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

Pesticide Control Specialist Trainee 1/Pesticide Control Specialist 2

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 April 23, 2016, you must have

For Number 26-083: a bachelor���s or higher-level degree in agronomy, agriculture, agricultural engineering, animal science, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, entomology, environmental science, geology, environmental studies, natural resources, forestry, forest biology, aquatic biology, marine biology, wildlife biology, horticulture, botany, or plant pathology.

For Number 26-085: a bachelor���s or higher-level degree in the subject areas listed above AND four years of experience as a certified private or commercial pesticide applicator, in a position where your primary duties and responsibilities include reading and comprehending pesticide label requirements; mixing, loading, handling, and application of pesticides; selecting and recommending use of specific pesticides; calibrating pesticide application equipment; storing and disposing of pesticides and pesticide containers; pesticide use record keeping; and complying with all state and federal pesticide regulations. INCLUDE YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATION NUMBER ON YOUR APPLICATION. Failure to do so will result in the disapproval of your application.

For the purpose of this examination, a degree in other disciplines will NOT be considered qualifying.

IMPORTANT: As a Pesticide Control Specialist 1 and Pesticide Control Specialist 2, you would be required to have your Pesticide Applicator Certification Number, take and maintain Department health and safety training, be respirator ���fit-tested��� on an annual basis and as the need arises.

Appointment Level for No. 26-083: If you pass the written test and are appointed, you may be appointed at the Trainee 2 level if you have at least one year of experience as a private or commercial pesticide applicator and have current Pesticide Applicator Certification.

After one year of satisfactory service as a Pesticide Control Specialist Trainee 1, you would be advanced without further examination to Pesticide Control Specialist Trainee 2 (current salary $41,234). Upon satisfactory completion of the second year of the traineeship and upon successfully attaining your Pesticide Applicator Certification Number and other required training programs, you would be advanced without further examination to Pesticide Control Specialist 1 (current salary $52,293).

Notes

1. Your degree 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 degree 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. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the New York State Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2-KXM.
2. If you expect to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2016, you can be admitted to the written test but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
3. You may file for these examinations by completing one NYS-APP application form or applying on the Internet. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.
4. 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.
5. A promotion examination is also being held for Pesticide Control Specialist 2. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in our own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to this public.
6. Although a promotion examination is being held for Pesticide Control Specialist 2, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of this examination open to the public.
7. Appointment to these positions will require the use of Personal Protective Equipment, including a respirator. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducts a Medical Monitoring Program for employee safety purposes in which you will be required to participate. The Medical Monitoring Program is an OSHA requirement for employees who may be exposed to toxic or hazardous substances and it is a critical part of DEC���s Employee Health and Safety Program. The Medical Monitoring Program includes a baseline physical examination with periodic follow-up physical exams.
8. These positions require travel. Appointees will be required to have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.
9. Inquiries regarding New York State Pesticide Applicator certification should be directed to: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pesticides Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233.
10. Qualifying part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
11. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Duties

As a Pesticide Control Specialist Trainee, under close and continuing supervision, you would be responsible for enforcing state and federal pesticide laws and regulations, while participating in a two year on the job training program. As a Pesticide Control Specialist 1, you would be responsible for the oversight, administration, and implementation of state and federal pesticide laws, rules and regulations to ensure compliance in the distribution, storage, sale, application, and use of pesticides by the regulated community. You would perform routine inspection of facilities and pesticide applications; investigate reported cases of pesticide misuse and pesticide-related incidents; collect samples, write reports, and provide testimony in support of investigations; administer certification exam sessions; monitor and evaluate pesticide applicator and recertification training programs to ensure the training programs meet requirements of pesticide certification and recertification training standards; conduct certification and recertification training and examinations; review and issue Aquatic Purchase Permits to pond owners; and provide pesticide information, interpret regulations, and make presentations to the regulated community and other interested parties.

As a Pesticide Control Specialist 2, you would operate with considerable independence under the general supervision of a Pesticide Control Specialist 3, an Environmental Program Specialist 3, or a Regional Division of Materials Management Engineer. In addition to the duties listed above for Pesticide Control Specialist 1, you would have basic supervisory responsibilities, develop sampling protocols, and implement watershed protection and integrated pest management programs. You would have responsibility for all or a major portion of the pesticide program in a Regional Office, including administrative responsibilities, or for one or more key elements of the state���s pesticide program in the Central Office, such as the applicator certification program, the pesticide compliance program, cooperative grant agreements with the USEPA, the Federal Worker Protection Standards Program, and the Pesticide Reporting Law Annual Report.

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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:	For Examination Numbers
	26-083	26-085
1. Understanding and interpreting pesticide labels and State and Federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to pesticides - These questions test a candidate's ability to understand and interpret passages from pesticide labels and laws, rules, and regulations related to pesticides. Previous knowledge is not required; all answers are to be derived from the passages included in the test.	X
2. Knowledge of pesticides - These questions test for knowledge of pesticides, including chemical composition; safe handling, application, storage, and disposal; and environmental impact of pesticide use.	X	X
3. Knowledge of current laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to pesticides - These questions test for knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations, including Article 33 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law; New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations Parts 320-329; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides.		X
4. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individuals 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.	X	X
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.	X	X
6. Inspection and investigative techniques - These questions test a candidate's ability to select the proper course of action in situations which might occur during inspections and investigations. These questions may cover areas such as investigative interviewing, presentation of evidence, attitude factors, integrity and sound judgment in dealing with complaints, irregularities and violations.	X	X
7. Supervision and training - These questions test for the knowledge required by a supervisor to set goals, plan and organize work, train workers in how to do their jobs, and direct workers towards meeting established goals. The supervisory questions cover such areas as assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, maintaining work quality, motivating employees, increasing efficiency, and dealing with problems that may arise on the job. The training questions cover such areas as determining the necessity for training, selecting appropriate training methods, and evaluating the effectiveness of training.		X

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.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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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. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. 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.

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 KXM-dah
Issued: 2/5/2016

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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