Program Aide (SG-13) - Ranger School

Location: Wanakena, NY Category: Administrative Posted On: Mon Mar 9 2026 Job Description:

LOCATION/UNIT: Ranger School

TITLE/SALARY GRADE: Program Aide, SG-13

DURATION: Permanent

SALARY: $53,413 annual (non-negotiable) NOTE: current salary or reconstructed salary for state employees in accordance with NYS Audit and Control.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Program Aide at the ESF Ranger School provides administrative and support services to the Ranger School Director, academic staff, and Ranger School students and families, as well as serves as the primary point of contact for prospective students and other visitors to the Ranger School. Telephone and email communication skills are required. This individual works with multiple ESF units including Financial Aid, Business Office, Communications, Admissions, Facilities, Student Affairs, Human Resources, and the SRM Department. Admissions and recruiting are a significant component of this position, and requires understanding of admission procedures, A.A.S. program content, summer programs, student employment opportunities, academic requirements, tuition, etc.. This individual provides support during the regular academic year and for all summer programs including SRM Summer Program. Requires proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software. Some overnight travel to college fairs and recruitment events is required. The applicant is required to operate independently with minimal supervision based on knowledge of office operations, policies and procedures, and be able to coordinate and communicate tasks related to functions of the office. Duties include answering the telephone and greeting visitors at the door.

Responsibilities include:

• Independently monitors activities within the Ranger School Main Office, including review and organization of incoming and outgoing correspondence and determining how to respond to or otherwise direct inquiries. Assists Director and instructional staff with tasks, reports and communications.

• Answers phone and greets visitors to the Ranger School. Professional demeanor, ability to maintain confidentiality, and good customer service skills are a must.

• Serves as first point of contact for prospective Ranger School students and their families, and other visitors to the Ranger School. Responds to inquiries concerning educational offerings, admissions events, and in-person visits via telephone, email, or in-person.

• Responsible for student recruitment support including working with incoming students on the admission process. Works as liaison between ESF Admissions Office, Ranger School Director, and prospective students. Represents the Ranger School by attending and participating at a variety of college fairs and information sessions to interact with prospective students and their parents. Requires travel to these venues with some overnight stays. Keeps and updates records on prospective students including information such as year they plan on attending, first year college, program of interest, etc.

• Reviews advertising of Ranger School recruitment materials and assists Director with renewing, updating, and otherwise ensuring the Ranger School programs are well represented in the appropriate advertising venues. Also works with local outlets to post advertisements for current vacancies at the Ranger School including temporary and summer positions.

• Keeps and updates records on current students, including tracking and receiving required documentation for admission, sending supply lists and required forms to enrolled students, filing absence request forms, housing requests, and other student-related documentation; communicates to students about missing information, requirements, and records. Collaborates with Student Affairs to ensure required medical documentation is received and housing and other accommodations are met. Serves as primary point of contact for students needing assistance of any sort (excused absence forms, vehicle registration, needing ride to hospital, knowing where to buy groceries or get haircuts, etc.).

• Works with Residence Director to assign student dorm rooms during academic year, including key check out and return. Also responsible for scheduling use of classroom spaces at the Ranger School, and assigning overnight accommodations for visitors to the Ranger School. Communicates plans for overnight visitors to custodial staff to ensure room cleaning and linen service (if required) are completed.

• Responsible for key checkouts/returns for all Ranger School personnel.

• Collaborates with Facilities Department personnel to ensure work orders, vehicle request forms, correspondence, and other support needed to ensure Ranger School academic program functionality and student health and wellness needs are met.

• Responsible for Ranger School email communications (monitoring inboxes and responding to inquiries), social media accounts (managing and posting to Facebook and Instagram), and jobs list-serve. List-serve responsibilities include permission to join the list-serve and posting job announcements received by the Ranger School. Web responsibilities include communicating with ESF Communications to ensure current Ranger School website and other published information is accurate and up to date.

• Schedules and coordinates meetings, receptions, and events as needed. Includes (but not limited to) working with Admissions Department to organize Open House and other recruitments events, and with faculty to organize Family Weekend, Ranger School Graduation, Etiquette Dinner, and other student-centered events. Creates and sends invitation, collects RSVP information, provides information about local restaurants and overnight accommodations to attendees and prospective students. Coordinates with Food Service Manager regarding types and timing of food to be provided on-site during event. Coordinates with Facilities to ensure parking, traffic flow, and event spaces are prepared. Coordinates with local high school for graduation venue.

• Develops and maintains data and produces reports upon request on topics including, but not limited to: recruitment, enrollment, diversity, job placement, graduation rates, etc.

• Assists Director in preparation of self-study reports for accreditation, including Society of American Foresters and the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.

• Works with Business Office; makes and processes travel arrangements and reconciles expenses and reimbursements for Director, faculty, instructional support staff, and students as needed.

• Maintain calendars and schedules meetings for Director, Ranger School academic staff, and other staff (food service and facilities) as appropriate.

• Greets Ranger School Alumni and assists them as appropriate. Collaborates with Ranger School Alumni Association office manager to ensure alumni needs are met.

• Records minutes/action items at faculty meetings, department head meetings, and other meetings as needed. Collects course schedules and syllabi for every academic term. Supplies these to former students upon request.

• Works with Human Resources Department to ensure that I-9s, LENS checks, and other required documentation for new hires is completed and submitted to Human Resources.

Job Requirements:

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 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.

COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS (NON- HELPS):

Candidates must have permanent appointment in a Program Aide classified position (or be eligible for transfer) or be reachable for appointment on the current NY State Civil Service canvass list for Program Aide.

NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATION (HELPS):

Three years of experience performing clerical, keyboarding, or paraprofessional work in an office environment.

OPERATIONAL NEEDS: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Monday through Friday.

Additional Information:

In accordance with the "Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act" institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site:

SUNY ESF is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

SUNY ESF is a Smoke and Tobacco Free campus and is dedicated to providing a healthy and safe environment for the entire campus. For more information you can visit our Tobacco and Smoke Free Policy at Tobacco Free.pdf (

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 such time as 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 [email protected]