Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture (NY HELPS)

Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture)

Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral part of a team dedicated to fostering a competitive food and agriculture industry that benefits both producers and consumers alike. Here, you can cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from environmental science to economic development, you can find your niche in public service and grow both professionally and personally. Embrace the chance to join our team, and you'll not only reap a fulfilling career but also sow the seeds for a healthier, stronger New York.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking an Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) to manage soil and water conservation programs on a statewide basis. The Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) will work with Division management and staff to advance the mission of the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee and other Division priorities. This position will support the Ecosystems Based Management (EBM) program. Specific job duties include but are not limited to the following: gathering input from County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other stakeholders for the development of pilot project concepts, preparing and issuing requests for proposals, executing, monitoring and managing program contracts, and evaluating program performance to ensure outcomes align with established goals. The Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture is also responsible for reporting on program outcomes at New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee meetings and other forums and through annual reports.

The Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. The position will be based in our Albany office located at 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12235. We are conveniently located near the Albany International Airport and provide ample free parking and a comfortable work environment. Opportunities for telecommuting are available in accordance with the agency's Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Salary: The Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 23. The starting salary of the PEF SG-23 is $86,681/year. The candidate appointed to the Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture, SG-23, will be eligible to participate in the New York State Performance Evaluation Program. Through this program, employees receive yearly performance evaluations. Performance advances are payable to PEF employees whose base annual salary is below the job rate for their current position and who were rated "Satisfactory" or its equivalent on their yearly performance evaluation. Performance advance payments are added to an employee's annual salary. Over time, yearly performance advances may lead to the SG-23 job rate salary of $109,650/ year!

Benefits: This is a PEF-represented position that offers excellent benefits! Benefits include but are not limited to inexpensive Health Insurance options, free Dental and Vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, and generous paid time off. Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays! As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct student loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or another eligible employer.

NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications: When a NY HELPS title can be filled with promotion and open-competitive qualifications, and the entire promotion eligible list is exhausted or does not exist, a NY HELPS appointment can be made in the following ways: A NY HELPS appointment may be made for a qualified employee in a direct-line, lower-level promotion title. Direct-line lower-level promotion title NY HELPS Qualifications: The direct line field is comprised of a single title that is the immediate lower-level title to the title being filled. This requires one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Senior Environmental Analyst (Agriculture), SG-18. If there are fewer than 3 interested, qualified, internal candidates in the direct-line lower-level promotion title then: Candidates may be eligible for a NY HELPS Open-Competitive appointment to Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) if they meet the open-competitive NY HELPS qualifications.

Open-Competitive NY HELPS Qualifications: Seven years of work experience in a position having a substantial relationship to agricultural land use analysis, soil and water conservation management, or the protection of farms and farmland resources; OR six years of work experience in any combination of the following roles: Soil and Water Conservation District Technician or Manager; Natural Resources Conservation Service District or Resources Conservation; New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee (State Committee) Consultant Service Provider; Professional Staff of Land Trust Organization; Cooperative Extension Agent (Agriculture); or, Regional Planning Commission and County Planning Office; Minimum Qualification Substitution: An associate degree in a related field can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor's degree in a related field can substitute for four years of experience; a master's degree in a related field can substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for six years of experience.

Defined Roles:

• Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Manager - Manages the day-to-day operations of the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Is responsible for the supervision of technical and administrative support staff. Carries out the SWCDs Annual Plan of Operation and reports to the SWCDs Board of Directors. Implements the Statewide programs at the local level including Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM), Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program, Climate Resilient Farming Program, and Municipal Assistance including stormwater and stream management programs.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist or Resource Conservationist - Works with farmers and other landowners to develop conservation plans addressing resource concerns. Implements various Farm Bill Programs. Conducts review of contracts to ensure compliance with established schedules and practice requirements. Promotes NRCS objectives and programs and supervises Soil Conservationists and other junior staff at the district level.
• New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee (State Committee) Consultant Service Provider - State Committee Consultant Service Providers and SWCD employees who provide full-time program services to the State Committee. Responsibilities include marketing and outreach services, program data collection and support services, and management of special program initiatives. State Committee Consultant Service Providers conduct field review of Best Management Practice systems for conformance with State Committee programs and report directly to the Assistant or Executive Director of the State Committee.
• Professional Staff of Land Trust Organization - Responsible for all phases of land transaction activities including land planning, title work, conservation easement development, budget development and execution, base line documentation and site planning. Responsible for developing short- and long-range organizational goals and demonstrate familiarity with state and local programs to protect land and water resources through the execution of conservation easements and/or other techniques to protect important resources. Should have at least two years direct experience and have project management responsibilities.
• Cooperative Extension Agent (Agriculture) - Cornell Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents offer research-based resources and education to the farming community and the general public. Agents help farms to remain viable and profitable businesses by providing comprehensive, research-based information in animal and natural resource husbandry, business planning and marketing, diversified farm products, and technical and financial support opportunities. Agricultural Extension Agents connect clients with Cornell University faculty, Extension experts, and with other community agencies that also can provide information and support.
• Regional Planning Commission and County Planning Office - Responsible for land use planning, including zoning techniques, comprehensive plan development and/or assistance in the development of local and county regional studies including town and county agricultural and farmland protection plans. Participates in the identification and implementation of local or regional economic development initiatives including the implementation of agricultural economic development projects developed locally or regionally. Possesses experience and knowledge of state Agricultural districts program; familiar with the development and/or review of annual and eight years Agricultural District submissions to NYSDAM.

Preferred Qualifications: Desired Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: Effective oral and written communication skills; ability to interpret content of comprehensive and detailed legal documents such as administrative rules, appraisals, conservation easements, contracts, local laws, legal surveys, and statutes; data gathering and analysis, including trends analysis and basic statistics; ability to analyze and interpret policy and procedural guidelines to resolve problems; attention to details; self-motivated with little need for direction to carry out ongoing and long-term tasks; ability to prioritize workload. Direct County Soil and Water Conservation District work experience is highly preferred.

NY HELPS Program: 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 the same rights and privileges of competitive class