Divisions
Office of Audit and Risk Management is responsible for administering a comprehensive audit and review program that provides assurance and consulting services to management staff. The Office also coordinates with the Office of Information Technology Services to ensure adequate information-security policies, procedures, review, response and evaluation protocols are in place to protect agency information assets.
Classification & Compensation (C&C) administers a sound and responsive position classification and compensation plan that ensures fairness, equity, and sensitivity to market conditions; and helps the State attract and retain talent. This is accomplished through review of requests for new positions, changes in the title and salary grade of existing positions, and salary differentials; and establishment of title specifications. C&C also serves a consultative role in the rightsizing of State government by its work helping newly organized or reorganized agencies achieve organizational structures conducive to their missions.
Commission Operations assists State agencies in discharging their duties under the oversight of the State Civil Service Commission. Commission staff reviews, analyzes, and provides recommendations on matters presented to the Civil Service Commission, providing an independent assessment on a wide range of state and local requests. These requests include jurisdictional classifications, appeals, changes to Civil Service Rules and Regulations, matters of local civil service jurisdictions, operating division staff requests and other matters requiring Commission determination.
Office of Counsel provides legal counsel and advice to the Department, as well as other State government entities. Its goals are to ensure that all activities conform to applicable legal requirements, to protect the Department's and Commission's interests, and to help the agency and each of its divisions to accomplish their missions in a legally sound fashion. This advice covers a wide spectrum of practice areas, including matters relating to employment, labor, discrimination, employee benefits, healthcare reform, privacy, and procurements/contracts. In addition, the Office oversees the coordination of FOIL requests, in consultation with the Department's subject matter experts.
Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management (ODIM) is responsible for supporting all State agencies in developing a Statewide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, as well as a Framework and Implementation Plan to increase diversity in the workforce, and cultivate and promote an environment of workplace inclusion, pursuant to Executive Order No. 187. ODIM assists State agencies with incorporating equal employment opportunity principles into their operational policies and practices, including the vital programs and services delivered to State employees and the public.
Employee Benefits has the lead role for administering the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), one of the largest public employer health insurance programs in the nation covering more than 1.2 million lives. Program administration includes maintenance of enrollment records; technical support to front-line human resources staff in more than 1,300 State and participating local government agencies; enrollee customer services; and benefit plan communications.
Office of Financial Administration is responsible for overall agency fiscal management, including budget preparation; the monitoring of accounts receivables and accounts payables; and the development of NYSHIP premiums for billing to enrollees and participating local government agencies. In addition, the Office is responsible for administering the procurement process, from the solicitation of offeror bids to the development of contracts; and overseeing centralized office services including property management and mailroom operations.
Office of Human Resources and Administrative Planning (OHRAP) oversees programs and policies relating to the employment of Department personnel. OHRAP is responsible for all staffing and personnel transactions, including recruitment efforts, administrative analysis, employee relations, performance evaluations, and onboarding.
Municipal Services (MSD) provides technical advice and assistance to 95 local civil service agencies on the full range of civil service activities as required by Civil Service Law. Division staff also support the Commission in its monitoring of New York City's provisional employee reduction activities, review of local rulemaking proposals, and analysis of section 211 waiver requests.
New York State Fellowship Programs The New York State Fellowship programs serve to recruit the next generation of talent into public service. The main goal of the Fellowship programs is to attract highly qualified, diverse talent who many not otherwise have a clear pathway to State service. The Fellowship program includes a variety of fellowships from the Empire State Fellowship aimed at mid-career professionals to the Excelsior Service Fellowship aimed at recent graduates of New York State law, professional and graduate schools. In addition, the program also includes oversight of the Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor LGBTQ+ Fellowship, the Carey Gabay Fellowship, and the NYS Science Policy Fellowship.
Public Information Office (PIO) is responsible for maintaining a broad-based communications program to ensure that all interested constituent groups are aware of Department programs and services. The Director of Public Information serves as the spokesperson for the Department and communicates proactively through media interaction and the dissemination of announcements to the general public. In addition, the Office administers the agency's public website and responds to general inquiries from job seekers, State employees, and other constituents.
Staffing Services (SSD) is responsible for assisting State agencies with staffing the State service. SSD provides merit system guidance and oversight: examination planning, development and implementation; personnel recruitment and placement services; career mobility guidance; eligible list management; appointment transaction processing and payroll certification to over 70 State agencies. In carrying out these responsibilities, SSD staff interacts with a variety of clientele, including personnel and program representatives of State agencies, current and former State employees, job seekers, and employee organizations. SSD also oversees the Employee Health Service (EHS), which is responsible for medical examination services, including pre-employment, fitness-for-duty / return-to-work, and occupational health examinations, for all New York State departments and agencies. In addition, Health Service Nurses perform occupational health screening and immunization services throughout the State.
Strategic Planning & Innovation performs management activities designed to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, and ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working together to achieve measurable results. The Division also leads critical Department projects, manages state-wide reporting and provides oversight for information technology projects and support.
Testing Services (TSD) is responsible for the development, administration, scoring, and validation of tests for State agencies and local jurisdictions. TSD is divided into two major functional areas: Test Development, which is responsible for examination planning, test development, post-test analysis, and validation; and Testing Systems and Support, which is responsible for coordinating testing information systems and for test administration, which includes the production of test booklets and related test materials, printing and shipping, and scoring tests.