Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of

TitleInterpretive Programs Assistant (NY HELPS) - Division of Historic Preservation /Peebles Island State Park

Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers

Salary Grade17

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

Salary RangeFrom $63361 to $80655 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 25%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8:30 AM

To 4:30 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County Albany

Street Address Division for Historic Preservation (Peebles Island State Park)

City Waterford

StateNY

Zip Code12188

Job Specifics

Duties Description The Interpretive Program Assistant will develop and administer educational and historic interpretation and visitors' programs, including exhibits, seminars, workshops, lectures, guided tours, written materials, and craft demonstrations to explain the significance of African American culture and historic sites and the customs, lifestyles, and events related to New York State historic sites. Under the supervision of the Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for the Office of Interpretation and Design, duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Implementing all aspects of the interpretive program on African American history and culture in New York for all state historic sites.
• Overseeing the development of the Enslavement to Freedom initiative for OPRHP.
• Developing and administering educational and historic interpretation and visitors' programs, including exhibits, seminars, workshops, lectures, guided tours, written materials, and craft demonstrations to explain the significance of African American culture and historic sites and the customs, lifestyles, and events related to the site.
• Conducting original research on African American history and culture in New York and the US.
• Working with Public Affairs staff to update and improve Black history on the OPRHP website, including writing blog posts and content for Instagram Reels and Stories.
• Delivering lectures and other programming that interpret or promote OPRHP’s role in interpreting Black history.
• Assisting with identifying opportunities to promote racial diversity in programming, audience development and staffing.
• Writing exhibits and historic signage for installation at New York State historic sites
• Writing content for temporary exhibits, circulated at New York State historic sites and public cultural locations.
• Advising on and review content written by other Bureau of Historic Sites and historic site staff that interprets Black history.
• Supporting Black history interpretation, including archaeology and Historic Preservation (SHPO).
• Preparing, scheduling, and conducting seminars, lectures, and educational programs.
• Developing, coordinating, and overseeing special events that promote and interpret the programming.
• Training and supervising seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers in providing visitor services tasks and performing activities concerning handicrafts, work, and art of the program area.
• Arranging, scheduling, and conducting educational programs for schools, the community, and special interest groups.
• Developing professional relationships with other sites, schools, professional groups, and community organizations to gain support for the site and its activities.
• Assisting with the installation of exhibits.
• Supervising and conducting guided tours.
• Supervising interns
• Other duties as appropriate

Minimum Qualifications If Civil Service Eligible list(s) exist, they will be canvassed. You may also apply if you are eligible for appointment by one of the following qualifications:

If you have previous or current employment at a NYS agency, to be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office may contact you.

NY HELPS or 55-b/c Qualifications:

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55-b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:

A bachelor's degree** and one year of experience developing and conducting an interpretation program in either a historic house, historic site, historic park, the history section of a museum, or in the interpretation section of a governmental agency having responsibility for historic house museums, historic sites, or a cultural center providing professional-level cultural or historic exhibits.

**Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States or its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. This information can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. Candidates are responsible for the evaluation fee.

If you are a veteran or an individual with a disability and would like to apply for the Department of Civil Service’s 55-b/c Program, please visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/ for more information.


Subsequent 55-b/c Qualifications:

A subsequent 55-b/c appointment may be considered if you have at least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service and have a current Civil Service 55-b/c letter of eligibility.

Reassignment Qualifications:
Current NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Employees only, with at least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service as an Interpretive Programs Assistant; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current Interpretive Programs Assistant eligible list for this location.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications:

At least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service as a Historic Preservation Program Analyst, SG 18. Only the title listed is eligible for transfer.

For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.

Additional Comments OPERATING NEEDS:
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the candidate to legally operate a motor vehicle in New York State as a term and condition of employment.
• Statewide travel will be required in this position up to 25% of the time.

If you have previous or current employment at a NYS agency, to be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office may contact you.

Benefits:

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation offers a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to:

Paid Time Off:

• PEF: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
• PEF: Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development.

Health Care Benefits:

• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits:

• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Paid Parental / Family Leave

To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.

This position may require a background check and/or medical exam prior to appointment.

*NY HELPS PROGRAM:

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a permanent non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

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

How to Apply

Name Daniel McEneny

Telephone

Fax

Email Address daniel.mceneny@parks.ny.gov

Address

Street Division for Historic Preservation (Peebles Island State Park)

City Waterford

State NY

Zip Code 12188

 

Notes on ApplyingAll candidates must submit a written resume and cover letter which clearly demonstrates how they meet the minimum qualifications for the position. These documents must be received by September 5, 2025, and submitted via email to daniel.mceneny@parks.ny.gov. You must include “Vacancy ID 196016 – Interpretive Programs Assistant – DHP Peebles Island” in the subject line of your email. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for the position.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications.