Taxpayer Advocate and Experience Officer - Public Service Coordinator II
State of Maine

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Department of Administrative and Financial Services

Commissioner's Office

Taxpayer Advocate and Experience Officer

Opening Date: March 27, 2026

Closing Date: April 10, 2026

Grade / Admin Unit: 30 / Confidential

Job Class Code: CA30
Salary: $71,843.20 - $101,587.20/Annually
Position Number:

Location: Augusta

Telework: Partial, with management approval

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

OVERVIEW:

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) Commissioner's Office is now hiring a Taxpayer Advocate and Experience Officer (Officer) to join their team. The Officer is an unclassified employee of the DAFS Maine Revenue Services (MRS), reporting directly to the Commissioner.

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) consists of ten bureaus, other direct report offices, boards, and commissions, and more than 1,200 employees serving the public and all three branches of state government. The Department has a broad range of responsibilities. We serve as the principal fiscal advisor to the Governor, prepare the state budget, coordinate the financial planning and programing activities of state agencies, and advise the Maine Legislature on the financial statutes of state government.

Maine Revenue Services is a bureau within DAFS, with the mission to fairly and efficiently administer the State's tax laws with integrity and professionalism.

JOB DESCRITPTION:

The Taxpayer Advocate and Experience Officer works closely with taxpayers, advocacy groups and other interested parties, Legislators and legislative staff, senior management at MRS, and key executives at DAFS to assist taxpayers resolve tax problems with MRS, advance taxpayer services, and strengthen access to tax benefit programs for individuals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The three primary responsibilities of the position are to (1) assist taxpayers in resolving tax problems by establishing a best contact within MRS to review the taxpayer's issues, facilitating speedy resolution when possible, and explaining reconsideration and appeals options, if available; (2) assist individual taxpayers navigate tax benefit programs, and provide proactive outreach to stakeholder advocacy groups, Legislators and other interested parties by describing available tax benefit programs and assisting with simplified access; (3) identify and propose administrative changes to mitigate problems in accessing tax benefit programs and propose any recommended legislative changes in the annual report to Executive Branch and Legislature.

The Officer's work includes the following:

• Directly respond to taxpayers who have contacted the Office directly or through the Office of the Governor or DAFS Commissioner's Office, evaluating the tax issues and relevant timing, providing a "best contact" with MRS to promptly address the taxpayer's concerns, explaining the process paths, and facilitating resolution when possible.
• Provide outreach to taxpayers, stakeholder groups, and other interested parties regarding tax benefit programs for individuals.
• Identify trends in taxpayer issues and recommend changes to administrative practices or tax law provisions to improve taxpayer understanding, engagement with the tax system, and access to tax benefit programs.
• Provide recommendations to the Governor's Office, DAFS Commissioner, MRS senior managers and others regarding tax law and administrative practices.
• Prepare an Annual Report of the Office.
• Present materials at tax-related conferences regarding taxpayer assistance and access to tax benefit programs.

Additionally, in 2026, the Officer will be tasked with completing a study and special report to the Legislature with findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, relating to the use of state tax credits available to individuals. The study will include the current use of state tax credits by individuals, current practices by large tax preparation firms with respect to offering state tax credits to individuals, the role of state government in promoting public awareness of individual state credits, and the current practices of municipalities related to promoting awareness of individual state tax credits and tax relief programs. The report is due November 4, 2026, with likely follow-up work with the Legislature and interested parties in the 2027 legislative session.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to work independently and to deal professionally with taxpayers, the public, stakeholder groups, tax professionals, legislators, the Administration, and employees throughout MRS.
• Strong project management and teamwork skills.
• Knowledge of Maine and federal tax law, guidance publications, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of tax administration.
• Strong ability to track, analyze, and evaluate legislative and administrative changes to tax benefit programs for individuals from a program detail and tax policy perspective.
• Strong research, writing, and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of the legislative process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution or four (4) years of equivalent post-secondary education, training, and/or professional level experience in tax administration or directly related fields.

Preference will be given to candidates with the following skills or experience:

• Candidates who possess two or more years of experience working in a high-level tax policy environment.
• Candidates with strong tax administration experience.
• Candidates with work experience in the legislative and legal fields.
• While the Officer need not be an attorney, licensed attorneys are encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of and experience with income tax benefit programs for individuals.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a cover letter along with a current resume.

In order 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact Name and email address/phone number (default will be: recruiting.ggsc@maine.gov)

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

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 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 XX.XX% 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.

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.

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.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE

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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.

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