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 Labor - Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened
Job Class Code: 3081
Grade: 19 (Professional/Technical)
Salary: $19.84 - $27.49 (Hourly- includes a 2% stipend)
Location: Augusta, ME
Opening Date: April 15, 2026
Closing Date: April 30, 2026
Are you passionate about helping people find meaningful employment and build independence?
Our program supports individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened who are seeking employment. Would this be a population you’d be interested in working with?
The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I may be a good career match for you!
Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) is preferred.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation seeks a candidate for a full-time Rehabilitation Counselor I to work with the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened.
This position will work closely with the Director, support Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf Statewide and specialized projects within the Division.
The person hired for this position will be based in the Augusta Vocational Rehabilitation office.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Providing Vocational Rehabilitation Orientation for new clients.
- Outreach to clients, families, schools, employers, providers, and other stakeholders.
- Assisting with intake appointments to gather information to support eligibility determination.
- Gathering and entering documentation into our case management system.
- Facilitating workshops and trainings for clients.
- Working with teams and individuals via Zoom and in person.
- Developing relationships with schools and providing workshops to youth.
- Supporting summer employment opportunities for youth.
Skills or knowledge required:
- Knowledge of disabilities.
- Knowledge of rehabilitative services and programs.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Experience using technology.
- Flexibility and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent prioritization, organization, and time management skills.
Minimum qualifications:
A four (4) year combination of training, experience, and/or education in vocational rehabilitation program development and implementation.
Preferences:
Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) Preferred, additional $1.00 per hour stipend if certification of proficiency is met.
Contact information:
Questions about this position should be directed to Samantha Fenderson at samantha.j.fenderson@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%-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 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.91% 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.
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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.
