RUMFORD – James G. Doar and his wife Melissa have been looking for a way to return to their native Maine.

In Rumford, they found it.

Doar, 29, was hired to become the town’s top manager. He begins work June 7.

“There are a lot of opportunities in Rumford with regionalization. It’s on the crest of a good wave and I expect good things,” he said by telephone Thursday afternoon.

Doar is currently a budget analyst for the state of New York and lives in Watervliet, a small city of about 10,000 people outside the state’s capital of Albany. He has held the position for two years.

Doar graduated from Caribou High School in 1996, then served four years with the 82nd Airborne of the U.S. Army before enrolling at the University of Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. He then earned a master’s in public administration at Florida State University. His wife is from Limestone.

Selectmen Chairman Jim Rinaldo said Doar seemed to be the most qualified candidate for the position out of the 24 who applied and six who were interviewed.

“He has dealt with millions of dollars and has economic development and municipal affairs experience,” Rinaldo said.

Rinaldo said Doar is aware of the issues in town and has read the town charter. Doar will rent a home for his family in Rumford until the couple decide what they want to do for permanent housing.

Rinaldo said the board and community members who served on the hiring committee voted unanimously to offer the management position to Doar a couple of weeks ago. Once the Maine Municipal Association conducted a background check, the board began salary negotiations with him.

He will earn $65,000. Because of a clause in the town charter that requires the town manager to be appointed at the annual town meeting, Doar was appointed until June 12. At that time, the board will then appoint him for up to one year under a probationary agreement.

Stacy Carter, the town’s police chief, has served as acting town manager since mid-March. He said Thursday that upon Doar’s arrival, he will return to his role as police chief.

“The appointment is a positive step forward, a focus on moving forward. This is someone we can look at as long-term, to start new projects,” he said.

Doar has visited the town many times.

“I look forward to meeting the people. We love Maine,” he said.

When he’s not working with numbers, Doar likes to read, ski, golf and spend as much time as possible outside with his chocolate lab, Cooper.

He replaces former Town Manager Stephen Eldridge, who resigned in January following two years of service. In that time, Eldridge had not moved to Rumford, as the town charter requires.