Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) (NY HELPS)
Division of Food Laboratory
Albany, NY
Posting Dates: July 14, 2026 – July 24, 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.
Position Information:
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking a Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) to work in Albany, NY. The Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) plans, coordinates, and oversees microbiological testing activities to support food safety programs. The incumbent directs the analysis of food samples for foodborne pathogens and other microbiological contaminants. When applicable, oversee method development, validation, and technology transfer, and collaborates with the Quality Assurance/Accreditation unit to maintain laboratory certification and accreditation. This position will also include supervising the preparation of laboratory materials and reagents, implementing new technologies and analytical methods, and providing technical guidance to laboratory staff.
The Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Salary:
The Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 23. The starting salary of the PEF SG-23 is $86,681/year.
The candidate appointed at the Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology), SG-23 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-23 job rate salary of $109,650 / year!
Benefits:
This is a PEF-represented position offering a comprehensive and valuable benefits package. You'll benefit from cost-effective health insurance options, fully covered dental and vision care, participation in the secure New York State Pension Plan, and ample paid time off. Your first year includes 5 personal days, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays – providing excellent work-life balance. Explore additional advantages with programs such as the Deferred Compensation Plan, Flex Spending Account, and NY's 529 College Savings Program. For comprehensive details on these programs, please visit the New York State Office of Employee Relations website.
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 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.
NY HELPS Minimum Qualifications:
When a NY HELPS title can be filled with promotion and open-competitive qualifications, and the entire promotion eligible list is exhausted or does not exist, a NY HELPS appointment can be made in the following ways:
A NY HELPS appointment may be made for a qualified employee in a direct-line, lower-level promotion title.
Direct-line lower-level promotion title NY HELPS Qualifications: The direct line field is comprised of a single title that is the immediate lower-level title to the title being filled. This requires one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Food Laboratory Specialist 1, SG-18.
If there are fewer than 3 interested, qualified internal candidates in the direct-line lower-level promotion title then:
Candidates may be eligible for a NY HELPS Open-Competitive appointment to Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) if they meet the open-competitive NY HELPS qualifications.
Open- Competitive NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree with 24 credits in Biological Sciences and three years of post-degree professional experience performing microbiology analysis using molecular biology and aseptic techniques; one year of which must be at the supervisory level.
Minimum Qualification Substitution: A master’s degree in a related field can substitute for one year of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for two years of experience.
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.
Alternate Minimum Qualifications:
You may 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 Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology), G-23; 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 Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology), G-23: 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 but are not limited to: Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Chemistry), G-23 or Laboratory Specialist 2 (Biology), G-23.
70.4 Transfer Qualifications to Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology), SG-23: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have received a passing score on the most recent Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology) examination, meet the minimum qualifications, and has served permanently for one year in the title from which transfer is being made under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law. Please note that the title from which transfer is being made must be within two salary grades, or one M-grade of the Food Laboratory Specialist 2 (Microbiology), G-23.
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.
How to Apply:
Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to this opportunity must use this link to apply: Position Vacancy Online Application by: July 24, 2026. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.
If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Carman in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or
[email protected].
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.
Additional Position Information:
Division: Food Laboratory
Negotiating Unit: PEF
Location: Albany, NY
Number of Vacancies: One
Status of Vacancy: Full-time; Permanent
Hours Per Week: 37.5 Hours
Jurisdictional Class: Competitive
Civil Service List(s): Eligible List Exists
