Horticultural Inspector 2

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 Agriculture and Markets.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before April 13, 2024, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Horticultural Inspector 1.

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before January 13, 2024, 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.

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Duties

As a Horticultural Inspector 2, you would supervise Horticultural Inspectors 1 and seasonal inspection staff in the inspection of plants, plant products, seed, commercial fertilizer, and agricultural liming materials. You would coordinate sampling and laboratory analysis of samples; monitor and track pest distribution for use in the development of survey and control strategies; maintain regulatory oversight of cooperative federal-state programs of quarantine, eradication, and control directed at invasive plant pest species such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Golden Nematode, and Box Tree Moth, and schedule host removals as warranted, arrange for all necessary oversight, communication and outreach, and indemnification activities with affected community. You would also set priorities and identify timeframes for completion of assignments in geographic areas and would provide and coordinate the training and education of your subordinates, cooperators, and the general public.

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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:

1. Agriculture and Markets laws, rules and regulations, and inspection programs pertaining to horticultural materials and products - These questions test for knowledge of such articles as Article 9 Inspection and Sale of Seeds, Article 9-A Sale of Agricultural Liming Materials, Article 10 Sale and Analysis of Commercial Fertilizer, Article 10-A Prevention of Fraud In Sale of Soil and Plant Inoculants, and Article 14 Prevention and Control of Diseases in Trees and Plants; Insect Pests; Sale of Fruit Bearing Trees. The questions will also cover rules and regulations that may include Part 127 Golden Nematode Quarantine, Part 143 Control of Box Tree Moth, Part 159 License to Grow and Research Hemp, Part 142 Exterior Quarantine of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and Part 139 Control of the Asian Long Horned Beetle. Inspection programs including the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey and the inspection of seed, fertilizers, and liming materials may also be covered.
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. Principles and practices of horticulture - These questions test for knowledge of the basic principles and practices of horticulture. The topics may include planting; feeding; propagating; cultivating; maintaining trees, shrubs, plants, and lawns; and recognizing and controlling plant pests and diseases.
4. 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.

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.

S1/TC3 RKV-dah
Issued: 1/26/24

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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