Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture or Trainee (NY HELPS) at New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Albany, New York, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Oct, 26

Salary

85138.0

Posted On

11 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Business Development, Product Marketing, Technical Assistance, Program Management, Economic Development, Research, Event Planning, Strategic Implementation, Agriculture Industry Knowledge, Public Service

Industry

Government Administration

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 1 Agriculture or Trainee to deliver and administer food and agricultural business development programs and product marketing and promotion programs. The Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture or Trainee will provide technical assistance, formulate economic development solutions, and manage agriculture-specific economic development program applications and materials. They will also represent and promote the State’s agriculture industry at agricultural events and sites. The Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture or Trainee 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 may be available in accordance with the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines. Salary: The starting salary for the Economic Development Program Specialist Trainee 1 Agriculture is $53,764/ year, and the hiring salary for the PEF salary grade (SG) 14. This position requires the completion of a two-year traineeship. After successful completion of the first year of the traineeship, the appointee will advance without further examination to the Trainee 2 level SG-16 (starting salary of $59,994). Completion of the second year of the traineeship will result in permanent advancement to the Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture, SG-18 (starting salary of $66,951) without examination. Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to the Trainee 2 or full performance level. For more information, see Advanced Placement below. The full title Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 18. The starting salary of the PEF SG-18 is $66,951/year. The candidate appointed to the Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture, SG-18, 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-18 job rate salary of $85,138/year! Benefits: This is a PEF-represented position offering a comprehensive and valuable benefits package. You'll benefit from cost-effective health insurance options, fully covered dental and vision care, participation in the secure New York State Pension Plan, and ample paid time off. Your first year includes 5 personal days, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays – providing excellent work-life balance. Explore additional advantages with programs such as the Deferred Compensation Plan, Flex Spending Account, and NY's 529 College Savings Program. For comprehensive details on these programs, please visit the New York State Office of Employee Relations website [https://oer.ny.gov/employee-benefit-programs]. As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation] (PSLF)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct student loans after you have made 120 qualifying [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-repayment-plans] 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. Minimum Qualifications: NY HELPS Qualifications: Four years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substitutions: 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. Advanced Placement: For Trainee 2: Five years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substitutions: 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. This will reduce the traineeship time by one year. For Full Performance Level: Six years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substutions: 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. 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: You may also be eligible for appointment to this position if you meet any of the following 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 Trainee 1 Agriculture, NS, Economic Development Program Trainee 2 Agriculture, NS and Economic Development Program Specialist 1 Agriculture, G-18; 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 Economic Development Specialist 1 Agriculture, G-18: 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: Administrative Specialist 1, G-18, Contract Management Specialist 1, G-18, and Human Resources Specialist 1, G-18. 70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Economic Development Specialist Trainee 1 Agriculture, NS: 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: Business Officer 1, G-18, Head Account Clerk, G-18, Youth Support Coordinator, G-18, and Youth Support Coordinator, G-21. 70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Economic Development Program Specialist Trainee 1 Agriculture, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in at least a Grade 11 title or higher AND received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) examination. Advanced Placement: For Trainee 2: Five years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substitutions: 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. This will reduce the traineeship time by one year. For Full Performance Level: Six years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substitutions: 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. 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. 55-b/c Qualifications: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they meet these qualifications: Four years of professional experience in agriculture, economic development, natural resource management, regional planning, 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. Degree substitutions: 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. Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at 55b/c Recruitment Resources Center (ny.gov). How to Apply: Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to one of these opportunities must use this link to apply: Position Vacancy Online Application by: July 19, 2026. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter. If you have any questions, please contact Marisa Weston in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov [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 [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fagriculture.ny.gov%2Femployment-information&data=05%7C02%7CAshlie.Bloomfield%40agriculture.ny.gov%7C3e5b36614d884e42e43e08dd760f8119%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638796531133779153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5eDOcrc6NTRPqpWCVl%2Bc0%2B7sOVMFZz63y0q7XzzIsAQ%3D&reserved=0]. Additional Position Information: Division: Agricultural Development Negotiating Unit: PEF Location: Albany Number of Vacancies: One Status of Vacancy: Full-time; Permanent Hours Per Week: 37.5 Hours Jurisdictional Class: Competitive Civil Service List(s): Eligible List Exists

Responsibilities

Administer food and agricultural business development programs and product marketing initiatives. Provide technical assistance, formulate economic solutions, and represent the state's agriculture industry at various events.