Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture), SG-23 (NY HELPS)

Division of Land and Water Resources

Location – To Be Determined

Posting Dates: June 16, 2026 – July 6, 2026

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 Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) to manage statewide soil and water conservation programs. This position will serve as the State Aid to Districts Program Manager and District Operations Specialist. In this capacity, they will administer and coordinate the State Aid to Districts Program with the NYS SWCC Executive Director and Regional Coordinators and assist with public outreach and education. The role includes reporting on program outcomes at New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee meetings and in annual reports.

The Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. The designated work location is to be determined, with the potential for your official county station to be your home residence. This role provides the selected candidate with significant opportunities for travel throughout New York State to perform essential field-based duties.

Illustrative Duties:

State Aid to Districts Program Management: Implement the State Aid to Districts Program by coordinating policy development and discussions, managing reporting and performance measure requirements, and reviewing program reports, project requests, amendments, special requests, payment requests, and final reports. Track data on SWCD annual accomplishments and report on the program at State Committee meetings and other venues as needed. Facilitate an Annual State Aid to District Forum.
District Operations Support: Assist SWCDs with district operations, serving as the primary point of contact for operational questions. Oversee the update and maintenance of the District Operations Manual and District Director training modules. Provide and facilitate in-person and/or virtual training to District staff on managerial, technical, and administrative topics based on identified needs.
Outreach and Communication: Collaborate with other NYS SWCC staff to develop outreach materials for SWCDs. Work closely with the Department Public Information Officers to create highlights and features showcasing the expertise and leadership of the SWCC and SWCDs in natural resource conservation. Develop the annual SWCC AEM report in close coordination with the NYS SWCC Executive Director.

Salary:

The Associate Environmental Analyst 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 Associate Environmental Analyst 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.

NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications:

When a NY HELPS title can be filled with promotion and open-competitive qualifications, and the entire promotion eligible list is exhausted or does not exist, a NY HELPS appointment can be made in the following ways:

A NY HELPS appointment may be made for a qualified employee in a direct-line, lower-level promotion title.

Direct-line lower-level promotion title NY HELPS 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 a Senior Environmental Analyst (Agriculture), SG-18.

If there are fewer than 3 interested, qualified, internal candidates in the direct-line lower-level promotion title then:

Candidates may be eligible for a NY HELPS Open-Competitive appointment to Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) if they meet the open-competitive NY HELPS qualifications.

Open- Competitive NY HELPS Qualifications: Seven years of work experience in a position having a substantial relationship to agricultural land use analysis, soil and water conservation management, or the protection of farms and farmland resources; OR six years of work experience in any combination of the following roles: Soil and Water Conservation District Technician or Manager; Natural Resources Conservation Service District or Resources Conservation; New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee (State Committee) Consultant Service Provider; Professional Staff of Land Trust Organization; Cooperative Extension Agent (Agriculture); or, Regional Planning Commission and County Planning Office;

Minimum Qualification Substitution: An associate degree in a related field can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor’s degree in a related field can substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree in a related field can substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for six years of experience.

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.

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 Associate Environmental Analyst (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.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture), SG-23: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law. Such titles include but are not limited to: Environmental Analyst 2, SG-23.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture), SG-23: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have received a passing score on the most recent Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture examination, meet the minimum qualifications, and has served permanently for one year in the title from which transfer is being made under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law. Please note that the title from which transfer is being made must be within two salary grades, or one M-grade of the Associate Environmental Analyst Agriculture, G-23.

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.

Preferred Qualifications:

We are seeking a candidate with strong communication and teamwork skills, who can plan work independently or as a team member. Someone who is self-motivated, seeks improvement, and receives guidance or direction in a positive and productive manner. The ideal candidate is resourceful, objective, patient, and consistent. Ideally, they will have knowledge of SWCD operational matters including budgeting, personnel matters, local and state laws, rules, and regulations and SWCD board authorities impacting SWCDs. Someone with SWCD experience in programs, operational, and technical matters is highly preferred.

Travel Requirements:

As this position requires travel throughout New York State, appointees must either possess at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State and have access to a motor vehicle when necessary or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the regular transportation requirements in carrying out their field work responsibilities.

How to Apply:

Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to this position must apply by: July 6, 2026. Within the employment application, please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.

If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Leo 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.

Additional Position Information:

Division: Land and Water Resources

Negotiating Unit: PEF

Location: To Be Determined

Number of Vacancies: One

Status of Vacancy: Full-Time; Permanent

Hours Per Week: 40 Hours

Jurisdictional Class: Competitive

Civil Service List(s): Eligible List Exists

NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

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Associate Environmental Analyst (Agriculture) NY HELPS