Forest Rangers

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 Enviromental Conservation.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 1, 2024, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have had permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as:

For Exam No. 31-067: one year as a Forest Ranger 1*.

For Exam No. 31-068:

Either A. one year as a Forest Ranger 2*;

Or B. three years as a Forest Ranger 1**.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

*If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 1, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

**If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 1, 2021, 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: Successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list as follows:

For Exam No. 31-067: After one year as a Forest Ranger 1.

For Exam No. 31-068:

Either A. After one year as a Forest Ranger 2;

Or B. After three years as a Forest Ranger 1.

Eligibles who meet the ?B? qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an ?A? title, may request to have their name added to the ?A? list, once they have completed the time in title year(s) of service in the ?A? title. The request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239; Attention: S2CPG.

Order of Certification: The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. "A" eligibles
2. "All" eligibles

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. United State Citizenship and New York State Residency: Although not required for taking the test, you must be a citizen of the United States at the time of appointment. If appointed, you must also possess and maintain New York State residency pursuant to the Public Officers Law.
2. Driver's License Requirement: You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.

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Duties

As a Forest Ranger 2, you would be a first-line police supervisor, who would supervise the day-to-day activities of all assigned subordinate staff within a geographic zone or area of programmatic responsibility in addition to performing many of those same activities and tasks. You would schedule and assign work to staff; provide necessary training; ensure compliance with policy and procedures; and monitor assigned employees? progress and evaluate performance. You would coordinate subordinate staff activities during natural or man-made emergencies and disasters, including serving as Incident Commander on complex incidents; and monitor permit compliance, inspections, investigations and other law enforcement actions for the zone. You would assist Forest Ranger 3?s in accomplishing regional goals supporting the Division?s mission and Division Headquarters directed projects as needed, including teaching or supervising at the Division?s training academy. Upon appointment, you would be required to reside in a location within your assigned zone that is acceptable to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

As a Forest Ranger 3, you would manage all subordinate staff activities within an assigned geographical area or area of programmatic responsibility. You would be responsible for ensuring compliance with Department policies and procedures; representing the division in meetings with local officials, agencies, and groups; manage funding; distributing equipment; and hiring personnel. You would guide, direct, supervise, and evaluate performance of subordinate personnel. You would report to the Division Headquarters. Upon appointment, you would be required to reside in a location that is acceptable to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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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
	31-067	31-068
1. 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.	X	X
2. Preparing written material in a police setting - These questions test for the ability to prepare the types of reports that police personnel write. Some questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately. They consist of restatements of information given in note form. You must choose the best version from each set of four choices. Other questions test for the ability to organize paragraphs. They consist of paragraphs with their sentences out of order. For each of the paragraphs you must choose, from four suggestions, the best order of the sentences.	X	X
3. 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
4. Emergency incident field supervision and management - These questions test for the ability to arrive at sound management decisions and command orders at a variety of emergency incidents. These management decisions must be made based upon existing Division policies, Standard Operating Procedures, established Health and Safety Guidelines, labor/management guidelines and best management practices. Questions relating to specific protocols, organizational structure and Division responsibilities may be included.	X	X
5. Environmental Conservation, Criminal Procedure, Penal and related laws, rules and regulations as applied to forest and forest land use - These questions are designed to test for knowledge of the laws in effect on January 1, 2024 that forest rangers may encounter in the course of their day-to-day work related activities including Environmental Conservation Law as related to Forest Protection, Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, and other laws, rules and regulations relevant to the duties of forest rangers in New York State.	X	X
6. 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
7. Planning, supervising and administering police programs and activities - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in managing an organizational segment of a police department in New York State and directing the activities of subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. These questions cover such areas as planning, controlling, directing, organizing, and coordinating the activities of the organizational section. Questions also cover the personal interactions between an upper-level supervisor and subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives and deal with issues of work assignments, job performance, and training.		X

Test Guide: A Guide to the Multiple-Choice Test for the Police Supervisors/Investigators Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

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.

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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 Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.

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/TC1 CPG-dah
Issued: 3/15/24

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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