Review Vacancy
AgencyAgriculture & Markets, Department of
TitleEconomic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture (NY HELPS)
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $86681 to $109650 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 an Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture to work in Albany. The Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture will oversee one or more major agricultural marketing and promotion, or business development programs. This role will provide contract management and tracking to the Division of Agricultural Development and training and support to Program Managers. Additional duties include, but are not limited to: delivering and supervising technical assistance programs to NYS producers, food processors, and agri-businesses and identifying funding opportunities to enhance domestic and export marketing and promotion efforts and strategies; administering and supervising programs that provide monetary assistance to farmers and consumers to develop or enhance the marketing, promotion, or consumption of NYS agricultural commodities and products; supervising the administration of competitive grant programs that award funds to agricultural businesses, government entities, and not-for-profits; and approving and developing materials for presentation at marketing and trade show events that promote and market New York’s food products to consumers, wholesalers, retailers, and the food industry.
The preferred candidate has experience in marketing, merchandising, retail/food service management, or local food and beverage procurement. The position requires excellent communication skills, including public speaking, group facilitation, and report writing.
The Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. The position will be based in our Albany office located at 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12235. Opportunities for telecommuting are available in accordance with the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
Minimum Qualifications Candidates may be eligible for a NY HELPS appointment to this title if there are fewer than 3 interested internal qualified candidates in the direct-line lower-level promotion title, AND they meet the listed NY HELPS open-competitive minimum qualifications.
NY HELPS Open-Competitive Qualifications: A bachelors degree and three years of experience delivering and administering programs and projects that provide technical assistance, business support services, economic development, and marketing and promotion guidance to individuals, companies and organizations in the food and agricultural industry.
NY HELPS Open-Competitive Minimum Qualification Substitution: A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
Direct-line lower-level promotion title qualifications: The direct line field is comprised of a single title that is the immediate lower-level title to the title being filled. This requires one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as an Economic Development Program Specialist 1 (Agriculture).
Alternate Minimum Qualifications:
Reassignment Qualifications: You must be a current Department of Agriculture and Markets employee and have one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as an Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture, SG-23; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.
Non-Competitive Promotion: If there are three or fewer interested and qualified promotion candidates, the agency may at its discretion nominate a qualified employee for a non-competitive promotion under the provisions of Section 52.7 of the Civil Service Law.
Non-Competitive Promotion Minimum Qualifications: One year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as am Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture, G-18.
Provisional Appointment: If there is no appropriate eligible list of at least three people willing to accept permanent appointment for this geographic location, the Department may nominate a qualified person for a provisional appointment under the provisions of Section 65 of the Civil Service Law.
Provisional Appointment Minimum Qualifications:
Either 1. seven years of experience in agriculture, natural resource management, regional planning, economic development, manufacturing, or food service fields; that include business or program management, domestic or international marketing, conducting research, event planning or coordination, or developing or implementing strategies;
Or 2. an associates degree and five years of the qualifying experience;
Or 3. a bachelors degree or higher and three years of the qualifying experience;
Or 4. a masters degree or a juris doctorate degree and two years of the qualifying experience.
Reinstatement Under Rule 5.4: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they were previous permanent New York State employees who resigned their positions may be reinstated to their former positions, or to positions to which they were eligible for transfer or reassignment without further examination. Employees separated from their positions may be reinstated within one year of the date of their separation. Employees separated from their positions who have also been separated from state service for more than one year may be reinstated upon approval by the state Civil Service Commission.
Additional Comments NY HELPS Program:
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Salary:
The Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 23. The starting salary of the PEF SG-23 is $86,681/year.
The candidate appointed to the Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Agriculture, SG-23, will be eligible to participate in the New York State Performance Evaluation Program. Through this program, employees receive yearly performance evaluations. Performance advances are payable to PEF 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 SG-23 job rate salary of $ 109,650/ year!
Benefits:
This is a PEF-represented position that offers excellent 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, 13 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 student 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 Recruitment@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=8a78839e96888cec019691ec4e7f3211&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.