Review Vacancy
AgencyAgriculture & Markets, Department of
TitleDirector of Agricultural Development
Occupational CategoryClerical, Secretarial, Office Aide
Bargaining UnitM/C - Managerial/Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary RangeFrom $123793 to $156224 Annually
Duties Description Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral part of a team dedicated to fostering a competitive food and agriculture industry that benefits both producers and consumers alike. Here, you can cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from environmental science to economic development, you can find your niche in public service and grow both professionally and personally. Embrace the chance to join our team, and you’ll not only reap a fulfilling career but also sow the seeds for a healthier, stronger New York.
Position Information:
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking a Director of Agricultural Development to lead the Division and supervise managers of the Division’s Business Development, Food and Nutrition, Marketing and Promotion, and Food Systems and Resiliency programs, developing strategic policies to guide program implementation. This role involves initiating or restructuring programs for effective service delivery to New York's food and agricultural industry, ensuring funds are managed and accounted for properly, and overseeing systems for financial operations. The Director coordinates statewide policy development for marketing and economic initiatives, with a focus on New York agriculture within the New York City market. They represent the Department at various events, collaborate with industry and government bodies on development initiatives, and contribute to legislative proposals impacting the Division. The role also requires communicating Department positions to stakeholders and managing the Division’s administrative aspects, including organizational, personnel, and operational needs.
The Director of Agricultural Development position is located at the Department of Agriculture and Markets’ headquarters conveniently located near the Albany International Airport at 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235. We offer a professional and comfortable working environment with ample free parking. This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Minimum Qualifications Appointment Process and Minimum Qualifications:
The Director of Director of Agricultural Development is in the Non-Competitive Jurisdictional Class and has a Phi-Designation. Section 42(1) of the Civil Service Law provides that the Non-Competitive Class shall include all positions that are not in the Exempt Class or the Labor Class, for which the Civil Service Commission finds it is not practicable to ascertain the merit and fitness of applicants by competitive examination. Appointment to this position may be made to a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications.
Phi-Designation is placed on confidential positions, or positions requiring the performance of functions that formulate or influence policy in an agency. The Director of Agricultural Development performs functions that formulates or influences policy. Incumbents of phi-designated positions cannot acquire tenure protection in such positions unless they are honorably discharged wartime veterans or exempt volunteer firefighters, as noted in Civil Service Law section 75(1)(b). Approval for appointment to this position will go through the Budget Director Approval (BDA) process, including a fingerprint background check.
Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in any field with 15 credit hours of coursework in at least one of the following: agriculture, agricultural economics, agriculture business, accounting, auditing, environmental studies, forestry, finance, marketing, communications, public administration, economics, business administration or political science; AND eight years of experience in programs involving the marketing of food, promotion of food, promotion of agricultural products and commodities or the business development activities for food and agricultural businesses. Four of the eight years of experience must have included supervision of staff and programs.
Minimum Qualifications Substitution: A master’s degree in any field with at least 15 credit hours of coursework in at least one of the above areas may be substituted for two years of non-supervisory experience.
Additional Comments Salary:
This is a management/confidential (M/C) position in the salary grade M-4, offering a competitive starting salary of $123,793 per year.
The candidate appointed to this position, will be eligible to participate in the New York State Performance Evaluation Program. Through this program, employees receive yearly performance evaluations. Performance advances* may be payable to M/C employees whose base annual salary is below the job rate for their current position and who were rated "Satisfactory" or its equivalent on their yearly performance evaluation. Performance advance payments are added to an employee's annual salary. Over time, yearly performance advances may lead to the M-4 job rate salary of $156,224/year!
*For M/C employees, performance advances become effective on the first day of payroll period number one in the fiscal year following the completion of the evaluation period. Performance advances cannot be paid until the New York State Budget is passed and a Payroll Bulletin is issued by the Office of the State Comptroller each year.
Benefits:
Benefits include but are not limited to inexpensive health insurance options, free dental and vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, and generous paid time off. Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 8 sick days, and 13 paid holidays!
As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or another eligible employer.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov
Address
Notes on ApplyingTo apply for this position, you must copy and paste the link below into your web browser. This link will lead you to our online employment application:
https://recruitingbypaycor.com/career/SubmitResume.action?clientId=8a7883d07a219b0d017a53a2e3bb0f9a&id=8a7887a196888d0f01969117f1b22d78&specialization=
Position Vacancy Online Application by: May 12, 2025. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.
If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sacco in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov.
The Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity, and reasonable accommodations and/or modifications as necessary, for qualified persons with disabilities. If you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please visit: https://agriculture.ny.gov/employment-information.