Customer Service Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Opening Date:July 24, 2026 Closing Date: August 6, 2026 Job Class Code:6594 Grade:13 (Admin Svcs) Salary: $17.30 - $24.91 per hour Position Number: 02022-7360 Location:Machias This position allows for partial telework with management approval. Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. Core Responsibilities: As a Customer Representative Associate II-HS you will serve in a supportive capacity to the Eligibility Specialists and provide quality customer service to Maine’s citizens regarding the eligibility application process. The purpose of these positions is to answer calls from clients and provide basic information about their cases as well as information about services available to the client. The duties of these positions include: Complying with the requirements of State policies, including those concerning human resource components of security protocols of agency information security and confidentiality policies for state business purposes. Working with clients over the phone to assist with eligibility questions. Assisting clients with reporting, eligibility, and compliance requirements. Coordinating approved client services. Coding, computing, verifying, posting, reconciling, and/or updating standard documents. Updating case records and completing documentation requirements. Informing supervisor of emergency trends in service needs. Providing clients with information about how to apply for benefits. Confirming receipt of documents from clients. Replacing various cards clients use to access benefits. Providing information about resources to clients. Other duties as assigned Minimum Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must have training, education, or experience in office and administrative support work that demonstrates: 1) competency in applying a solid knowledge of the principles and practices of quality customer service to perform complex work in assisting the public with applications, fees, examinations, or social services that have an eligibility or compliance component; and 2) the ability to use independent decision-making on the appropriate processes to follow, information to process, and actions to take in accordance with standard procedures. All positions in this classification assume the qualifications of: Customer Representative Assistant I, Customer Representative Assistant II and Customer Representative Associate I. Please submit a cover letter rating your skills in each of the following tasks/tools as: expert, skilled or novice. Outlook or comparable email applications. Excel or comparable spreadsheet applications. MS Word or comparable word processing applications. Receptionist or customer assistance by phone. Data entry (entering data and narratives) 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. Agency information: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers. The Office for Family Independence (OFI) is responsible for administration of eligibility determination for a number of programs, including MaineCare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Supplement, Fraud and Recovery, and Child Support. Application Information: For questions about this position, please contact Marcus Hatch at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format. To request a paper application, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io 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%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 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 ($395.72 annual value). Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act. 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr