Insect Jobs in Maine (NOW HIRING)

The Maine Forest Service Forest Health and Monitoring (FHM) Division has a vacancy for an Entomology Technician in the Augusta, Maine area. FHM cooperates with other state, local, and federal collaborators to support the overall mission of the Maine Forest Service to protect and enhance the forest resources of Maine for the benefit of present and future generations. Through statewide forest health monitoring systems and advice and assistance for pest management and damage prevention to homeowners, municipalities, and forest landowners and managers, the division supports the overall health of Maine's forest resources.

Position Type: Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 9403

Grade: 15 (Operations/Maintenance)

Salary: $18.32 - $24.97 Per Hour*

*(This includes a 7.5% Salary Adjustment)

Interested candidates need to submit a Direct Hire Application, Cover Letter, and a detailed Resume*

*For us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

Brief Job Description: These are technical service positions that involve identifying and surveying for forest insect and disease pests, evaluating forest and tree health, collecting and handling data, and assisting professional entomology and pathology staff with various forest health projects. Work is performed in both the field and lab. Field work may include urban, suburban, rural, and remote locations. Work may be conducted under a variety of adverse conditions, including walking several miles per day over a varied terrain with a backpack weighing up to 35 pounds, sometimes in inclement weather, and in areas with irritating plants/insects (poison ivy, ticks, biting flies). Working alone in remote locations is sometimes required for certain tasks. Limited statewide travel is sometimes required. Work is performed under limited supervision.

The following tasks are typical duties of these positions:

• Surveys for forest insect and disease pests using a variety of traps & trapping protocols, using problem solving where needed
• Performs a variety of insect and disease visual surveys and records observations and data using paper or electronic data sheets on devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptop computers
• Help to develop improved survey techniques under guidance of professional entomology/pathology staff
• Collects samples and enters survey data during the field season and assists with sample sorting, identification, and finalization of datasets following completion of surveys
• Communicates summarized field and lab data to professional entomology/pathology staff for report preparation
• Responds to landowner/manager and homeowner requests for assistance as assigned by professional entomology/pathology staff to identify causes of tree health concerns
• Surveys and maps areas to detect and determine geographic extents of forest insect and disease infestations
• Assists professional regulatory staff with site inspections to prevent the spread of quarantined forest insect and disease pests
• Works cooperatively with other field staff and occasionally oversees daily activities of seasonal employees or interns
• Performs basic navigation tasks, including vehicle navigation to areas of concern for forest pest damage and locating areas of concern in forested settings
• Maintain assigned equipment and tools
• Obtains and maintains a State of Maine pesticide applicator license

Minimum Qualifications: A three (3) year combination of training, education, and/or experience in basic technical field or laboratory entomology, pathology, forestry, or related work.

Special Requirements: Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Maine Driver's License.

Preference will be given to candidates with a current valid pesticide applicators license.

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

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. 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. 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.
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

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.