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 Weights and Measures Specialist 1 or Trainee to work in Suffolk County. The Weights & Measures Specialist 1 or Trainee is assigned to specific geographic areas of the State to supervise municipal weights and measures officials in the inspection and testing of commercial weighing and/or measuring device; plan and conduct comprehensive on-site audits of municipal weights and measures programs to advise management if established policies and procedures are working effectively and efficiently; inspect and test classes of commercial devices that are not generally tested by municipal officials, such as liquefied petroleum gas truck meters, large capacity commercial scales, highway Weigh in Motion direct enforcement sensors, and aircraft refueling meters; obtain petroleum samples at wholesale facilities and investigates and enforces actions against terminals with sample failures; and train municipal officials in obtaining retail petroleum samples and assists them in investigation and enforcement actions against retail stations with sample failures. The incumbent may also serve as liaison and technical resource between the Division and municipal weights and measures programs and private industry and assess the training needs of municipal programs to coordinate and provide the training.
This position can be based out of your home and requires travel within an assigned region. This position is perfect for a self-driven candidate who wants autonomy over their schedule, the ability to work from home, and enjoys working outside the office setting!
The Weights and Measures Specialist 1 or Trainee is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Salary:
The starting salary for the Weights and Measures 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 Weights and Measures 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 full title Weights and Measures Specialist position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 18. The starting salary of the PEF SG-25 is $66,951/year.
The candidate appointed at the Weights and Measures 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!
Employees that work in New York City, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties receive an additional downstate pay adjustment of $4.000/year!
Benefits:
This is a PEF-represented position that offers 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.
Travel Requirements:
Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions may be required to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
Physical/Medical Requirements:
Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available at http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position. Eligibles will be called to the physical/medical screening in score order as needed to fill existing and anticipated vacancies.
Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications:
NY HELPS Qualifications: Either 1: Four years of experience enforcing weights and measures laws and regulations and inspecting and testing of devices and packaged commodities; inspecting, testing, and repairing commercial weighing or measuring devices and/or industrial weighing or measuring devices with appropriate specifications and tolerances; inspecting and testing both quality and quantity of packaged or manufactured goods using precision scales/balances and/or other precision measuring equipment, performing data reductions, and assessing compliance of the results with appropriate specifications and tolerances; and conducting chemical or physical analyses using precision scales/balances and/or other precision measuring equipment, performing data reduction, and assessing compliance of results with the appropriate specifications and tolerances.
Or 2: an associate degree, including at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences,* electronic sciences,* or mathematics*** can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor’s degree, including at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences,* electronic sciences,* or mathematics*** can substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree, including at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences,* electronic sciences,* or mathematics*** can substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate including at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences,* electronic sciences,* or mathematics*** can substitute for six years of experience.
- Physical sciences include chemistry (inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry), earth sciences (meteorology, astronomy, geology), and physics. Biology is not a qualifying subject.
**Electronic sciences is a branch of physics that deals with the emission, behavior, and effects of electrons (in tubes and transistors) and with electronic devices. Coursework in electricity, a science that deals with the law of electricity, is NOT qualifying.
***Mathematics includes coursework in accounting, economics, etc., provided the primary focus of the course is the manipulation of numbers.
Advanced Placement:
For Trainee 2: If you meet the minimum qualifications and have an additional one year of experience in weights and measures you may be appointed to the Weights and Measures Specialist Trainee 2. This will reduce the traineeship time by one year.
For Full Performance Level: If you meet the minimum qualifications and have an additional two years of experience in the areas listed above, you may be appointed to the full performance title, Weights and Measures Specialist 1, Grade 18.
You must inform the hiring agency of this additional experience at the time of interview.
Examples of Qualifying Experience: Employment in which the primary functions/responsibilities include any one of the following:
- Enforcing weights and measures laws and regulations and inspecting and testing of devices and packaged commodities.
- Inspecting, testing, and repairing commercial weighing or measuring devices and/or industrial weighing or measuring devices with appropriate specifications and tolerances.
- Inspecting and testing both quality and quantity of packaged or manufactured goods using precision scales/balances and/or other precision measuring equipment, performing data reductions, and assessing compliance of the results with appropriate specifications and tolerances.
- Conducting chemical or physical analyses using precision scales/balances and/or other precision measuring equipment, performing data reduction, and assessing compliance of results with the appropriate specifications and tolerances.
Alternate Minimum Qualifications:
You may also be eligible for appointment to this position if you meet any of the following 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 Weights and Measures Specialist Trainee 1, NS, Weights and Measures Specialist Trainee 2, NS and Weights and Measures 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.
70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Weights and Measures 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
Either: 1: Four years of satisfactory weights & measures experience
Or 2: A bachelor’s degree which must include at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences, * electronic sciences, ** or mathematics; ***
Or 3. An associate’s degree, including at least 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences, * electronic sciences, ** or mathematics, *** AND two years of satisfactory weights and measures experience.
- Physical sciences include chemistry (inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry), earth sciences (meteorology, astronomy, geology), and physics. Biology is not a qualifying subject.
**Electronic sciences is a branch of physics that deals with the emission, behavior, and effects of electrons (in tubes and transistors) and with electronic devices. Coursework in electricity, a science that deals with the law of electricity, is NOT qualifying.
***Mathematics includes coursework in accounting, economics, etc., provided the primary focus of the course is the manipulation of numbers.
AND
Received a passing score on the most recent Weights and Measures Specialist Trainee 1 examination.
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: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they meet these qualifications: Either 1: four years of satisfactory weights & measures experience;
Or 2: an associate's degree which must include 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences, electronic sciences, or mathematics, AND two years of satisfactory full-time experience in satisfactory weights and measures experience.
Or 3: a bachelor’s degree which must include 24 semester credit hours in specialized courses related to: physical sciences, electronic sciences, or mathematics.
Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.
Additional Comments 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.
