New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The duties that the incumbent of the vacancy will be expected to perform. Duties Description OVERVIEW AND GENERAL FUNCTIONS:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC), Division of Water (DOW) is responsible for ensuring the protection and conservation of NY's waters by monitoring and assessing the health of the State’s waters; establishing water quality standards and regulations; awarding and managing grants to municipalities to improve water quality; developing and regulating permits and clean water plans to regulate pollutant discharges; and reducing impacts from flooding and coastal erosion.

The Environmental Program Specialist 1 (EPS1), Water Resource Information and Public Relations Coordinator position, within DOW’s Director’s Office helps to ensure the efficient operation of the Division by developing an coordinating a wide range of content reflecting the technical efforts of DOW’s various water resource programs, including web-based, social-media, electronic publication, and print. The EPS in DOW also independently performs as the Division’s primary liaison with the public and DEC’s Office of Media Relations, Office of Legislative Affairs, and Office of Congressional Affairs by coordinating and tracking DOW’s materials concerning Division activities. In this role, the EPS engages as an integral member of the Division’s team by providing the central point for all communications focused products requested of, or developed by, DOW.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

In addition to the general functions described above, additional essential functions of the EPS 1 include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Act as DOW’s primary point of contact for DEC’s Office of Media Relations, Office ofLegislative Affairs, and Office of Congressional Affairs by coordinating DOW’sdevelopment (including writing, editing, and distributing) of informational materials suchas email responses, press releases, briefings, brochures, and various other water resourcefocused publications.
• Provide primary coordination of responses to water resource specific inquiries from thepublic through DOW’s general information email in-box. Review subject matter inquiriesreceived to determine nature and amount of information needed and where it may beavailable. Write draft responses and coordinate directly with DOW technical programs toensure their completeness and accuracy.
• In coordination with DOW’s technical program staff and Regulatory Coordinator, write,edit, and distribute press releases, holding statements, and roll-out plans for variousprograms and projects including regulatory updates and rule makings, issuance oftechnical guidance, notification of grant funding opportunities, and other similarnoteworthy functions being performed by the Division.
• Schedule, organize, and perform monthly docketing meetings with DEC’s Office ofMedia Relations, Office of Legislative Affairs, and Office of Congressional Affairs toensure DOW communication products requested by these offices are on schedule. During these docketing meetings the EPS 1 will also provide notice to these offices of upcoming DOW activities which may require outreach and communication.
• Coordinate all of DOW’s responses to inquiries routed through DEC’s Commissioner Correspondence Unit (CCU). Write, edit, distribute, and track, written CCU responses in collaboration with DOW’s technical programs. Maintain a data-system of past responses to draw from in developing initial responses to inquiries to maintain consistency of agency positions. Work with the Director’s Office to obtain approval of finished products.
• Coordinate public appearances for the DOW’s management staff in coordination with the agency’s Division of Communication, Education, and Engagement and Office of Media Relations, to explain programs and initiatives and to gain stakeholder support for DOW activities as needed.
• Assist DOW technical programs as needed and advise on community outreach and public participation and advise DOW staff on matters regarding public presentations and media relations.
• In coordination with DOW’s management staff coordinate the technical content of agendas and provide facilitation of meetings, including but not limited to biannual Regional Water Team Meetings and triennial DOW All-Staff Meetings.
• Manage the Division’s public and internal websites with the Division’s existing Administrative Support Team and through coordination with the Division of Communication, Education and Engagement and supported by DOW’s Bureau Web coordinators to coordinate webpage development and update as needed.
• With support from the Division’s existing Administrative Support Team coordinate completion of Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
• Support the Division’s technical programs to write and edit articles and communications from the management staff for publication in print or digital media, e.g., Clear Waters Magazine.
• Support the Division’s technical programs in their generation and distribution of existing and new outreach e-newsletters.

In addition to these essential duties, the successful candidate must also:

• Have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
• Be available to work over-time, on occasion, as needed to complete the work of the Division.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate should have following preferred qualifications:

• Ability to find creative solutions to difficult and complex problems within a team atmosphere.
• Expertise in MS Office Suite, especially proper best practices in the use of MS Outlook,Excel, Word, Teams, etc…
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Strong writing and editing skills (research, writing, and editing).

A mastery of spelling, punctuation, and grammar is essential for creating error-free and professional content.

The ability to verify information and conduct thorough research is crucial for accuracy.

Proficiency with style guides, such as Associated Press, Chicago Manual of Style,or Strunk and White’s Elements of Style ensures consistency.

• Strong communications and interpersonal skills (thinking listening, and feedback)

Ability to think strategically, capacity to understand an organization’s goals and develop communication strategy to meet them.

Capable of interviewing and active listening with strong skills in gathering information from subject matter experts and stakeholders.

A collaborative attitude to work effectively with diverse teams including both technical programs and leadership.

A positive and proactive attitude toward processing constructive criticism and the ability to give and received feedback.

• Experience in public speaking skills and developing presentations
• Strong understanding of both traditional and social media, and multimedia

The minimum qualifications required for this vacancy. Minimum Qualifications 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 of 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.

TRAINEE 1:

Four years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

TRAINEE 2:

Five years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

EPS 1:

Six years or experience in a position where you have responsibility for the following: development and implementation of program policies and procedures; preparing and interpreting rules and regulations; development, preparation, and management of procurement (solicitation) documents, contracts, or grants; providing non-engineering technical assistance and information to consultants, public officials, and facility managers; collecting data, reviewing alternatives, performing qualitative or quantitative policy analyses; writing technical or programmatic reports; developing, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating programs; developing and implementing expenditure plans, procuring external funding sources, collecting and forecasting the impact of funding or organizational change efforts; assisting with the development of environmental public information campaigns.

An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

Candidates may also be eligible via the following:

Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC or Reinstatement Eligible - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis or held a title as indicated under the transfer eligible section on a permanent competitive basis.

Or

Transfer Eligible - One year of permanent competitive service at Salary Grade 11 or higher and either: Eligible for transfer under Section 70.4: Must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications below;

Or

Eligible for transfer under Section 70.1: Permanent competitive service as an Environmental Program Specialist 1 (including trainees), Program Aide, Administrative Specialist 1, Biologist1(Aquatic), (Ecology), (Marine), (Wildlife), Public Participation Specialist 1, Environmental Analyst 1 and Trainee 1 &2, Environmental Engineering Technician 2 & 3, Fish and Wildlife Technician 3, Legal Assistant 2, Mineral Resources Technician2,Pesticide Control Specialist 1 & 2, Public Health Specialist 2 Environmental, Sanitary Construction Inspector 2, Senior Engineering Research Editor.

55 b/c appointment: Must meet the minimum qualifications outlined above. Please note that if qualifying under the 55 b/c program, candidates must include with their resume or application a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55 b/c program

Additional comments regarding the vacancy. Additional Comments Please provide transcript(s) and a writing sample, or other examples of written content with resume when applying.

Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.

Travel may be required.

Overtime may be required.

Overnight travel may be required.

Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.

We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...

For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

Please be advised, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not use E-Verify, and we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visa statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEM OPT).

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

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