Recreation Program Leaders

*Salaries have been updated to reflect the most updated negotiated contract.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before October 21, 2023, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as:

For Exam No. 31-002: as a Recreation Program Leader 1 or a Recreation Therapist.

For Exam No. 31-003: as a Recreation Program Leader 2.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 21, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Back To Top

Duties

As a Recreation Program Leader 2, under the supervision of the Deputy Superintendent for Program Services, you would assist in directing a multi-faceted recreation program to meet the needs of incarcerated individuals in a correctional facility. You would provide direction to train, schedule, and coordinate the activities of incarcerated individuals and personnel who implement all scheduled athletic, recreational, and special event programs. You would assist in compiling data for the Special Subjects Program's budget justification process. In conjunction with other facility personnel, you would evaluate and make recommendations regarding the recreation program, and maintain all recreational facilities and equipment. You may act as a liaison for the recreation program with other correctional facility staff and outside groups.

As a Recreation Program Leader 3, under the supervision of the Special Subjects Coordinator in Central Office, you will serve as a regional supervisor over Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Special Subjects Program, and as a regional contact person for correctional facilities within the designated region, for issues regarding Special Subjects Program (such as Recreation, Special Events, Incarcertated Individuals Organizations, Media Review, and Youth Assistance Programs). You will assist with facilitating the training of Recreation Staff and will conduct quarterly site visits to each facility within the designated region. In addition, under supervision of the Deputy Superintendent for Program Services, you will fulfill the duties of the Recreation Program Leader 2 at the facility designated as your duty station. These positions will be located at six correctional facilities as designated by Central Office and one position assigned to Central Office.

Back To Top

Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas	For Examination Numbers
	31-002	31-003
1. Planning and evaluating discretionary recreation activities in a correctional setting - These questions test for knowledge of the current concepts and common practices used in planning and evaluating discretionary-time recreation programs in the areas of athletics, social activities, and avocational interests. Questions may cover such topics as program/activity planning for the major interest groups, program/activity planning for people with special needs, operation and maintenance of recreation areas and indoor/outdoor sports facilities, and scheduling of recreation activities.	X	X
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.	X	X
3. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.	X	X
4. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.	X	X
5. Working with office records - These questions test your ability to work with office records. This work might involve one of more of the following: organization or collation of numerical data from several sources; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents. The test consists of two or more sets of questions, each set concerning a different problem. You should bring with you a hand-held battery-or-solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone.	X
6. Administrative techniques and practices - These questions test for a knowledge of management techniques and practices used in directing or assisting in directing a program component or an organizational segment. Questions cover such areas as interpreting policies, making decisions based on the context of the position in the organization, coordinating programs or projects, communicating with employees or the public, planning employee training, and researching and evaluating areas of concern.		X
7. Principles and practices of staff development and training - These questions test for the knowledge and abilities used to develop and deliver training. They address topics such as the assessment of training needs; instructional design; training methods and techniques; the use of training aids, materials, and technology; motivation; learning theory; classroom management; the evaluation of learning outcomes; and the usage of training-related data.		X

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

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.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, 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.

Back To Top

How To Apply

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 unlawful 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, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most multiple-choice 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 multiple-choice test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your multiple-choice test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice 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: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, 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.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S2/TB1 CAV-dah
Issued: 8/4/23
*Amended: 8/21/23

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.

Back To Top