Assistant Horticultural Inspector

Assistant Horticultural Inspector 1

Suffolk County, NY — $20.83/Hour — Division of Plant Industry — Posting Dates:
July 6, 2026 – July 16, 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.

• Perform visual surveys of plants to detect pests, plant diseases, and insects
• Collect samples of leaves, seeds, or other agricultural commodities
• Deploy traps and lures in support of field surveys following established protocols and direction
• Label, pack, and submit samples for laboratory analysis
• Accurately record survey data, crop history, field size, treatments, and laboratory results
• Assist in data entry of survey information, including dates of survey and lab results
• Map properties, trees, and species, and identify pest locations for eradication or control
• Report sample quantity, disposition, and findings to supervisors or program managers
• Clean and maintain survey equipment

The position is full-time (40 hours per week, Monday–Friday) and seasonal, with two periods:
April 1 – November 30 and December 1 – March 31. Duties require walking and standing outdoors in all weather conditions, and overnight travel may be required.

This opportunity is ideal for a self‑driven candidate who values autonomy over their schedule and enjoys working in an outdoor environment.

• Cost‑effective health insurance coverage
• Full coverage for dental and vision care
• Participation in the New York State Pension Plan
• Paid time off: 5 personal days, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays in the first year
• Additional benefits include the Deferred Compensation Plan, Flex Spending Account, and NY 529 College Savings Program
• Potential eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

• Thirty college credits in any subject

• Thirty college credits in horticulture, forestry, plant pathology, botany, entomology, environmental studies/plant science, or a related biological science focusing on plants

Appointees must 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. Alternatively, they must demonstrate their capacity to meet regular transportation requirements for field work.

Eligible candidates should apply online by July 16, 2026, submitting a resume, transcript, and cover letter via the provided application link. For questions, contact Laura DeBraccio in Human Resources at (518) 457‑3216 or Harvest Your Potential .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 need a reasonable accommodation, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• Division:
  Plant Industry
• Negotiating Unit: PEF
• Location:
  
  Suffolk County, NY
• Number of Vacancies:
  One
• Status of Vacancy:
  Full-time;
  Temporary, Seasonal
• Hours Per Week: 40
• Jurisdictional Class:
  Non-Competitive
• Civil Service List(s):
  No Eligible List Exists