Fish Culturist 2

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.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before December 1, 2018, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as follows:

For No. 38-343: Fish Culturist 1, Fish Culturist Trainee 2, or a Fish Culturist Trainee 1.

For No. 38-344: Fish Culturist 2 or Fish Culturist 1.

For No. 38-345: Fish Culturist 3 or Fish Culturist 2.

Only the title(s) listed is qualifying for this examination(s).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before September 1, 2018, 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 No. 38-343: one year as a Fish Culturist 1.

For No. 38-344: one year as a Fish Culturist 2 or two years as a Fish Culturist 1.

For No. 38-345: one year as a Fish Culturist 3 or two years as a Fish Culturist 2.

Notes

1. Per federal government requirements, if you are appointed to this position, you may be required to undergo fingerprinting and a state and federal criminal background check.
2. You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.
3. You may be required to obtain a valid Class B CDL within 6 months of appointment with appropriate endorsements. If a CDL is required, you will be subject to the Federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act (OTETA) of 1991, which requires employee testing for drug and alcohol abuse.

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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 Nos.
	38-343	38-344	38-345
1. 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	X	X
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.	X	X	X
3. 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
4. Public Contact - These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact with other people, to gather and present information, and to provide assistance, advice, and effective customer service in a courteous and professional manner. Questions will cover such topics as understanding and responding to people with diverse needs, perspectives, personalities, and levels of familiarity with agency operations, as well as acting in a way that both serves the public and reflects well on your agency.	X
5. 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
6. Fish Culture - These questions will be designed to test for, but will not necessarily be limited to, knowledge of the principles and practices involved in fish culture, including spawn-taking; egg incubation; fish care at various stages of development; fish feeding requirements; water quality parameters including hatchery influent and effluent, sampling and measurement techniques; fish marking; fish stocking; equipment, including operation and maintenance; employee health and safety issues; and the natural history of the fish species involved.	X	X	X
7. 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
8. Fish hatchery management - These questions will consist of hypothetical case histories of specific situations involving fish culture and New York State hatchery operations. Candidates will be asked to identify issues and/or manipulate conditions to solve the problems presented.		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 2, you would perform all the tasks and activities of a Fish Culturist 1 and, as first-line supervisor or as an assistant manager at medium facilities, supervise Fish Culturists 1, and when necessary, seasonal employees and volunteers; schedule daily assignments for hatchery staff and ensure that assignments are completed according to hatchery standards; evaluate data and prepare reports; assist in the planning and implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinate a fish health management plan in conjunction with the hatchery manager; plan and organize inter-hatchery transfers and fish stockings; handle administrative tasks related to the purchasing of equipment and supplies and the oversight of equipment and grounds maintenance. As a Fish Culturist 2 assistant manager, you may be required to live on-site in state owned housing.

As a Fish Culturist 3, you would supervise Fish Culturists levels 1 and 2; 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; coordinate 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; plan and coordinate wild fish egg takes. As manager, plan and direct the annual work program for the hatchery; plan and oversee implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinate public outreach (such as visitor tours and/or Trout in the Classroom); coordinate fish health management plan; and compile and prepare hatchery budget requests to support annual operating costs including equipment and temporary service needs. Work with regional fisheries managers and biologists to determine stocking dates and locations. Coordinate volunteer stocking efforts with sportsmen organizations and the general public. Provide on-site oversite for hatchery rehabilitation and improvement projects. As an assistant manager at a large sized hatchery perform administrative tasks including personnel and labor relations issues, employee recruitment, selection and evaluation of employees, and may plan and coordinate wild fish egg takes. As a Fish Culturist 3, you may be required to live on-site in state owned housing.

As a Fish Culturist 4, you would supervise Fish Culturists levels 1 through 3 and support staff; 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; coordinate public outreach (such as visitor tours and/or Trout in the Classroom); organize and evaluate health and safety program; 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. Work with regional fisheries managers and biologists to determine stocking dates and locations. Coordinate volunteer stocking efforts with sportsmen organizations and the general public. Provide on-site oversite for hatchery rehabilitation and improvement projects. As a Fish Culturist 4, you may be required to live on-site in state owned housing.

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.

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

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-vla
Issued: 09/14/2018

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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