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 Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management - Bureau of Maine Veteran Services
Job Class Code: 0831
Grade: 25/Supervisory
Salary: $57,408.00-$81,078.40/Annually
Location: Augusta (Togus)
Opening Date: May 20, 2026
Closing Date: June 4, 2026
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is excited to be hiring for a Veterans Services Officer (Homeless and Incarcerated Services) position. If you’re a veteran, this is your chance to join a dynamic team of professionals that support Maine veterans and their dependents across the state to attain all possible state and federal veteran, as well as survivor benefits as part of our Homeless Veterans Coordination Team.
Primary responsibilities include:
The primary purpose of this position is to be the Bureau’s lead and point of contact for homeless and incarcerated veterans’ issues, as well as representing the Bureau on homeless veterans’ committees, justice affected veterans’ committees and assisting with compiling data for mandated legislative reports and policy decisions. The position requires clear and consistent communication with the Supervisor of Veterans Services, Bureau employees, the Homeless Veterans Action Committee, Justice Action Committee, and other partner organizations throughout the state. Frequent statewide travel is required. The applicant must be veteran as defined by Federal law.
The Homeless and Incarcerated Services VSO will advocate for Veterans at-risk or experiencing homeless as well as justice affected veterans by providing state resources, connecting to federal benefits, and referrals to other state agency and community partners.
Skills or knowledge required:
- Knowledge of basic supervisory techniques and office management practices
- Knowledge of various assistance agencies and services available to veterans and their dependents
- Ability to prepare and maintain records within client management software
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients, managers, and the public
- Ability to deal effectively and compassionately with victims of trauma and/or depressed clients, including those with mental disorders or with chemical dependency
- Ability to conduct interviews with veterans and obtain information pertinent to veteran’s benefits
- Ability to maintain a respectful and professional relationship with claimants, supervisors, and VA personnel
- Ability to maintain a working relationship with veterans’ organizations, staff, volunteers, and news media; providing information regarding Bureau programs and services and performing field informational and claim visits to clients
Minimum qualifications:
A Bachelors Degree in Business/Public Administration, Human Resources, Education, a Social Services/Behavioral Science area, or related field and two (2) years experience in directly providing and/or administering benefit programs, personnel administration, or related social services/human resources work. Equivalent work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
Applicants must be veterans as defined by must be veterans as defined by 38 United States Code, Section 101 (2) who were separated with an honorable discharge. Proof of Veterans Status (DD Form 214) must accompany application. The DD Form 214 must include the “Character of Service”.
LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).
State of Maine & US Department of Veterans Affairs Training, Responsibility, Involvement, and Preparation (TRIP)
National Veterans Legal Service Program (NVLSP)
Successful completion of fingerprinting and Federal background check
Preference will be given to those applicants:
Experience working on diverse personnel and sensitive issues is preferred. Experience working with federal and state veterans' benefits and services is preferred. Experience speaking and presenting in public is strongly preferred. Experience driving a truck towing a trailer is preferred.
Contact information:
Questions about this position should be directed to Matthew Kennedy at matthew.r.kennedy@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 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.
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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.
