Microbiologist II

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The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is seeking applicants with strong laboratory skills for a Microbiologist II position in the Public Health Bureau and Aquaculture in the water quality laboratory located at the Lamoine facility.

DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

MICROBIOLOGIST II

Opening Date: December 31, 2025

Closing Date: End of day January 14, 2026

Location: Lamoine

Position Number: 07200-2424

Class Code: 4219

Grade: 23 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $51,979.20 - $72,945.60 Per Year*

*(This includes a 5.5% Salary Adjustment)

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This position will work with both the Water Quality laboratory and the Biotoxin laboratory as necessary. 

• This position will lead daily laboratory sample processing, sample scheduling and work with the Scientist II to maintain all quality control for laboratory methods performed in compliance with Maine State Public Health Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual and the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP).
• Water Quality laboratory work includes analysis of fecal coliforms in seawater samples with membrane filtration, operation of autoclaves, dry over sterilization, critical temperature monitoring, preparation of media, and data entry.
• Biotoxin laboratory work involves enumeration of marine phytoplankton utilizing bright-field microscopy, shellfish tissue testing with high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV).
• The successful candidate will be required to learn HPLC-post column oxidation method for Paralytic Shellfish Toxin monitoring as well as contribute to validation of emerging biotoxin testing methods.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• This position requires basic laboratory skills including pipetting, solution preparation, knowledge of measurement units, mastery of simple laboratory calculations with basic PC software, and attention to detail.
• The successful candidate is self-motivated to recognize the tasks that need to be completed and to perform those tasks according to Standard Operating Procedures with limited supervision.
• The successful candidate is motivated to research new scientific methods for potential implementation into the program.

This position is required to work occasional weekends and holidays.

For questions specific to the position, please contact the Hiring Manager, David W. Miller, at: david.w.miller@maine.gov

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology or related scientific field and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a related microbiological field. Responsible experience in microbiology may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preference will be given to those with laboratory experience in a regulatory setting. Knowledge of membrane filtration, HPLC, or PCR is preferred. Experience with Microsoft Access, R, Python, or other programming languages is a plus.

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 14.11% 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.

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