Unemployment Comp Team Leader at Maine Arts Commission in Augusta, ME

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.

.

Department of Labor - Bureau of Unemployment Compensation

Job Class Code: 0751

Grade: 26 - Supervisory

Salary: $62,400.00 - $88,275.20/Annually

Location: Augusta, ME

Opening Date: 10/28/2026

Closing Date: 11/12/2026

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

Job Summary:

Make a difference for Maine workers. Lead with purpose. The Maine Department of Labor is seeking a motivated and experienced leader to supervise one of our Unemployment Benefits units. This is your opportunity to support Maine workers while leading a high-performing team and driving improvements in how we deliver vital services.

As a Team Leader, you’ll guide day-to-day operations, support your team’s professional development, and ensure high-quality service for claimants and employers statewide. You'll play a key role in shaping and streamlining processes to improve customer service and meet or exceed federal performance standards. You’ll also co-manage teams across the state, working side by side with other team leaders to coordinate resources, share best practices, and promote consistency in service delivery.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead and manage a team of professional, technical, and clerical staff, providing coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluations.

Plan and prioritize unit operations, aligning resources to meet fluctuating workloads and federal timeliness and quality standards.

Drive process improvement by analyzing workflows and recommending changes to improve service delivery and program efficiency.

Ensure accurate and timely benefit payments by overseeing claim adjudication and benefit charge assessments.

Monitor performance data and metrics, prepare reports that guide decisions and inform statewide operations.

Interpret and implement policy changes and provide guidance to staff on laws, rules, and procedures related to unemployment benefits.

Collaborate across teams and agencies to enhance service integration and streamline claims center operations.

Represent the Bureau in formal settings including appeal hearings, court proceedings, and public outreach events.

Foster a respectful, compliant workplace by applying HR practices in hiring, training, and staff development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

We are seeking candidates with strong leadership skills and a background in workforce, unemployment, or social services programs. You should bring:

• Experience supervising or leading teams in a high-volume customer service or administrative environment.
• Strong knowledge of laws, rules, goals, and objectives of the unemployment security program.
• Knowledge of process improvement practices, and performance management tools.
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• A passion for public service and a commitment to helping Maine workers and employers succeed.

Minimum Qualifications: (Entry level knowledges, skills, and/or abilities may be acquired through, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO the following coursework/training and/or experience).

A Bachelors Degree in Public or Business Administration, Economics, or related field -and- six years experience in management and/or investigation/adjudication/personnel administration. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference may be given to candidates with experience in:

• Supervising or managing staff in a high-volume operational environment.
• Unemployment Insurance, workforce development, or related public service programs.
• Using data and performance measures to manage workloads and improve results.
• Process improvement and operational change management.
• Interpreting and applying laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Employee coaching, development, and performance management.
• Coordinating work across teams, programs, or agencies.
• Representing an organization in formal or public settings.

Contact Information:

Questions about this position should be directed to: Sara Aubin, Sara.Aubin@maine.gov

To request a paper application, please contact Stephanie Hayes via email at recruiting.sesc@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 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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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.
• 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 contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

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 experience and passion set you apart.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE

.

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.