Historic Site Manager C

The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Online tests will be administered using Remote Proctoring. You may access information on remote proctoring by visiting our website at www.cs.ny.gov/testing/remote-proctoring.cfm. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online or in a test location.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to one of the following test sites to take this examination: Rensselaer, Buffalo, Nyack, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, or Yonkers. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

If you previously applied for this examination scheduled for March 14, 2020, which was postponed, you do NOT need to reapply. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the qualifications to take the examination. Additional information will be sent to previous applicants via email.

Transition examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

These TRANSITION EXAMINATIONS are one of several concepts included in a Memorandum of Intent agreed to by New York State and CSEA, and are designed to provide opportunities for employees within state service.

Open-competitive examinations are being held at the same time as these transition examinations. Agencies have the option of making appointments from either list. If you meet the requirements for the open-competitive as well as the transition examination, you may wish to apply for both. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before November 6, 2021*, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and have had three months of permanent competitive, non-competitive, labor class, or 55 b/55 c service in a position at or above Grade 11.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before August 6, 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 Elgible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

NOTE: In accordance with Section 52.11 of the Civil Service Law, individuals serving permanently in the non competitive or labor class in a qualifying title (including those serving under Section 55-b/55-c) who otherwise meet the requirements for taking this examination are eligible to compete in this transition examination.

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Duties

As an Interpretive Programs Assistant, you would develop and administer comprehensive interpretive programs and supervise subordinate staff and volunteers associated with a state historic site or a state historic park within New York State. You would conduct research, develop and implement seminars, workshops, guided tours, audio-visual and written materials, live craft demonstrations, school programs, exhibits, and special events to interpret the historic site or historic park to the general public as well as special interest groups. You would be responsible for visitor statistics and conducting audience research. You would assist in all other site responsibilities as required. During the absence of the historic site manager, you would be required to assume the duties, responsibilities, and authority of that position. You would be required to perform basic computer functions.

As a Historic Site Manager, you would apply professional technical standards and guidelines in planning, directing, and coordinating the administration, operation, development, and maintenance of one or more historic sites or historic parks. You would manage and supervise various levels of subordinate staff in historic preservation, interpretation, security, and maintenance. You would serve as agency liaison with non profit "friends" organizations and other volunteer groups to coordinate activities and projects to advance the preservation and development of the historic site or historic park. You would be required to perform basic computer functions.

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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
	00-482	00-475
1. 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
2. Facility administration - These questions test for knowledge of operating and maintaining a historic site. The questions will cover such topics as setting goals and objectives for site use; preparing operating plans and budgets; and directing maintenance, security, and integrity of the site.		X
3. 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
4. Principles and practices of museum operations and artifact preservation - These questions test for knowledge in such areas as collection care and presentation, restoration and care of structures and grounds, documentation and record keeping, acquisition, museum philosophy and ethics, and security.		X
5. 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
6. Developing interpretive programs - These questions test for knowledge of principles and practices of historic interpretation and for the ability to apply them effectively in planning and presenting interesting and educational interpretive programs to a variety of audiences at historic sites.	X
7. 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

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.

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

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. Any past due application processing fees must be paid in full prior to submitting an application. Please email FeeUnitMail@cs.ny.gov regarding inquiries about any past due 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.

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 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.

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/TB2 KXM-dah
Reissued: 9/10/21
*Revised Material: 9/10/21

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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