Description

Duties Description

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.

Position Information

The Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed conducts germination and purity testing on seed samples and prepares summaries and reports of analysis. The selected candidate will prepare regulatory and service seed samples for testing and analysis; divide seed samples following Association of Official Seed Analyst (AOSA) procedures for testing; performs purity and germination testing in accordance with AOSA Rules and standard operating procedures; and analyze test results and prepares summaries and reports of analyses to document findings, observations and results. The Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed may also communicate results of testing to management or stakeholders; seek clarification and guidance on regulatory standards, testing techniques and processes; complete sample tracking/summary statistical logs; clean and maintain laboratory equipment; calibrate seed laboratory instrumentation to establish and demonstrate appropriate conditions for a particular analysis; operates complex laboratory equipment, instrumentation and electronic data processing and computer equipment; follow internal laboratory pesticide/microbiological containment protocols; and contribute toward research assignments, proposals or agency reports

The Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed is permanent, full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. This position will work within the New York State Food Laboratory conveniently located in the Harriman State Office Campus at 1220 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12203.

Salary

The starting salary for the Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed is $53,764/ year, and the hiring salary for the PEF salary grade (SG) 14. This position requires the completion of a two-year traineeship. After successful completion of the first year of the traineeship, the appointee will advance without further examination to the Trainee 2 level SG-16 (starting salary of $59,994/year). Completion of the second year of the traineeship will result in permanent advancement to the Horticultural Inspector 1, SG-18 (starting salary of $66,951/year) without further examination. Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to the Trainee 2 or full performance level. For more information, see Advanced Placement below.

The candidate appointed at the Food Laboratory Specialist 1 Seed, SG-18 level, 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-18 job rate salary of $85,138/ 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, paid parental leave, 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

Minimum Qualifications

NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology.

Advanced Placement

To Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 2 Seed, NS: A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology AND one year of experience using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology and other sciences to conduct analytical testing in support of food safety and security, agricultural and consumer interests and utilizing a variety of laboratory techniques to study, test and analyze specific health hazards or accuracy of labeling of foods, beverages, livestock feed, pet food and agricultural commodities.

Minimum Qualification Substitution: A master’s degree in a related field can substitute for one year of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for two years of experience.

To Food Laboratory Specialist 1 Seed, SG-18: A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology AND two years of experience using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology and other sciences to conduct analytical testing in support of food safety and security, agricultural and consumer interests and utilizing a variety of laboratory techniques to study, test and analyze specific health hazards or accuracy of labeling of foods, beverages, livestock feed, pet food and agricultural commodities.

Minimum Qualification Substitution: A master’s degree in a related field can substitute for one year of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for two years of experience.

You must inform the hiring agency of this additional experience at the time of interview.

Alternate Minimum Qualifications

Reassignment Qualifications: You must be a current Department of Agriculture and Markets employee and have one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed, NS, Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 2 Seed, NS and Food Laboratory Specialist 1 Seed, G-18; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 11 title or higher.

AND

A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology.

AND

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Select Title examination.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 2 Seed, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 12 title or higher.

AND

A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology AND one of professional experience in a seed laboratory.

AND

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Select Title examination.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Food Laboratory Specialist 1 Seed, G-18: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 16 title or higher.

AND

A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology

AND

Either 1. Two years of professional experience in a seed laboratory.

OR

Designated as a Certified Seed Analyst (CSA), Certified Seed Analyst-Germination (CSA-G), Certified Seed Analyst-Purity (CSA-P), as a Certified Viability Technologist (CVT), as a Certified Purity Technologist (CPT), or as a Registered Seed Technologist (RST).

AND

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Select Title examination.

Reinstatement Under Rule 5.4: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they were previous permanent New York State employees who resigned their positions may be reinstated to their former positions, or to positions to which they were eligible for transfer or reassignment without further examination. Employees separated from their positions may be reinstated within one year of the date of their separation. Employees separated from their positions who have also been separated from state service for more than one year may be reinstated upon approval by the state Civil Service Commission.

55-b/c Qualifications: Applicants may be appointed to this Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed position permanently if they meet these qualifications: A bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, crop science, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental biology, environmental studies, forest science, forestry, genetics, horticulture, microbiology, molecular biology, natural resources, plant science, seed science, seed technology, urban forestry, veterinary science, wildlife management, zoology.

Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.

NY HELPS Program

Additional Comments

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 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.

NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets jobs

Food Laboratory Specialist Trainee 1 Seed (NY HELPS)