Farm Products Grading Inspector 1 (NY HELPS) - Onondaga County at New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

, New York, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Oct, 26

Salary

68630.0

Posted On

13 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Farm Product Inspection, Quality Grading, USDA GAP Audits, Country of Origin Audits, Branding Law Enforcement, Pesticide Sampling, Technical Writing, Regulatory Compliance

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 a Farm Products Grading Inspector 1 to work in Onondaga County, NY. The Farm Products Grading Inspector 1 will be responsible for performing inspections at Terminal Market and Shipping point locations. These inspections would include the ability to determine and certify physical characteristics of produce, while keeping notes of finding and writing a certificate with the results of the findings. Other duties include conducting Food Safety USDA GAP Audits on the farm and in packing houses, Country of Origin Audits, Branding Law Enforcement inspections in retail stores, monitoring controlled atmosphere apple storage rooms and sampling for the Pesticide Data Program. This position can be based out of your home and requires travel within an assigned region. This position is perfect for a self-driven candidate who wants autonomy over their schedule, the ability to work from home, and enjoys working outside the office setting! The Farm Products Grading Inspector 1 is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. Salary: The Farm Products Grading Inspector 1 position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 14. The starting salary of the PEF SG-14 is $ 53,764/year. The candidate appointed at the Farm Products Grading Inspector 1, SG-14, 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-14 job rate salary of $ 68,630/ 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. NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications: NY HELPS Qualifications: Two years of full-time professional experience* inspecting farm products for a state or federal agency. *Full-time professional experience in a position inspecting farm products must include taking samples of various farm products and grading for quality and/or condition according to state, federal, or company commodity standards, and issuing state or federal certificates. Experience Substitution: 60 college credits can substitute for one year of specialized experience; or 60 college credit hours which includes 18 credit hours in: agriculture business, agronomy, animal science, biology science, botany, conservation, dairy science, entomology, environmental health, fishery or aquaculture, food marketing, food science, food services technology, horticulture (including fruit and vegetable science), microbiology, nutrition or dietetics, poultry science, science lab technology or zoology can substitute for all required specialized 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. 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: Two years of full-time professional experience* inspecting farm products for a state or federal agency. *Full-time professional experience in a position inspecting farm products must include taking samples of various farm products and grading for quality and/or condition according to state, federal, or company commodity standards, and issuing state or federal certificates. Experience Substitution: 60 college credits can substitute for one year of specialized experience; or 60 college credit hours which includes 18 credit hours in: agriculture business, agronomy, animal science, biology science, botany, conservation, dairy science, entomology, environmental health, fishery or aquaculture, food marketing, food science, food services technology, horticulture (including fruit and vegetable science), microbiology, nutrition or dietetics, poultry science, science lab technology or zoology can substitute for all required specialized 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) [https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/]. Travel Requirements: These positions require extensive travel. Appointees must either possess at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter a valid driver’s 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. Additionally, appointees are required to travel out-of-state for overnight trips on occasion due to ongoing training commitments. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm [http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm]. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position. How to Apply: Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to one of these opportunities must use the below link to apply by: July 23, 2026. 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 [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].

Responsibilities

Perform inspections at terminal markets and shipping points to certify the physical characteristics of produce. Conduct food safety audits, branding law enforcement inspections, and pesticide data sampling.