Review Vacancy

Date Posted: 10/06/20
Applications Due: 10/20/20
Vacancy ID: 82877

Position Information

AgencyState, Department of

TitleBiologist 2 (Ecology) – Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES)

Occupational CategoryAdministrative or General Management

Salary Grade23

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $73284 to $92693 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Provisional

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 20%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County Albany

Street Address TBD - Downtown Albany

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12231

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications One year of permanent competitive service as a Biologist 1 (Ecology), Biologist 1 (Aquatic), Biologist 1 (Wildlife) or Biologist 1 (Marine).

Preferred Qualifications

Strong interpersonal skills to interact with both public applicants and their consultants as well as staff members from different State agencies that may participate in project reviews and the implementation of mitigation actions. The preferred candidate should have excellent writing, data management and presentation skills; project/contract management experience; and be familiar with the habitats of New York and the biology of bird species native to New York State. Preference will be given to candidates that have experience in siting of major infrastructure, transmission, and/or generation projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the State Environmental Quality Review Act, Public Service Law (PSL) Article VII, and/or PSL Article 10.

Duties Description The Biologist 2 will review renewable energy facility applications for determining completeness with ORES policies and regulations, drafting and publishing permits for comment, participating in public adjudicatory and non-adjudicatory hearings, and drafting written summary of public comments and assessing comments received on applications. The incumbent will conduct and coordinate the review and evaluation of impact assessments for adverse renewable energy facilities impacts to wildlife and habitat, with a focus on avian impacts; and will assist in the siting of renewable energy facilities by helping to identify potential impacts early in the project development process, develop and evaluate mitigation actions designed to offset adverse impacts to listed threatened and endangered species.
Specific duties include:
• Maintain proficiency in knowledge of applicable ORES laws, procedures, policies, and rules, perform research and apply analysis to complex technical and policy issues, and promote the mission, policies, and strategic objectives of ORES;
• Appear for and on behalf of ORES in administrative and legal proceedings, provide expert testimony, and represent ORES in adjudicatory proceedings;
• Develop and present permit conditions, administrative proceedings, briefs, comments, draft findings, restoration actions or other mitigation solutions to address renewable energy facilities impacts;
• Recommend and review field investigations to obtain relevant information to assess resource impacts of various projects impacting avian species;
• Identifies mitigation action plans and evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation for listed avian species;
• Monitor environmental conditions for the protection of avian resources;
• Develop procedures, guidance, standards and criteria to protect fish and wildlife in their habitats, with a focus on avian species impacted by renewable energy facilities;
• Conducts analysis of data and documents findings and prepares technical and scientific reports;
• Prepare written recommendations, provide public presentations and provide testimony as required in support of the ORES’ permit process.
• Assist in drafting and management of contracts for work that cannot be implemented by ORES staff;
• Assist in outreach opportunities, including the preparation of press releases and social media posts.

Additional Comments For provisional pending examination appointment, the incumbent of the position will be required to take a written examination for Biologist 2 (Ecology) and be reachable for appointment from the newly established eligible list.

ORES will be instrumental in helping New York State meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) policy goals, the most ambitious climate legislation in the United States. The office will be responsible for implementing and executing a new streamlined permitting process for renewable energy projects in New York State greater than 25 MW, and any projects 20 MW and above that opt into the siting process administered by ORES. The process has been streamlined within this new office to decrease the time from application to approval for construction to a maximum of one year.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Contact Information

Name Heidi Hicks

Telephone 518-474-2752

Fax 518-402-3656

Email Address HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov

Address

Street Bureau of Human Resources Management

99 Washington Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12231

 

Notes on ApplyingInterested & qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by the date indicated. Please include the Vacancy ID number in your response.