Job description

Under the direction of the Director of Agricultural Development, the Senior Advisor on Food Policy and Procurement position will work within the Division of Agricultural Development’s Food Systems and Resiliency Unit and will ensure the agency’s efforts in promoting agriculture and connecting rural agricultural producers to consumers by focusing on increasing food system resiliency and efficiency and increasing procurement of New York products. While based in Brooklyn, this position will spearhead the Department’s food system and procurement efforts across the state and provide policy recommendations that have state-wide implications.

Additional duties include but are not limited to:

· Serve as a single point of contact on state procurement challenges regarding New York food while providing hands-on assistance to achieve these goals.

· Manage both internal and external working groups with diverse stakeholders to advise and direct the Division’s priorities on procurement actions.

· Work to address complex and myriad challenges to utilizing more New York-produced food in New York agencies (i.e.: DOCCS, OMH) and institutions (i.e.: SUNY, K-12, hospitals).

· Utilize knowledge and experience in state procurement laws and regulations to identify policy barriers that can be addressed at the state and federal levels to increase the purchase of New York-produced food and beverages. This will involve providing technical assistance for producers, food processors, procurement officials (both public and private), and consumers at large, as well as serving as liaison to other agricultural and food industry entities and government agencies in metropolitan areas of the state and federally, including the USDA, FSA, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

· Utilize management expertise and execution skills to identify marketing and research barriers in the existing food system and envision a more robust and resilient system that better meets the needs of the state. This will involve accessing and adapting both Department and federal programming to overcome barriers that hamper greater access to New York food for New York residents.

The position is located at 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, New York 11217. We offer a professional and comfortable working environment with ample free parking. This is a management/confidential (MC) position in the exempt jurisdictional class that offers a competitive salary range of $95,056 - $120,156/year with excellent benefits. Benefits include but are not limited to Health, Dental and Vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, Life Insurance coverage, and Voluntary Defined Contribution Plan.

Department Summary:

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, through its various divisions and programs, promotes New York agriculture and its high-quality and diverse products, fosters agricultural environmental stewardship, and safeguards the State’s food supply, land, and livestock to ensure the viability and growth of New York’s agriculture industries.

If you would like to work for a premier agency focused on enhancing the quality of life for the people of New York State by supporting production of agriculture; ensuring safe, nutritious, and accessible food supply; providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents, then the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is for you.

To learn more about our agency and our mission, please visit https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/.

Appointment Process and Minimum Qualifications:

Special Assistant is an Exempt Class position within the NYS Civil Service Merit System. Section 41(1) of the Civil Service Law provides that the Exempt Class shall include "all other offices or positions for which the Civil Service Commission has determined it is not practicable to fill by competitive or non-competitive examination." These positions are not tenure-bearing.

Approval for appointment to this position will go through the Budget Director Approval (BDA) process, including a fingerprint background check.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in in agriculture, agricultural economics, agriculture business, accounting, auditing, forestry, finance, marketing, communications, public administration, economics, business administration, political science, environmental science, food policy or related field and five years of experience in procurement and/or policy development, implementation, or management. Four years of specialized experience or associate’s degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelor’s degree; J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.

How to Apply:

Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to this position must complete our online employment application and upload their cover letter, college transcript(s), and resume to the system. Our online employment application can be found here: https://fs30.formsite.com/zMiW7u/5daykmjljv/index.html

The deadline to apply is January 12, 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sacco in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or recruitment(at)agriculture.ny.gov.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info(at)goer.ny.gov.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $95,056.00 - $120,156.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Albany, NY 12235: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: One location

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