!  CareerCenter Consultants provide employment services to a diverse customer population which includes the public and employers/businesses. Responsibilities include interviewing, assessing needs and guiding customers in making career, education, and training decisions, determining eligibility, referring customers to programs or services, managing caseloads of customers participating in education and training programs, and facilitating employment and training related workshops.  The work will include case management services for customers with difficult employment outlooks and histories. These positions will be funded until June 2025 with a possibility of extension.

FOCUS: The current focus of these CareerCenter Consultant positions is case management of individuals participating in the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program and it subject to change to include other CareerCenter Consultant assignments.  Demonstrated ability to learn and apply program laws rules, policies, and guidelines as well as providing exceptional customer services will be essential to success in these positions.  Services may be provided in-person at Maine CareerCenters or virtually using Zoom or MS Teams platforms depending on customer preference.

In-state travel between service and outreach points (including CareerCenters) will be required and reimbursed at the State’s current rates.

What will you do?

• Collect, organize, and analyze information about customers in order to evaluate interests, aptitudes, and abilities for career decision-making and employment and training planning.
• Research, organize, and conduct workshops in order to inform customers of employment services, job seeking and interview skills, and other available programs and services.
• Contact, visit, and consult with employers in order to provide recruitment, training, and referral services.
• Develop and negotiate training contracts for apprenticeship programs, internships, and on-the-job-training employment opportunities for employers/businesses.
• Guide customers in overcoming challenges to attaining their education or employment goals.
• Provide case management services for customers in job search or in training programs.
• Promote and coordinate services through participation in informational sessions, job fairs, and trade shows.

Minimum qualifications:

Any combination of education and/or work experience that demonstrates competency in:

·    Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively working with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences, effectively communicates and works with coworkers as team members.

·    Customer/Quality Skills: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers’ apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.

·    Accountability Skills: Holds self accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives and sets priorities. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Accountable to own development including learning necessary job knowledge and associated laws, rules, and policies. Identifies and participates in learning opportunities. Complies with established control systems and rules.

·    Planning/Organization Skills: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals for self and strategies to achieve them. Using flexibility and resiliency skills, appropriately and effectively adjusts work, plans and priorities to changing circumstances. Monitors own progress and evaluates outcomes.

The MDOL/Bureau of Employment Services believe our employees should reflect the diversity of the populations we serve, including racial, cultural and ethnic diversity and people with disabilities.  We welcome and encourage all applicants with interest in this position and who believe they meet minimum qualifications listed. 

Preference will be given to those applicants:

• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Education or work experience in career guidance and planning or related vocational experience.
• Experience in case management.
• Experience using virtual communications platforms such as MS Teams and Zoom.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills in English in addition to any of the following languages: Arabic, French, Khmer, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Michelle.Cameron-Doughty@maine.gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period.  Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you require a paper application, please download and print one here https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process or contact our office at 207-623-6700.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Security & Employment Service Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-287-2018.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

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%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 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. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.09% for Confidential employees. 

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.

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.