Location: Augusta,ME, USA
Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Standards
Job Class Code: 7251
Grade: 27/Supervisory
Salary: $61,942.40-$87,464.00/Annually
Location: Statewide travel required. Vehicle provided.
Opening Date: November 14, 2024
Closing Date: December 2, 2024
The Maine Department of Labor has an exciting opportunity for a motivated person to join our team as the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers' State Monitor Advocate. The Monitor Advocate System is a federal/state monitoring system that ensures migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) have equitable access to career services, skill development, and workforce protections, so they may improve their living and working conditions.
Ideal candidates will have experience with the unique challenges of providing services and resources to MSFWs and be proficient in English and Spanish and/or Haitian Creole. Candidates need to become capable of identifying and appropriately referring MSFW farm workplace issues like trafficking, wage theft, and gender-based violence and harassment to appropriate services and authorities.
In this senior-level position, you will:
* Conduct field visits where you will speak with employers and workers to observe, discuss and evaluate services and working conditions.
* Serve as an advocate to improve employment services provided to Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers through Maine's CareerCenters.
* Evaluate and report on employment services and associated data collection for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance to farm employers and workers and follow-up on corrective action needed.
* Educate state agencies, employers, workers and interested parties to promote safe, healthy and fair agricultural work environments.
* Provide technical assistance and training on the processes and services afforded to farm employers and workers ensuring there is coordination to serve the needs in agricultural workplaces.
* Serve as the subject matter expert on federal and state laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and best practices governing services provided to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers and ensure others are aware and in compliance with them.
* Review, advise on, and approve the 4-year Agriculture Outreach Plan (AOP) for the Bureau of Employment Services.
Minimum qualifications:
An eight (8) year combination of education, training, and/or experience in developing, coordinating, and/or administering employment and training programs -OR- an acceptable equivalent combination of training, experience, and/or education.
Preference will be given to those applicants:
Strong preference for individuals who have experience with migrant and seasonal farm workers and their issues, and for those who are proficient in English as well as Spanish or Haitian Creole, or both.
In your cover letter, please describe your experience with farmwork, migrant and seasonal farm workers, and your use of the required languages in the course of your work.
Contact information:
Questions about this position should be directed to John Rioux, Deputy Director - Bureau of Labor Standards 207-###-#### or ...@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 or contact our office at 207-###-####. 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-###-####. 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.