Review Vacancy
AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of
TitleAdministrative Assistant 1/Trainee 1/2 (NY HELPS) - Visitor Entry & Reservations Bureau
Occupational CategoryClerical, Secretarial, Office Aide
Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)
Salary RangeFrom $40391 to $58447 Annually
Duties Description This Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee 1/2 is with the Visitor Entry & Reservations Bureau within the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), located in Albany, NY. This Administrative Assistant 1 works as part of the Bureau’s Reservations Team to provide day-to-day support to the Reservations Manager and Coordinator. The team is responsible for the program, policy, and guidance of the Agency’s statewide camping, day-use site, and marina slip operations, which consists of 68 campgrounds, 86 day-use site facilities, and seven marina slip facilities. The portfolio generates approximately 244,000 reservations and $28.2 million in revenue annually.
The duties of this position will include but are not limited to the following:
• Help with daily tasks for the Facility Reservation System using Microsoft Office and other software.
• Answers telephone and gives information to callers, takes messages, and transfers calls to appropriate individuals.
• Keep track of when sites are closed or opened.
• Update inventory and facility information.
• Operates office equipment such as printers, scanners, and copiers.
• Know and apply rules about camping and day-use sites to help staff.
• Support the team with new programs and policies.
• Help manage shared email accounts and respond to questions from patrons by email or phone.
• Assist the team with data collection, reports, and writing documents.
• Provide backup support to the Reservations Team when needed.
• Coordinates conferences, meetings, or special events.
• Occasionally attend events to promote the agency.
• Do other tasks and help with special projects as needed.
Minimum Qualifications If Civil Service Eligible list(s) exist, they will be canvassed. You may also apply if you are eligible for appointment or reinstatement by one of the following qualifications:
NY HELPS or 55-b/c QUALIFICATIONS:
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55-b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
Administrative Assistant Trainee 1 (Non-Statutory Equated to SG-8):
Six months of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and/or office administration. To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2.
Administrative Assistant Trainee 2 (Non-Statutory Equated to SG-10):
One year of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and/or office administration. To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2 you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.
Administrative Assistant 1, SG-11:
Two years of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and/or office administration.
Substitution:
Certification (e.g., IAAP Certified Administrative Professional) or associate’s degree in office administration, secretarial science, administrative assistance, paralegal, business technology, or office technology substitutes for two years of experience.
Please note: Appointments made at a traineeship level (Administrative Assistant Trainee 1, NS equated to SG-8, and Administrative Assistant Trainee 2, NS equated to SG-10 leading to Administrative Assistant 1, SG-11). Candidates appointed to the Trainee 1 level will be required to complete four mandatory courses during the first year of the traineeship and elective courses in the second year of the traineeship in four competency areas. Candidates appointed to the Trainee 2 level will be required to complete the elective courses prior to advancing to full title. The courses are offered to CSEA employees through the New York State & CSEA Partnership. Trainees will be able to complete the courses either through classroom or online training and webinars. Transfer eligible candidates can complete the required coursework prior to appointment to be eligible for advance placement into the Administrative Assistant Trainee 2 or Administrative Assistant 1.
For more information about the Administrative Assistant Traineeship, including the course requirements, please visit: https://nyscseapartnership.org/administrative-assistant-traineeship.
55-b/c QUALIFICATIONS:
Current permanent non-competitive state employees certified eligible for the 55-b/c program under the Governor's Program to Hire Persons/Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to Section 55-b/c of the Civil Service Law will also be considered. To be considered, you must provide a copy of your letter of eligibility with your response and meet the HELPS qualifications listed above.
REASSIGNMENT QUALIFICATIONS:
You must be a current New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) employee with one year of permanent, competitive, or 55-b/55-c service as an Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee 1/2.
70.1 TRANSFER QUALIFICATIONS:
You must be a qualified employee of New York State and eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law which requires one year of permanent, competitive, or 55-b/55-c service as in a title allocated to a Grade 6 or higher eligible.
For transfers, a list of approved titles is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/. The GOT-IT site will inform you if your title requires special qualifications for transfer as detailed above.
Subsequent 55-b/c Qualifications:
A subsequent 55-b/c appointment may be considered if you have at least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service and have a current Civil Service 55-b/c letter of eligibility.
52.7 NON-COMPETITIVE (NCP) QUALIFICATIONS:
It is the intention of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to fill a permanent competitive position of Administrative Assistant 1 located in the Taconic Regional Office in Staatsburg, NY.
The promotion minimum qualification for appointment are: One year of permanent competitive, non-competitive NY HELPS*, or 55b/c service as an Office Assistant 2 Keyboarding, SG-9 or an Office Assistant 2 (Keyboarding) Spanish Language.
As required by the New York State Department of Civil Service, we are posting for this position to determine if there are any qualified OPRHP employees interested in a permanent appointment to the position. If there are three or fewer qualified candidates interested in the position who meet the promotion minimum qualifications, a permanent appointment can be made via non-competitive promotion (NCP), pursuant to Section 52.7 of New York State Civil Service Law.
Please Note: In order to be considered for appointment via non-competitive promotion, candidates serving in the established promotion field must not have failed or failed to take the last holding of the Administrative Assistant 1 promotion exam, if said exam was held within the last four years.
Note: Non-competitive refers to not competing in an examination; the appointment will be competitive.
PROVISIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Based on the results of the required recruitment/canvassing for the Administrative Assistant 1 position, OPRHP may make a provisional appointment to this position. If a provisional appointment is made, the appointed candidate will be required to compete in the next holding of the Administrative Assistant 1 exam and be reachable for appointment from the newly established eligible list.
*NY HELPS PROGRAM:
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a permanent 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.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has recently covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024, and June 11, 2025. Notification to employees regarding a change in their status is forthcoming. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective 6/12/2025 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.
Additional Comments OPERATIONAL NEEDS:
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically in Excel, are required.
• Highly organized with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently while maintaining professional communication with bureau staff and the public.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret information and formulate conclusions, strategies, and recommendations.
COMMENTS:
The CSEA contracts allow for salary protection for seasonal / hourly employees who are appointed to permanent graded positions with lower hiring rates under certain circumstances. We encourage OPRHP seasonal / hourly applicants to check in with your Regional Business Office Administrator to inquire about the potential impact on your salary.
Depending on each applicant's experience and/or education and current salary, if employed by New York State already, the appointment may be made to the Administrative Assistant Trainee 1, Administrative Assistant Trainee 2, or the Administrative Assistant 1 titles. Included below is a breakdown of the salary at each level of the traineeship.
Administrative Assistant Trainee 1, NS=8: $40,391 - $49,743
Administrative Assistant Trainee 2, NS=10: $45,081 - $55,322
Administrative Assistant 1, SG-11: $47,695 - $58,447
BENEFITS:
Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including:
Paid Time Off:
• CSEA: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
Health Care Benefits:
• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
Additional Benefits:
• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Paid Parental Leave
Learn more about our benefits for permanent state employees, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address employment@parks.ny.gov
Address
Notes on ApplyingAll candidates must submit a written resume and cover letter which clearly demonstrates how they meet the minimum qualifications for the position. These documents must be received by February 19, 2026, and submitted via email to employment@parks.ny.gov.
You must include “Vacancy ID: 208891 - Administrative Assistant 1” in the subject line of your email. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for the position.
It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity.
New York State (NYS) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, carrier status, gender identity or prior conviction records, or prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications or sealed records unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.