Review Vacancy
AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of
TitleProgram Research Specialist 1 / Trainee 1/2 (NYS HELPS) - Capital Bureau
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $53764 to $85138 Annually
Duties Description Reporting to higher-level personnel, this Program Research Specialist 1/Trainee 1/2 will be assigned to the Energy Bureau,
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
• Collecting, analyzing, and summarizing energy data.
• Interpreting and reporting findings on current or proposed electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging programs, policies, and legislation.
• Assessing visual and written options for presenting data and information to multiple audiences.
• Working collaboratively within a team to create annual energy reports outlining energy usage and expenses as well as highlighting energy-related initiatives implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Agency.
• Tracking progress in achieving energy and climate objectives and goals.
• Maintaining and periodically reviewing databases used to track OPRHP’s fleet vehicles and EV charging stations.
• Informing plans to build the infrastructure needed to convert OPRHP’s fleet to electric.
• Communicating with OPRHP staff and EV charging station manufacturers and networking companies to ensure EV charging stations remain operational and meet the needs of our parks.
• Providing advice and consultation to OPRHP management staff on program operations.
Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS or 55-b/c Qualifications: HELPS 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:
Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, SG-14:
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**.
Program Research Specialist Trainee 2, SG-16:
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:
Either 1. 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.
OR
2. A master'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 directed toward review, analysis, and presentation related to program operations.
*Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States or its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. This information can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. Candidates are responsible for the evaluation fee.
**For all candidates, you MUST submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the hiring agency at the time of the employment interview or you will not be considered for appointment. Failure to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2023, may result in your removal from the eligible list.
If you are a veteran or an individual with a disability and would like to apply for the Department of Civil Service’s 55-b/c Program, please visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/ for more information.
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.
Reassignment Qualifications:
Current NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Employees only, with at least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service as a Program Research Specialist 1, SG-18 if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current Professional Careers Opportunities eligible list for this location, if one exists.
Provisional Qualifications:
In the absence of an eligible list(s) with three or more candidates willing to accept a position, a temporary provisional appointment may be considered. For provisional appointment, candidates must be meet the following minimum 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**.
The appointed candidate would have to take, pass and be reachable at the next holding of the examination to be appointed permanently.
Competitive Qualifications:
To be considered for permanent appointment, candidates must be reachable on the current Civil Service eligible list or be eligible for reassignment, transfer, or reinstatement in accordance with Civil Service Law.
52.6 Transfer Qualifications:
At least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service as a Grade 16 or higher. The service must be in a title that Civil Service has deemed transfer eligible to the position
70.1 Transfer Qualifications:
At least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service deemed qualifying by Civil Service.
Note: The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.
For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.
Additional Comments Preferred Qualifications:
• Proficient in Microsoft Access and Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point).
• Ability to communicate effectively and in a positive manner with staff and the public.
• Related coursework, fieldwork, or professional experience in energy audits, building HVAC systems, electric vehicles (EVs), and/or EV charging stations.
Work hours will be 8 AM to 4 PM or 9 AM to 5 PM.
If you have previous or current employment at a NYS agency, to be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office may contact you.
Benefits:
The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation offers a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to:
Paid Time Off:
• PEF: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
• PEF: Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development.
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 / Family Leave
To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.
*NY HELPS PROGRAM:
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be 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.
This position may require a background check and/or medical exam prior to appointment.
Depending on each applicant's experience and/or current salary if employed by New York State already, the appointment may be made to the Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, Program Research Specialist Trainee 2, or the Program Research Specialist 1 titles. Included below is a breakdown of the salary at each level of the traineeship:
• Program Research Specialist Trainee 1, NS=14 Starting Salary: $53,764
• Program Research Specialist Trainee 2, NS=16 Starting Salary: $59.994
• Program Research Specialist 1 SG-18 Starting Salary: $66,951
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address employment@parks.ny.gov
Address
Notes on ApplyingIf you feel you meet the minimum qualifications and are interested in being considered for this vacancy, please forward your resume and transcripts (for verification of degree and/or coursework) to employment@parks.ny.gov, by March 4, 2026.
Please use the email subject line: Program Research Specialist 1 - VID209721
All qualified persons are invited an encouraged to apply. It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications and operational needs for the position.