Environmental Chemist 2

You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you 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.

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 December 14, 2019, you must have:

Either 1. a bachelor���s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or environmental chemistry, AND three years of professional experience in the field of chemistry, two years of which directly relate to air or water pollution, solid or hazardous waste, analysis of biological tissue for contaminants, or the regulation and analysis of pesticides;

Or 2. a master���s or doctoral degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or environmental chemistry, AND two years of professional experience directly related to air or water pollution, solid or hazardous waste, analysis of biological tissue for contaminants, or the regulation and analysis of pesticides.

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

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2020, 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 requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2020 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes:

1. Your college credit must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your college credit 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. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. 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: S2KXM.
2. A promotion examination is also being held for these positions. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. Appointment to these positions may 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 may 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.
4. Travel Requirements: Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions may be required to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.
5. Qualifying part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
6. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Duties

As an Environmental Chemist 2, depending upon the program area assigned, you would supervise subordinate chemists and technicians; develop, evaluate, and implement analytical methods and protocols designed for the chemical analysis of environmental samples; and initiate and coordinate source sampling programs. You might formulate and implement an appropriate quality assurance program, evaluate or direct the evaluation of analytical data generated by private and government laboratories engaged in contract work for the department, evaluate and mitigate environmental risks of pesticides in New York State, and prepare reports. You might also be involved in health and safety issues related to chemical hygiene or quality assurance plans.

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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:

1. Analytical chemistry, including techniques, equipment, and procedures for inorganic and organic analyses - These questions test for knowledge of general principles of chemical analysis, including the various techniques used in the chemical analysis of both organic and inorganic materials, the operating principles and characteristics of the analytical equipment used, and laboratory safety.
2. Organization and interpretation of data, including elementary statistical analysis and quality control - These questions test for knowledge of the various techniques used in data collection and analysis. Questions may include such areas as proper methods of collecting and organizing data, elementary statistical operations performed on data, and interpreting tabulated results properly.
3. Laboratory methods, procedures, instrumentation, and equipment associated with the analysis of various environmental samples -These questions test for knowledge of the procedures, equipment, and instrumentation used in the analysis of various liquid, solid and gaseous environmental samples including, but not limited to, water, sewage, ambient air, fish, vegetation, soil, soil vapor, and solid waste for various chemical and physical parameters, including such areas as sample preservation and preparation, preparation of solutions and standards, identification and characteristics of substances, and the use and characteristics of various test methods and instrumentation.
4. General laboratory practices, techniques, and equipment - These questions test for knowledge of basic laboratory practices, techniques, and equipment, including such areas as proper and safe techniques in sample preparation and analysis; use and characteristics of laboratory supplies, equipment, and instrumentation; principles and concentrations; and terminology and underlying scientific principles associated with laboratory work.
5. 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.

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

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.

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, 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 written 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 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: https://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: 09/27/2019

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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