Environmental Licensing Specialist ; LUPC Ashland

Environmental Licensing Specialist I

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) announces an Environmental Licensing Specialist I vacancy.

Position Number:
Position Type:
Permanent Full Time/Year-Round
Class Code: 9272
Grade: 22 (Professional/Technical Unit)
Salary: $22.68 - $31.65 Per Hour

Location:

Ashland
Opening Date:
August 27, 2026
Closing Date:
End of the day September 18, 2026

The Land Use Planning Commission is a 9-member citizen board that governs land use planning, permitting, and zoning in the unorganized or de-organized portions of Maine, covering approximately 10.4 million acres. The Commission’s staff is responsible for permitting, compliance, planning, and administrative functions, operating out of five regional offices and one central office in Augusta.

This position will be primarily responsible for handling routine permitting and compliance tasks within the LUPC’s Northern Region with an office located in Ashland and, on occasion, assisting with larger and more complex projects within the region under the guidance of higher-level staff. The position will also assist with permitting and compliance in other regions, as workloads across regions fluctuate, and may be asked to assist with planning projects with a local or regional focus.

This position reviews permit applications, enforcement cases, and prepares decision documents. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires travel primarily within the Northern Region but also outside of that region to conduct field visits and meet with property owners. It involves inspecting existing development and land uses, assessing technical information, and applying land use standards. This position is a hybrid telework/office position, eligible after the probationary period.

The successful candidate will have knowledge or the ability to learn the LUPC’s rules or, more generally, zoning requirements and related land use standards; understand erosion and sediment control methods; and possess the ability to reach logical conclusions and make sound recommendations. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to extract and apply information from technical documents, communicate effectively orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

Education, training and/or experience in environmental science or another applicable scientific field and demonstrated experience analyzing and processing permits, applications, licenses, and technical information, or demonstrated directly related experience working with environmental laws, rules, regulations, and complex technical evaluations in a scientific and/or legal field. Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:

• Experience investigating, assessing, and evaluating land use activities for compliance with zoning and/or regulatory requirements.
• Experience in effectively communicating regulatory requirements; experience in conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Experience in permit writing and report writing to effectively document findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

For questions specific to the position, please contact Billie J. Theriault at: .

• Work-Life Balance – 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%-100% of employee‑only premiums ($12,213.60-$14,369.04 annual value), depending on salary.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee‑only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee‑only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine…