Position Information

NY HELPSYes

55-b/c EligibleYes

AgencyEnvironmental Conservation, Department of

TitleEnvironmental Program Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS

Occupational CategoryI.T. Engineering, Sciences

Salary GradeNS

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

Salary RangeFrom $56183 to $88970 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Contingent Permanent

InternshipNo

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 10%

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? Yes

Location

County Albany

Street Address 625 Broadway

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12233

Job Specifics

Duties Description This posting is for an Environmental Program Specialist 1 within the Division of Water’s (DOW), Bureau of Water Permits. The candidate will support the wastewater operator certification program, wastewater workforce development activities, and assist with other projects and programs within the Division of Water’s Bureau of Water Permits, as needed.

Essential Functions:

1. Wastewater Workforce Development

• Serve as dedicated staff to help coordinate efforts across state agencies, municipalities, wastewater utilities, professional organizations, non-profit organizations, and industry partners, ensuring that individual workforce initiatives are integrated into a coherent and sustainable program and align with DEC’s wastewater operator certification and wastewater discharge regulations.

• Create content for wastewater workforce awareness or recognition weeks; work with partners to emphasize outreach to youth, college students, recent graduates, or career changers around wastewater and stormwater employment opportunities.

• Maintain up-to-date list of contract operators for DEC’s Contract Operations for Wastewater Treatment Plants webpage.

• Maintain wastewater workforce and wastewater operator certification information on DEC’s public webpages.

• Assist with operator outreach through DEC Delivers electronic communication platform and other media as needed.

• Attend and/or present at internal and external events as needed to support and promote DEC’s priorities related to the wastewater workforce.

• Maintain up-to-date lists of DEC-approved training opportunities for wastewater operators, including DEC’s pre-approved list and lists of other approved training courses.

• Work with DEC’s Asset Management Program to develop or recommend guidance on staffing and succession planning for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities.

2. Wastewater Operator Certification Program

• Assist with the review of DEC’s wastewater operator certification regulations and program policies and procedures; assist with potential updates and roll out of any new rules and policies, in alignment with wastewater workforce initiatives.

• Update and maintain DEC’s required pre-certification course curricula for wastewater operators to align with wastewater workforce initiatives.

• Assist with the implementation and roll-out of new electronic applications for operators; assist operators with use of the nForm platform for operator certification applications and renewal applications.

• Review and approve training and education offerings for wastewater operators; review and approve trainers who will offer this instruction.

• Provide support to prospective and existing wastewater operators as they look to enter and advance within this profession.

• Provide training and outreach on DEC’s wastewater operator certification regulations and associated requirements.

• Review, update, and finalize wastewater treatment plant scores pursuant to 6 NYCRR 650.3.

3. Other Duties and Requirements

• Assist as needed with other tasks, projects, and initiatives within the Division of Water’s Bureau of Water Permits.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and administrative tasks at the same time.

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to translate and communicate complex technical material to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to identify problems, gather information, coordinate with appropriate staff, and recommend or implement practical solutions.

• Ability to work independently and professionally while also functioning as part of a small team.

• Experience with public speaking and training. Candidate must be able to function effectively in large group settings and venues.

• Proficiency working with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, or the equivalent.

Preferred Additional Qualifications

• Strong interest in environmental protection and/or the water/wastewater sector.

• Education, training, experience, or demonstrated interest in wastewater operations is preferred but is not required; candidates with operations experience are encouraged to apply.

• Experience with outreach, education, and coordination between stakeholders is preferred.

• Possession of wastewater operator certification is a plus but is not required.

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

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a 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.

TRAINEE 1:

Four years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

TRAINEE 2:

Five years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

EPS 1:
Six years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.
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Candidates may also be eligible via the following:

Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC or Reinstatement Eligible - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis or held a title as indicated under the transfer eligible section on a permanent competitive basis.

Or

Transfer Eligible - One year of permanent competitive service at Salary Grade 11 or higher and either: Eligible for transfer under Section 70.4: Must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications below;

Or

Eligible for transfer under Section 70.1: Permanent competitive service as an Environmental Program Specialist 1 (including trainees), Program Aide, Administrative Specialist 1, Biologist1(Aquatic), (Ecology), (Marine), (Wildlife), Public Participation Specialist 1, Environmental Analyst 1 and Trainee 1 &2, Environmental Engineering Technician 2 & 3, Fish and Wildlife Technician 3, Legal Assistant 2, Mineral Resources Technician2,Pesticide Control Specialist 1 & 2, Public Health Specialist 2 Environmental, Sanitary Construction Inspector 2, Senior Engineering Research Editor.

55 b/c appointment: Must meet the minimum qualifications outlined above. Please note that if qualifying under the 55 b/c program, candidates must include with their resume or application a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55 b/c program

Additional Comments Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Travel may be required.
Telecommuting may be available up to 50% of work schedule, will be discussed at interview.

We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...

For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency. If you are a person with a disability and wish to request that a reasonable accommodation be provided for you to participate in a job interview, please email: equity@dec.ny.gov.

Please be advised, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not use E-Verify, and we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visa statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEM OPT).

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

How to Apply

Name Natalie Joseph

Telephone 518-402-9273

Fax 518-402-9038

Email Address PostingResponses@dec.ny.gov

Address

Street 625 Broadway

Personnel, 10th Floor

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12233

 

Notes on ApplyingPlease email/mail your resume to the above address. Be sure to include Vacancy
#26-226209 on your resume and also in the subject line of the email or it may not be accepted. If you are qualified based on your education, you must also include a copy of your college transcript.