Maine Department of Transportation  

Salary: $66,206.40 - $94,057.60 (per year) (Salary Schedule) 

Office/Bureau: Planning

Location: Augusta, ME 

Position Number:  02500-0096

Opening Date: September 24, 2024

Closing Date: October 8, 2024

Job Description:  

The Policy Development Specialist serves under the direction of the Community Planning and Scoping Manager, along with the Director of Public and Community Services and the Director of the Bureau of Planning. This position systematically identifies and manages multimodal transportation planning studies throughout Maine, builds relationships with key stakeholders, effectively communicates MaineDOT policy priorities, and assists Bureau leadership in the development and/or oversight of planning documents and policy development and implementation. 

Transportation studies managed by the Policy Development Specialist may range from small feasibility efforts involving alternatives within existing right-of-way, to new transportation facilities, to village infrastructure improvements. This position also serves as a liaison between MaineDOT and county/municipal governments, business entities, and regional planning organizations. This includes serving as an extension of the Executive Office, providing key departmental policy priorities and messaging when speaking with customers. 

Specific tasks may include:

• Working extensively with the public, local leaders, a wide array of stakeholders, and all major MaineDOT Bureaus and Offices to understand the need for transportation improvement requests, prepare concise Purpose and Need statements to be used in evaluating alternatives, and collaboratively prepare study scopes of work and independent government cost estimates for planning studies.
• Negotiating cost sharing agreements both for planning studies and build alternatives that result from studies based on existing MaineDOT Policies and Programs.
• Managing Community-Based Initiatives, including Planning and Village Partnership Initiatives, to help meet identified transportation needs. This includes assisting local officials in defining their problems and then guiding them to the appropriate MaineDOT program administrator, as well as guiding them to other funding opportunities.
• Building relationships with and facilitating support between MaineDOT and local leaders and stakeholders on other items of mutual interest, including proposed legislation, grant requests, and other federal funding opportunities.
• Effectively communicating policies and messaging from MaineDOT to communities across Maine.
• Working with Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs), when appropriate, as force multipliers.
• Engaging in the development of the Department’s Work Plan and Family of Plans.
• Engaging in the development of discretionary grant applications.
• Understanding the basic principles of MaineDOT’s capital and maintenance programs, how they operate, and the asset management principals under which they operate, so that these can be effectively communicated to local officials and in-depth questions can be accurately routed within MaineDOT.
• Working closely with other MaineDOT Bureaus and Regional Staff to identify and address transportation needs and coordinate planning studies with other MaineDOT efforts.
• Assisting in the development of updates to Departmental planning documents.
• Synthesizing information related to transportation trends, land use policies, environmental impacts and long-range planning needs.
• Providing Bureau of Planning leadership with suggestions on how the Department could adjust its programs to better serve the state.
• Completing multiple complex tasks on time and on budget (to the best of your ability, notwithstanding items outside of your control) and demonstrating excellent written and oral communication skills.

To be minimally qualified for this position candidates must provide evidence of the following experience:

A nine (9) year combination of education, training, and/or professional level experience in public/business administration or a directly related area which includes experience in policy development, analysis, and implementation.

Application Instructions: 

Interested applicants need to apply online by clicking the "Apply for this Opening/Apply Now" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and any applicable copies of post-secondary transcripts, licensing, registration and certifications. 

*If you require a paper application or have general questions, please contact MaineDOT Human Resources at 207-624-3050 or via email at jobs.DOT@maine.gov

Why join our team?

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 ($358.08 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). 

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.