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Department: Secretary of State /BMV

Division: Public Services
Location: Portland
Schedule: Monday – Friday
Grade: 24
Salary: $54,579.20 – $77,459.20 annually

Closing Date: July 16, 2026

Join Our Team at the Department of the Secretary of State:

About the Position:

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is seeking a Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager for its Portland branch. This on-site leadership role is responsible for supervising daily branch operations, including vehicle registrations, titles, driver licensing, testing, cash handling, and ensuring compliance with Title 29-A.

The branch is in a rebuilding phase, and the Manager will play a key role in strengthening accountability, team culture, and operational consistency while maintaining high standards of public service.

Leadership expectations include:

• Making difficult decisions and addressing performance issues promptly

• Holding staff accountable with fairness and respect

• Demonstrating emotional intelligence and consistent follow-through

• Maintaining a visible, engaged leadership presence

• Coaching and developing both new and experienced staff

Within the first 6–12 months, the Manager is expected to:

• Ensure smooth, compliant daily operations

• Set and reinforce clear performance standards

• Conduct regular staff meetings and one-on-ones

• Support onboarding and training

• Apply progressive discipline appropriately

• Maintain accuracy, accountability, and a professional, customer-focused environment

This position requires strong, hands-on leadership and daily in-person supervision.

What We’re Looking For:

• Customer Service Leadership: Model, reinforce, and uphold high standards of courteous, accurate, and efficient service while ensuring teams consistently meet service expectations in a public-facing regulatory environment.

• High-Volume Operational Leadership: Lead teams through high-demand workloads while maintaining professionalism, accuracy, and responsiveness statewide.

• Collaborative Team Leadership: Build and sustain effective teams by fostering collaboration, accountability, and a respectful, productive workplace culture.

• Professional Judgment & Attention to Detail: Apply analytical thinking and sound judgment to complex operational decisions while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance.

• Clear & Strategic Communication: Communicate complex rules, policies, and changes clearly to staff, leadership, municipalities, and the public.

• Problem-Solving & Risk Awareness: Identify issues, assess risk, and implement practical, solution-focused responses while supporting staff through challenges.

• Adaptability & Change Leadership: Lead teams through evolving policies, procedures, technologies, and modernization initiatives while maintaining clarity, morale, and performance.

• Professional Leadership Presence: Represent the Department with integrity, accountability, and professionalism, setting expectations for ethical conduct and public trust.

Key Competencies We Value:

• People Leadership & Accountability: Lead, coach, and manage employees across varying levels of performance, including addressing challenging behaviors and holding staff accountable in a fair, consistent, and respectful manner.

• Constructive Performance Management: Ability to have difficult or sensitive conversations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity while supporting improvement and maintaining standards.

• Training & Workforce Development: Guide onboarding, training, and ongoing development to ensure staff readiness and operational resilience.

• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, discretion, and sound judgment in high-stress or sensitive situations.

• Continuous Improvement: Champion innovation, learning, and process improvement to enhance service delivery statewide.

In This Role, You Will:

• Partner with the Regional Manager and fellow Branch Managers to align operations with the Bureau’s Strategic Plan priorities.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, evaluates, and directs the work activities of staff to ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.

• Interviews, selects, and trains staff to ensure sufficient and qualified personnel.

• Reviews work and performance against established standards; identifies training needs and recommends appropriate personnel actions.

• Complete and submit performance evaluations within established timelines.

• Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance documentation.

• Collaborate with Human Resources on recruitment, onboarding, and disciplinary processes.

• Conducts daily cash reconciliation and reviews financial and inventory reports for accuracy.

• Maintains accountability for collected monies, license plates, stickers, and another controlled inventory.

• Ensures facility safety, security, and accessibility standards are met.

• Responds to complex or irregular inquiries regarding motor vehicle laws, regulations, and procedures.

• Coordinates with law enforcement and administrative offices as required.

• Implements and comply with all applicable human resource laws, policies, and procedures.

Preference will be given to candidates who bring digital fluency and a process-improvement mindset:

Comfort learning and adopting new technologies, experience streamlining or digitizing paper-based work, clear written communication, curiosity about emerging workplace tools, and the judgment to evaluate and verify their output before relying on it. 

Demonstrate a commitment to fostering a safe, professional, respectful, and accessible workplace by holding employees accountable for safe work practices, fair employment practices, and compliance with State and Federal AA/EEO requirements. Model and reinforce exceptional customer service standards while effectively communicating statewide modernization initiatives and organizational changes to branch staff. Promote continuous professional development and maintain an environment that supports employee growth, operational excellence, and outstanding service to the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions, and successful candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form upon hire. 

The successful candidate must pass a National Criminal Background check, which may include fingerprinting. 

Why Join Our Team?

We believe in supporting our workforce's health and well-being with a valuable total compensation package, including:

Work-Life Fit: Take time for yourself with 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%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.

Dental Insurance: The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.62 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).

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Terri Kanaris Talent Acquisitions Specialist, via email [email protected]

Application Instructions:

To apply, click “Apply for this opening” and upload your cover letter, resume, and any relevant transcripts or certifications. Your resume must include month/year for each position and list related duties and responsibilities. Please note if any experience was part-time.

Need a paper application? Download one [HERE] or call 207-441-9993.

Submit paper applications, cover letter, and resume before the closing date to:

Office of Human Resources
Secretary of State, Office of Human Resources
101 Hospital Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Fax: 207-624-9313

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building an inclusive workplace that respects and values diversity across all backgrounds.

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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.