Description

Duties Description

The Testing Services Division is responsible for the development, administration, scoring and validation of the examinations provided to the public for State agencies and local jurisdictions. To better serve New Yorkers and make civil service examinations more accessible and convenient for all, the Department is modernizing and transforming the way in which civil service examinations are held. As part of this new examination model, the Department is in the process of establishing 12 dedicated computer-based testing centers across New York State to provide all New Yorkers with the ability to participate in exams, including individuals who do not have access to a computer or Wi-Fi services.

Under the general direction of a Program Aide, the Office Assistant 2 will be responsible for the clerical processing and office support work at one of the Department’s twelve new computer-based testing (CBT) centers and for supervising subordinate test administration staff.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ensure clerical processing procedures are followed and recommend improvements.
Gather, compile, and prepare materials for test administration.
Resolve clerical operation issues and respond to questions concerning test administration.
Assign staff to greet and check in civil service examination candidates at a designated reception area.
Assist civil service examination candidates with the scheduling or rescheduling of their exams, and answer questions that test monitors are unable to resolve.
Complete all documentation for the various exams that are administered, reporting any suspected irregularities or discrepancies.
Configure individual candidate testing stations, maintain testing room and equipment, and provide training to test monitors on work equipment and procedures.
May administer examinations and instruct candidates on test procedures.
Plan, assign, and schedule test monitors to test administration roles and ensure adequate training for assignments in consultation with the Program Aide.
Submit test monitor payroll data to ensure these staff are paid in a timely manner.
Supervise test monitors and evaluate the performance of test administration staff and the quality, quantity, and timeliness of their work.
May be assigned to cover test administration shifts at the CBT center, public schools, or other test sites in an assigned region, which may include nights and weekends, or travel to another test site.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

NY HELPS

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, 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 an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Non-competitive Minimum Qualifications (ny Helps)

One year of clerical experience.

Reassignment Qualifications

Current Department of Civil Service employees with one year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service as an Office Assistant 2, if less than one year, you must be currently reachable on the Office Assistant 2 eligible list for the Cohoes location if one exists.

Competitive Qualifications

You must be reachable on the current eligible list or eligible for transfer.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications

One year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service in a title eligible for transfer and determined to be similar by Civil Service.

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

Provisional Qualifications

Based on the results of the canvass of the current eligible list for the Office Assistant 2 position, the Department may elect to make a provisional appointment to this position rather than a permanent appointment should the eligible list have less than three candidates interested. If a provisional appointment is made, the appointed candidate will be required to compete in the next holding of the Office Assistant 2 exam and be reachable for appointment from the newly established eligible list.

The Minimum Qualifications For Provisional Appointment Are

One year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service as an office assistant, clerical, or keyboarding title allocated to Grade 6 or higher.

Qualifying titles are available at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/38687titles.cfm.

Non-competitive Promotion (ncp) Qualifications

The Department of Civil Service is considering making a request to the Department of Civil Service to hold a non-competitive promotion examination for the above title in accordance with Section 52.7 of the Civil Service Law if three or fewer interested promotional candidates respond to this notice. Before submitting such a request, we must ascertain if anyone meeting the minimum qualifications is interested in competing in a promotional examination for the above title and if they would accept appointment if offered. To qualify, you must be a current Department of Civil Service employee. If certified by Civil Service, mandatory reemployment list candidates must be considered first for appointment to this title. Please note this will be a competitive appointment. The term non-competitive refers to the appointed candidate not needing to compete in the next holding of the examination.

The Minimum Qualifications For NCP Appointment Are

One year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service as an Office Assistant 1; or one year of permanent service in a clerical or keyboarding title allocated to Grade 6 or higher.

55 B/C Qualifications

Individuals certified eligible for the 55 B/C program under the Governor's Program to Hire Persons/Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to Section 55 B/C of the Civil Service Law will also be considered. To be considered, you must provide a copy of your letter of eligibility with your response.

You must meet the open competitive qualifications from the most recent examination announcement.

The Open Competitive Minimum Qualifications Are

One year of permanent, contingent permanent, or 55 B/C service as an office assistant, clerical, or keyboarding title allocated to Grade 6 or higher.

It is essential that candidates clearly and concisely indicate exactly how they meet the above minimum qualifications in their resume. Failure to show how you meet the minimum qualifications above may result in disqualification and removal from consideration.

Preferred Qualifications

Background in customer service, both in-person and remotely (phone and email), ability to navigate and respond to unforeseen challenges, experience managing sensitive or confidential information with discretion, ability to work effectively under pressure and make quick informed decisions, and proficient in troubleshooting computer and office equipment.

Additional Comments

#TeamCivilService is growing and is looking for motivated, forward-thinking employees to join our team to build a dynamic workforce. The Department of Civil Service is undertaking several initiatives to transform the way the agency delivers services to our partner agencies and to the public, and we are excited to be adding new members to the team. In addition to joining a growing team and agency, employees will also receive a comprehensive benefits package.

The Department of Civil Service is the central personnel agency for the Executive Branch of New York State government, serving approximately 150,000 employees. Our mission is to build tomorrow's workforce today by promoting a diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce. We lead and deliver world-class workforce management strategies by providing innovative solutions based on merit, fitness, and equality of opportunity.

Among Its Duties, The Department

Partners with State agencies to offer workforce recruitment and placement services, including developing minimum qualifications, classifying positions, developing civil service examinations, and administering performance assessment tests.
Administers the New York State Health Insurance Program (https://www.cs.ny.gov/nyship/), one of the largest public employer health insurance programs in the nation, serving more than 1.2 million lives.
Assists municipal agencies with civil service administration of more than 360,000 local government employees.
Oversees the Governor's Program to Hire Individuals and Veterans with Disabilities (https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/) to place individuals with disabilities in State jobs and the New New York Leaders Initiative Student Intern Program. (https://nysinternships.cs.ny.gov/nnyl/)

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: DCS employees may be approved for a maximum of 50% telecommuting, however, they are required to apply and obtain approval through management in accordance with DCS Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

The Department of Civil Service is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability status, arrest record or criminal conviction history, or any other category protected by law.

We are happy to provide reasonable and religious accommodations during the hiring process for those in need. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please send a request to YourFutureBeginsHere@cs.ny.gov

New York State Department of Civil Service

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Office Assistant 2