New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Open-Competitive Examination Open to the Public

Code Compliance Specialist 1

Agency	*Salary
Department of State	$52,293
Thruway Authority	$50,322

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before March 28, 2015, you must have current certification as a Code Enforcement Official pursuant to Title 19 NYCRR, Part 434 or Part 1208 AND have five years full-time experience in any combination of:

Either 1. the enforcement, inspection, development, or teaching of building or fire codes;

Or 2. the design of buildings in a position such as a specifications writer, draftsperson, architect, or engineer.

Examples of non-qualifying experience: design, construction, or inspection of bridges and/or highways; labor law, wage or health and safety inspections/investigations not primarily related to building or fire codes; experience as a firefighter where responsibilities do not include conducting fire or building code inspections as a primary assignment; and clerical or support duties associated with fire or building code inspections.

Substitution: In addition to the current certification as a Code Enforcement Official as stated above, college study in one of the following degree fields may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credit hours being equal to one year of the required experience for up to four years of the required five years of experience: architectural engineering, architecture, civil engineering, construction technology, electrical engineering, fire protection engineering, fire protection technology, or mechanical engineering.

Notes

1. Important: As the processing fee is non-refundable, verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.
2. Your college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2SER.
3. Continued employment as a Code Compliance Specialist 1 is dependent upon current certification as a Code Enforcement Official pursuant to Title 19 NYCRR Part 434 or Part 1208. Loss of certification will result in removal from employment.
4. Travel Requirements: Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions may be required to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
5. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
6. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the Department of State and the Thruway Authority at various locations throughout the state.

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Duties

As a Code Compliance Specialist 1, you would provide technical assistance and training in code enforcement and administration activities. You would provide advice and information concerning the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code for such parties as government agencies/entities, architects, engineers, design professionals, professional organizations and community groups, and the public. You will inspect new and existing construction for compliance with approved plans and specifications and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code. You will provide post-disaster building damage assessments, and supervise volunteer code enforcement disaster assistance response program participants. You will train code enforcement officials, building safety inspectors, and other interested parties; develop curriculum and training materials for online and classroom delivery; and evaluate and revise the courses and materials, as necessary. You would provide research and analysis and process applications for variances to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code.

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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. Building construction, including methods, materials and components - These questions test for knowledge of the concepts, proper procedures and materials used in the construction and renovation of buildings and related facilities, and may include such typical areas as structural members, roofs, ceilings, walls, floors, stairs, windows, doors, insulation, foundations, exterior features, and site work.
2. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for a knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individual citizens and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.
3. Knowledge of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code - These questions test for knowledge and application of the current Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, and Property Maintenance Codes of New York State, and the Energy Conservation Construction Codes of New York State.
4. Knowledge of laws, regulations and standards related to building construction, fire prevention and code enforcement - These questions test for knowledge and application of the current NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code related portions of the New York State rules and regulations, including Title 19 NYCRR Parts 434, 1202, 1203 (Uniform Code minimum standards for personnel, administration and enforcement) , 1208, and 1220 through 1228; and standards for building construction, fire prevention, safety, and handicap accessibility, including ICC/ANSI A117.1 (American National Standards Institute).
5. 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.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

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 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, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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

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 provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2]. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2]. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

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 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions 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. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC3 SER-vla
Issued: 1/9/2015

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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