Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Beverage Control)

You must review important information on the New York State Department of Civil Service COVID-19 policy that applies to all candidates sitting for in-person Civil Service examinations being administered at a New York State test center. You can access our full policy on the Department of Civil Service website.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Transition examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before April 22, 2023, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Board and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as:

Either A: an Investigative Aide or Investigative Aide (Spanish Language);

Or B: in a position allocated to Grade 9 or higher or;

in a position allocated to Grade 6, 7, or 8 AND a bachelor?s or higher degree.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before January 22, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

• If you expect to meet the educational requirements by September 30, 2023, you can take the test. 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 September 30, 2023, may result in your removal from the eligible list.
• Your required educational credentials must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States (U.S.) Department of Education/Secretary of Education. If awarded by an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide these services (fees must be paid to the company you choose) can be found at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm You will be required to provide this information to the hiring agency at the time of interview..

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List:

• After one year of service as an Investigative Aide or Investigative Aide (Spanish Language), successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.
• After two years of service in a position allocated to Grade 9 or higher, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.
• After two years of service in a position allocated to Grade 6, 7, or 8 AND proof of a bachelor's or higher degree, successful candidates will be eligible for appointment from the eligible list.

Eligibles who meet the ?B? qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an ?A? title, may request to have their name added to the ?A? list, once they have completed the time in title year(s) of service in the full performance level ?A? title. The request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239; Attention: LAKS2.

Order of Certification: The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. "A" eligibles
2. "All" eligibles

Traineeships: To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.

An appointee?s performance in the trainee position and in the set training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. If an appointee does not meet the standard requirements, they may be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship.

If chosen, you may, at the agency?s discretion, be appointed to a higher level (Advanced Placement). You must inform the agency of any additional qualifications at the time of your interview. Information on advanced placement qualifications is available at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/investigatoradvancedplacement2023.cfm

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Age Requirement: To comply with Alcoholic Beverage Control Regulations, you must be at least 21 years old at the time of appointment.
2. Background Investigation: Due to the nature of these positions, there may be an investigative screening which could include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merit, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.
3. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug-screening test and are responsible for payment of the clinical lab fee. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification. Probationary employees are subject to periodic, unannounced drug testing for the purpose of determining whether they have used a substance in violation on the Random Drug Testing program. Refusals can subject the employee to disciplinary action and may lead to dismissal.
4. Fingerprints and Fees: You may be required to get fingerprinted at the time of appointment. You may be responsible for payment of the processing fee.
5. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.
6. Peace Officer Status: Peace officers must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. To do so, they must attend New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned peace officer training. Employment is dependent on continuous certification as a peace officer.
7. Physical/Medical: An evaluation of your physical and medical condition will be done to ensure that you are able to perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include but are not limited to height and weight, speech, vision, hearing, cardiovascular, respiratory system, and neurological health requirements. A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm. A medical examination is required prior to appointment and you may be responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Physical/medical candidate screenings will occur in score order, as needed, to fill current and future vacancies. Appointees to this position may require periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform essential duties.
8. Psychological Evaluation: You must participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position prior to appointment.
9. United State Citizenship and New York State Residency: Although not required for taking the test, you must be a citizen of the United States at the time of appointment. If appointed, you must also possess and maintain New York State residency pursuant to the Public Officers Law.

The Positions: These positions exist in the Alcohol Beverage Control Board and are located in Albany, New York City, Syracuse, and Buffalo.

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Duties

As an Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Beverage Control), you would independently undertake investigations related to the administration and enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, rules and regulations governing establishments licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board/State Liquor Authority. Trainees will receive a combination of structured training, on-the-job training and/or practical job performance to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to function at the full performance level.

Notes:

1. Travel Requirements: Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within an area of assignment. Appointees may need to operate a motor vehicle or have other means to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must continuously have a valid New York State driver?s license to continue employment; suspension or loss of a valid New York State driver?s license may result in removal from employment. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule. Overnight travel may be required.
2. An open-competitive examination is being held at the same time as this transition examination. Agencies have the option of making appointments from either list. If you meet the requirements for the open-competitive as well as the transition examination, you may wish to apply for both. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the written test. The written test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
2. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test the candidates' abilities to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if a conclusion is warranted by the facts.
3. Understanding and interpretating written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

Test Guide: A Guide to the Written Test for the Investigative Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits.

Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Note: The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a written test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

Important: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. Any past due application processing fees must be paid in full prior to submitting an application. Please email FeeUnitMail@cs.ny.gov regarding inquiries about any past due fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC1 LAK-rkv
Issued: 1/20/23

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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