Environmental Assistance Representative (NY HELPS)

Job Opening

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE: May 3, 2026

JOB TITLE:               Environmental Assistance Representative (NY HELPS) SG23, PEF                                 LOCATION:                   Albany 

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent                                                                                                                                    JURISDICTION CLASS: Competitive

DEPARTMENT:          Environmental Services

                                       625 Broadway

                                       Albany, NY 12245

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the general direction of the Assistant Director of the Environmental Services Unit (ESU), the incumbent will be involved in a variety of projects, with a primary focus on assisting small businesses with regulatory applicability determinations and environmental compliance as it relates to state and federal environmental requirements, including those associated with water, wastewater, solid waste, hazardous waste, and chemical/bulk storage.

WORK PERFORMED:

• Works with small businesses to interpret applicable environmental regulations for associated business processes and provides guidance to businesses that are seeking to comply with the Clean Air Act’s applicable regulatory requirements and other business-related environmental issues, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
• Assists in resolving complaints and disputes, including enforcement actions between small businesses and regulatory agencies. 
• Tracks and reviews new and amended environmental regulations and analyzes their potential impacts on small businesses. Provides comments and recommendations to the US Environmental Protection Agency and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
• Works with associations and small businesses to improve compliance and provide feedback to regulatory entities on measures or modifications sought by small businesses.
• Organizes and conducts outreach efforts (i.e., training workshops and conferences) to inform business owners and managers about their responsibilities and rights under state and federal environmental conservation laws.
• Identifies and refers small businesses to appropriate technical and financial resources.
• Assists in coordination with other agencies and stakeholder groups.
• Presents written and oral summaries of project activity to the ESU Assistant Director.
• Works collaboratively with peers, managers, small businesses, and regulators.
• Other assignments or special projects, as directed by the ESU Assistant Director.
• Travel requirement: up to fifteen percent (15%).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

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. However, all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. 

At a future date, 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.

Minimum Appointment Qualifications: Seven (7) years of professional experience developing, evaluating, coordinating, administering and/or promoting environmental programs designed to prevent and/or correct environmental pollution.