Food Inspector 2 - Albany

Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral part of a team dedicated to fostering a competitive food and agriculture industry that benefits both producers and consumers alike. Here, you can cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from environmental science to economic development, you can find your niche in public service and grow both professionally and personally. Embrace the chance to join our team, and you’ll not only reap a fulfilling career but also sow the seeds for a healthier, stronger New York.

Position Information:

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking a permanent Food Inspector 2 to work in Albany, NY. This position will assist Division Management in reviewing existing policies, procedures, and other internal controls to verify that they are properly designed and implemented to address changes in the food safety regulatory environment. This includes assessing the effectiveness of existing policies and procedures to verify that they are consistently implemented and developing new policies where appropriate to ensure the Division is a leader in food safety. This position will also lead and develop industry related educational and outreach materials to improve overall compliance within the Division. Where improvements or adjustments are needed, this incumbent will work with the Director to develop proposed changes. Some supervisory duties may also be required.

The Food Inspector 2 is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday. The position will be based in our Albany office located at 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12235. Opportunities for telecommuting may be available in accordance with the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Salary:

The Food Inspector 2 position is in the PEF Salary Grade (SG) 23. The starting salary of the PEF SG-23 is $86,681/year.

The candidate appointed to the Food Inspector 2, SG-23, will be eligible to participate in the New York State Performance Evaluation Program. Through this program, employees receive yearly performance evaluations. Performance advances are payable to PEF employees whose base annual salary is below the job rate for their current position and who were rated "Satisfactory" or its equivalent on their yearly performance evaluation. Performance advance payments are added to an employee's annual salary. Over time, yearly performance advances may lead to the SG-23 job rate salary of $109,650/ year!

Benefits:

This is a PEF-represented position that offers excellent benefits! Benefits include but are not limited to inexpensive Health Insurance options, free dental and vision coverage, NYS Pension Plan membership, and generous paid time off. Within the first year, you are eligible for 5 days of personal time, 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 13 paid holidays!

As a New York State employee, you could potentially qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)! The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct student loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or another eligible employer.

Minimum Qualifications:

You may be eligible for appointment to this position if you meet any of the following minimum qualifications.

Provisional Appointment: If there is no appropriate eligible list of at least three people willing to accept permanent appointment for this geographic location, the Department may nominate a qualified person for a provisional appointment under the provisions of Section 65 of the Civil Service Law.

Provisional Minimum Qualifications: One year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Food Inspector 1, SG-18; AND Candidates must take the next scheduled Civil Service examination for this title, and your score must be reachable on the resulting eligible list before you can be permanently appointed. Candidates who do not pass the examination or achieve a reachable score may not be retained as a Food Inspector 2, SG-23.

Non-competitive Promotion : If there are three or fewer interested and qualified promotion candidates, the agency may at its discretion nominate a qualified employee for a non-competitive promotion under the provisions of Section 52.7 of the Civil Service Law.

Non-Competitive Promotion Minimum Qualifications: One year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Food Inspector 1, SG-18.

Reinstatement Under Rule 5.4: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they were previous permanent New York State employees who resigned their positions may be reinstated to their former positions, or to positions to which they were eligible for transfer or reassignment without further examination. Employees separated from their positions may be reinstated within one year of the date of their separation. Employees separated from their positions who have also been separated from state service for more than one year may be reinstated upon approval by the state Civil Service Commission.

How to Apply:

Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to one of these opportunities must use the below link to apply by December 4, 2025. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sacco in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or [email protected].

The Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity, and reasonable accommodations and/or modifications as necessary, for qualified persons with disabilities. If you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please visit: