Assistant Geologist/Geologist Trainee- NY HELPS

Minimum Qualifications for candidates eligible for provisional appointment, 55-b/55-c appointment or 70.4 transfer:
Geologist Trainee, NS: bachelor's degree or higher in earth science, engineering geology, environmental geology, environmental geosciences, geochemistry, geological engineering, geology, geological science, geophysics, or hydrogeology.
Assistant Geologist, G-20: bachelor's degree or higher in, earth science, engineering geology, environmental geology, environmental geosciences, geochemistry, geological engineering, geology, geological science, geophysics, or hydrogeology, AND:
Either 1. proof of passing the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination,
OR 2. a professional geologist licensure with current registration.
This position is also open to the following candidates:
Reassignment Eligible - Those currently in the title and employed by DEC
or
Reinstatement Eligible - Those who have previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis.
or
Transfer Eligible - Those with one year of permanent competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer in accordance with Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law.
55-b/55-c Candidates must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications (see above) and include with their resume or application, a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55- b/55-c program.
Individuals appointed as a Geologist Trainee are required to complete a minimum of one year of successful performance as a Geologist Trainee and pass the National Association of State Boards of Geologist's Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination. If you pass the FG by the end of the first year, you may be advanced to the Grade 20 Assistant Geologist title without further examination. If you do not pass the FG by the end of the second year of the traineeship, you will be terminated from your position.
NOTE: In accordance with Chapter 475 of the Laws of 2014, all professional geologists in New York State must obtain licensure under Title VIII of the Education Law; based on this, you will be required to obtain your professional geology license in order to be promoted in the future.

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 maybe 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 this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.

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 Assistant Geologist position is located in the Division of Environmental Remediation, (DER), in Remedial Bureau D, Section A.

Duties include serving as a Project Manager (PM) for State Superfund sites. This work may involve oversight of responsible parties implementing remedial programs under Department issued Orders on Consent, management of State-funded remedial programs, and/or working with EPA on Federal lead remedial projects. Some work may also be done to oversee long-term groundwater management at RCRA facilities which are being managed under the Superfund program within the unit.

Responsibilities of this position include interaction with remedial parties, managing all aspects of the remedial program for sites (work plan development, investigation, design, remediation and site management phases of projects) including the review and evaluation of work plans, remedial investigation reports, feasibility studies, design reports, construction plans and specifications, final engineering/project completion reports, and site management plans to ensure conformance with current geological standards, Department regulations, standards, guidance and policies.

The duties will also include providing geological services under the direction and oversight of the Section manager or other Professional Geologist. These may include interpretation of groundwater, soil, soil vapor, sediment or rock data or measurements, field geologic observations or surveys, as well as the application of geologic principles during development of remedial investigation, feasibility study, or design documents for use in addressing the environmental problems which have arisen at the subject sites or facilities.

Management of assigned projects will involve soliciting, coordinating and resolving technical and administrative input from other Department units as well as from local, state and federal agencies along with local water purveyors. In some instances, the technical work may be done in-house (i.e., documents may be prepared by the PM) with in-house professional oversight.

The duties also include providing technical direction, oversight and management for standby consultants on State funded projects; approval of projects budgets and management of budget compliance during project implementation; preparing and responding to written correspondence; making public presentations; and interacting directly with the public and interested community groups in relation to remedial projects.

Some field work may involve working around heavy machinery such as drill rigs and construction equipment. Respiratory or other personal protection equipment may at times be required. Compliance with the OSHA HAZWOPER requirements, including training and certification will be required. The work will require periodic overnight travel. The candidate will work with Section A staff on the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site, including the floodplains investigations and deconstruction of the National Grid Powerhouse at Hudson Falls.