Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyAgriculture & Markets, Department of

TitleProgram Research Specialist 1 or Trainee (NY HELPS)

Occupational CategoryClerical, Secretarial, Office Aide

Salary Grade18

Bargaining UnitASU - Administrative Services Unit (CSEA)

Salary RangeFrom $53764 to $66951 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 10%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8:30 AM

To 4:30 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Albany

Street Address 10B Airline Drive

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12235

Job Specifics

Duties 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 Program Research Specialist 1 or Trainee to work in Albany, NY. The Program Research Specialist 1 or Trainee collects and processes data using survey and non-survey instruments, agency statistics and records, on-site investigations, discussions with operating officials, and similar sources. They perform data manipulation tasks with quantitative data, including data construction, merging files, and data cleaning, and analyze and interpret this information using prescribed analytical methods. Duties include identifying actual or potential problem areas, trends, program accomplishments, and other key factors, as well as assessing statistical methods to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy. They also perform data extraction, linkage, and queries, and may assist in defining or refining data infrastructure requirements while consulting with information technology staff to support the agency’s research functions.

The Program Research Specialist 1 or Trainee is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday.

This position is based in our Albany office at 10B Airline Drive. Our office is conveniently located near the Albany International Airport and offers free parking. Opportunities for telecommuting are available in accordance with the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Salary:
The starting salary for the Program Research Specialist Trainee 1 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 Program Research Specialist 1, SG-18 (starting salary of $66,951) without further examination. Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to the Trainee 2 or full performance level. For more information, see Advanced Placement below.

The candidate appointed at the Program Research Specialist 1, SG-18 level, 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:
These are PEF-represented positions that offer excellent benefits! Benefits include but are not limited to inexpensive Health Insurance options, free dental and vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, and generous paid time off. Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays!

As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct student loans after you have made 120 qualifying 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 Minimum Qualifications:
Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, NS NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor's degree or higher including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, or data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics.

Advanced Placement:

Program Research Specialist Trainee 2, NS NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor's degree or higher including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, or data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics, and one year of professional research experience performing the collection, manipulation (e.g., data construction, merging data files, data cleaning, working with data files containing different levels of data) and evaluation of quantitative data.

Program Research Specialist 1, SG-18 NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor's degree including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics and two years of professional research experience performing the collection, manipulation (e.g., data construction, merging data files, data cleaning, working with data files containing different levels of data) and evaluation of quantitative data directed toward review, analysis, and presentation related to program operations.

Qualification Substitution: A master's degree or higher including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics may substitute for one year of experience.

Alternate 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 a Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, NS, Program Research Specialist Trainee 2, NS and Program Research Specialist 1, 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 Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, 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 Program Aide, G-13.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications to Program Research Specialist 1, 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 Assistant In Education Research, G-22.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, NS: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 11 title or higher
AND
A bachelor's degree or higher including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, or data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics.

Note that for the purposes of this examination qualifying mathematics courses will include actuarial science, finance, and mathematics.

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 to Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, NS: A bachelor's degree or higher including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in biostatistics, data analysis, or data modeling, economics, econometrics, mathematics, research methods, or statistics.

Examples of Qualifying Courses: Qualifying mathematics courses include actuarial science, finance, and mathematics.

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).

Additional Comments 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.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

How to Apply

Name Cheryl Carman

Telephone 518-457-3216

Fax 518-457-8852

Email Address HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov

Address

Street 10B Airline Drive

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12235

 

Notes on ApplyingTo apply for this position, you must copy and paste the link below into your web browser. This link will lead you to our online employment application:

https://recruitingbypaycor.com/career/JobIntroduction.action?clientId=8a7883d07a219b0d017a53a2e3bb0f9a&id=8a7887a19af1285d019aff19dc1a31da&source=&lang=en

The deadline to apply is December 18, 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Carman in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or 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.