Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager - Ellsworth - Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Anticipated Vacancy

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Position: Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager - Anticipated Vacancy

Department: Secretary of State - Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Division: Public Services
Location: Ellsworth, Maine
Schedule: Monday – Friday
Job Class: 7330

Grade: 24
Salary: $57,033.60 - $80,953.59 annually

Closing Date: October 22, 2026

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

At the Department of the Secretary of State, we are a team dedicated to providing efficient and exceptional service to our community. We prioritize work-life balance and offer excellent benefits to support our team in achieving professional success while maintaining personal well-being.  

Join a team that fosters a culture of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement, offering opportunities for growth and making a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens. 

Are you ready to make a difference? 

We are looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. If you are passionate about delivering outstanding public service, contributing to a high-performing team, and supporting the people of Maine every day, we want you on our team. 
 

About the Position:

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is seeking a Motor Vehicle Branch Office Manager for its Ellsworth 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:

• Lead the team through a system modernization with positive. communication and support.
• 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:

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

Education, training, and/or experience in business management, public administration, or another closely related field demonstrating competency in reviewing and explaining laws and regulations; planning and coordinating business operations; maintaining records; reviewing financial data; providing customer service; and acting in a formal or informal leadership capacity.

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, including 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 ($12,213.69 - $14,790.59 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find Premium Rates 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 ($365.28 annual value).

• Retirement Plan: The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

• 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 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. 

• Voluntary Deferred Compensation: Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Terri Kanaris Talent Acquisitions Specialist, via email Terri.Kanaris@Maine.gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.   

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE or contact our office at 207-441-9993.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Secretary of State, Office of Human Resources, 101 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330 or faxed to 207-624-9313.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.   

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.