Promotion Examination Open To All Qualified Employees of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Fish Culturist 3/4/5

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before February 9, 2013, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have had 3 months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as follows:

For Number 36-804: Fish Culturist 2.
For Number 36-805: Fish Culturist 2 or Fish Culturist 3.
For Number 36-806:
Either A. Fish Culturist 3 or Fish Culturist 4;
Or B. Biologist 1 (Aquatic).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before November 9, 2012, 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

For Number 36-804: one year as a Fish Culturist 2.
For Number 36-805: one year as a Fish Culturist 2 or Fish Culturist 3.
For Number 36-806:
Either A. two years as a Fish Culturist 3 or one year as a Fish Culturist 4;
Or B. one year as a Biologist 1 (Aquatic).

Order of Certification

The order of certification for the Fish Culturist 5 (No. 36-806) eligible list will be:

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

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.

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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
	36-804	36-805	36-806
1. Fish hatchery management - These questions will consist of hypothetical case histories of specific situations involving fish culture and Department of Environmental Conservation hatchery operations. Candidates will be asked to identify issues and/or manipulate conditions to solve the problems presented.	X	X	X
2. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit towards 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
3. Administrative supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.			X
4. 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	X
5. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for 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.	X	X	X
6. Fish Health Management - These questions will test for knowledge of the signs and causes of fish diseases and methods used in the prevention and control of diseases.	X	X	X
7. Understanding and interpreting tabular material - These questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and use the internal logic of data presented in tabular form. You may be asked to perform tasks such as completing tables, drawing conclusions from them, analyzing data trends or interrelationships, and revising or combining data sets. The concepts of rate, ratio, and proportion are tested. Mathematical operations are simple, and computational speed is not a major factor in the test. 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	X	X

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

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.

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Duties

As a Fish Culturist 3, you would supervise lower-level Fish Culturists, seasonal employees, and volunteers; serve as either assistant manager at a large hatchery or manager at a medium sized hatchery; plan and supervise maintenance schedules for grounds, buildings, equipment, and fish culture facilities; direct construction activities when necessary, perform administrative tasks including personnel and labor relations issues, employee recruitment, selection, and evaluation of employees; prepare purchase requisitions; evaluate data and prepare reports using valid scientific procedures; and attend professional agency meetings. As manager, plan and direct the annual work program for the hatchery; plan and oversee implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinate fish health management plan; and compile and prepare hatchery budget requests to support annual operating costs including equipment and temporary service needs. As a Fish Culturist 3 manager, you are required to live on site in state owned housing.

As a Fish Culturist 4, you would supervise lower-level Fish Culturists; serve as manager at a large facility; plan and direct the annual work program for the hatchery; plan and supervise maintenance schedules for the facility and grounds; compile and prepare hatchery budget requests; plan and schedule programs and costs for upcoming fiscal year; organize and evaluate health and safety programs; plan and oversee implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinate fish health management plan; handle administrative matters including the recruitment, selection, and evaluation of employees; prepare statistical and narrative reports; and attend professional agency meetings. As a Fish Culturist 4 manager, you would be required to live on site in state owned housing.

As a Fish Culturist 5, you would coordinate the implementation of statewide fish species culture programs to meet bureau objectives; work with program staff to determine fish production needs and to maximize the effective stocking and use of stocked fish; participate in the development of stocking schedules; coordinate wild fish egg takes and fish transfers; ensure compliance with statewide fish disease control policy and ongoing assessment and resolution of production issues; plan, review, and implement facility Rehabilitation & Improvement (R&I) construction projects through coordination with hatchery managers, engineers, and the Fish Culturist 6; supervise hatchery managers; review time and activity records, complete employee evaluations, review purchases to comply with agency requirements and facility needs; identify and implement training programs to promote staff development; attend professional agency meetings; and ensure compliance with agency administrators in matters of health and safety policies and disciplinary actions or grievances, as warranted.

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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.

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

Eligibility for Examination

To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in 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

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-sac
Issued: 11/23/12

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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