NEW YORK STATE
Department of Civil Service Announces
Interdepartmental Examination Open to All Qualified Employees of New York State

For Advancement in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies
1. Within Promotion Units 2. Within Entire Departments 3. To Other Departments

This TRANSITION EXAMINATION is one of several concepts included in a Memorandum of Intent agreed to by New York State and CSEA, and is designed to provide opportunities for employees within state service.

The eligible list resulting from this transition examination will be used to fill one-year traineeships leading to Assistant Purchasing Agent G-14.

An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in prescribed training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The prescribed training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. An appointee not meeting required standards can be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship. An appointee will be placed on leave from their permanent title and will revert to that title if they do not successfully complete the traineeship.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On or before March 18, 2006, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a clerical/secretarial position allocated to G-5 or higher in which 50% or more of your duties were directly related to purchasing activities. Your duties must have involved: initiating and processing purchase orders (or purchases involving a department credit card); obtaining price quotes from suppliers; gathering specifications from suppliers or agency personnel; preparing specifications; evaluating bids; and reviewing requisitions for purchase. (See Note below.)

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before April 18, 2005, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

NOTE: All candidates must submit an Attestation Form which documents that 50% of your duties are directly related to purchasing activities as described under Minimum Qualifications. If filing on application card XD-5, you must attach the completed Attestation Form to the application. If filing on the internet or by telephone, send the completed Application Form, including the exam number and title, to: NYS Department of Civil Service, Building #1, The State Campus, Albany, New York 12239; ATTN: S‑5/KAS.

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR APPOINTMENT FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST: After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Principles and Practices of Purchasing – These questions test for candidates' knowledge of the principles guiding governmental purchasing operations and the ability to put them into practice. These questions may deal with but are not necessarily limited to such matters as the analysis of bids, the use of specifications, the award of contracts, the analysis of market factors that can affect the cost of a purchase, and the application of a set of rules to determine how to proceed with a purchase. Some arithmetic computation may be necessary. No specific knowledge of NYS purchasing laws, rules and regulations will be required to answer these questions.
2. Preparing Written Material – These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
3. Understanding and Interpreting Written Material – These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' credits to your final passing score.

CREDIT FOR SENIORITY: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof) excluding the first year of service.

DUTIES: As a Purchasing Agent Trainee, you would be instructed in the laws, rules and regulations and procedures involved in the purchasing of a variety of supplies, materials, equipment, and services required by State agencies and institutions. The purchasing activities are governed by State contracts, open market buying procedures governed by the NYS Procurement Council, Office of the State Comptroller, and applicable regulations and guidelines related to minority and women-owned businesses. Upon successful completion of the traineeship, you would be advanced to Assistant Purchasing Agent without further examination.

The NYS Department of Civil Service reserves the right to reject for lateness or to accept applications filed after the advertised filing period. All statements you make on your application are subject to investigation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION: To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call (518)457‑5483 if taking the test in Albany; (518) 457-6556 for New York City Test Center; (518)457‑7022 for all other Test Centers.

NEW YORK STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION: Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under "Religious Accommodation." We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TESTING: In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-3416 or TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) (518) 457-8480.

MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call (518) 457-7022 no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the State examination center.

S5/TB2 KAS-dmb
Issued: 12/30/05