Environmental Program Specialist​/Trainee - NY HELPS

Description

This position is in the Division of Lands and Forests (DLF) Central Office within the Bureau Forest Preserve and Conservation’s Planning and Research Section. It is part of a team responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing several parts of the state’s land and open space conservation efforts.

• Assist staff with the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan, including updates and reporting requirements.
• Assist staff with implementation of the state’s 30x30 law, including required reporting.
• Perform GIS analysis that supports open space conservation and 30x30 analysis.
• Research, develop, plan, track, and implement NYS’s Forest Action Plan, including 5‑ and 10‑year updates.
• Collaborate with staff across divisions and regions of DEC and other agencies, such as NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
• Conduct public outreach to stakeholders.
• Develop meeting agendas and communication materials such as emails, briefings, reports, and presentations.
• Summarize public responses and comments to plans, proposals, work‑plans, and other proposals distributed to the public and stakeholders, including private groups, government, non‑profit partners, and members of the public.
• Work with other DEC staff to support the administration, management, and evaluation of grants to land trusts, municipalities, and other eligible entities for open space acquisition and conservation.
• Represent DEC at press events and meetings.

• Familiarity with NYS land conservation programs at local and statewide levels.
• Experience with NYS or federally funded grants for land acquisition.
• Knowledge of environmental policies, conservation planning, land acquisition procedures, and land management practices.
• Proficiency in database management and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access).
• Experience with data management, analysis, prioritization, and quality control.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to present information and results.
• Ability to process and broaden working knowledge of mandatory programs, including an understanding of technical documents.
• Capability to communicate effectively with the public, government, contractors, and other outside entities.
• Ability to work independently and professionally.

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, employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non‑competitive employment status converted to competitive status.

Four years of experience in a position with responsibilities for policy development and implementation, rule interpretation, procurement document management, non‑engineering technical assistance, data collection and analysis, technical report writing, program evaluation, expenditure planning, external funding procurement, forecasting, and 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.

Five years of experience in a position with the same responsibilities as above.

• 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.

Six years of experience in a position with the same responsibilities as above.

• 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…