State Fair Administrator Trainee 1 (NY HELPS)

Posting Dates: April 14, 2025- April 24, 2025

Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of the New York State Fair! Join us and become an integral part of a team dedicated to providing an educational forum for agriculture and commerce, providing affordable, quality entertainment and educational opportunities, contributing to the efforts of the Department, industry, associations, and private businesses in the promotion and marketing of agriculture and agri-business, and creatively providing opportunities for economic growth by producing revenues and providing jobs. Here, you can cultivate your career against the backdrop of an annual event that celebrates our agricultural heritage. You’ll be at the heart of community engagement, ensuring the legacy of the fair continues to flourish and contributes to a vibrant New York culture. With a wide range of opportunities, 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 — while being part of a historic tradition.

Are you passionate about event planning? Do you love creating unforgettable experiences that people will cherish forever? If so, we have the perfect job for you! The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is looking for a State Fair Administrator Trainee 1 to work at the Great New York State Fair.

The State Fair Administrator Trainee 1 ensures that vendors and exhibitors are solicited for events, reviews contracts and applications for licenses or permits for completeness and accuracy and forwards information to appropriate units; oversees events’ space layout, and set up and break down for events, concessionaires, exhibitors and vendors; ensures that electrical, water service, mechanical and other requirements are met; coordinates events and service requests with other divisions; tracks event expenses and revenues for all services and prepares reports; consults with the finance office regarding contracts, accounting of revenue and reconciliation of accounts; responds to complaints concerning agreements, services and events by taking or recommending corrective action; and ensures event activities comply with contractual terms, State Fair policies, and State and federal laws and regulations.

Located at the New York State Fairgrounds at 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209, this is a full-time position with working hours of 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday. With the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and exciting environment, you will have the chance to create unforgettable fair experiences that will be remembered for years to come. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to showcase your event planning skills and make your mark on the Great New York State Fair. Apply now!

The starting salary for the State Fair Administrator Trainee 1 is $53,764/ year, and the hiring salary for the PEF salary grade (SG) 14. This position requires the completion of a two-year traineeship. After successful completion of the first year of the traineeship, the appointee will advance without further examination to the Trainee 2 level SG-16 (starting salary of $59,994/year). Completion of the second year of the traineeship will result in permanent advancement to the State Fair Administrator 1, SG-18 (starting salary of $66,951/year) without further examination. Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to the Trainee 2 or full performance level. For more information, see Advanced Placement below.

The candidate appointed at the State Fair Administrator 1, SG-18 level, 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-18 job rate salary of $85,138/year!

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.

NY HELPS Qualifications: A bachelor’s or higher degree

To State Fair Trainee 2: A bachelor's and one year of professional experience in processes to manage and coordinate events, exhibits, competitions, and the use and rental of facilities, concessions, or supplement services on the State Fairgrounds to maximize the facilities’ use and profitability.

Minimum Qualification Substitution: a Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

To State Fair Administrator 1, G-18: A bachelor's and two years of professional experience in processes to manage and coordinate events, exhibits, competitions, and the use and rental of facilities, concessions, or supplement services on the State Fairgrounds to maximize the facilities’ use and profitability.

Minimum Qualification Substitution: a Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for this opportunity must find the employment application below. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2025. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Denny in Human Resources at (315) 728-4254 or HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov.

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: https://agriculture.ny.gov/employment-information.

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 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.

Reassignment Qualifications: You must be a current Department of Agriculture and Markets employee and have one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a State Fair Administrator Trainee 1; if you have less than one year, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.

55-b/c Qualification: You must bachelor's or higher degree to be eligible for the State Fair Administrator Trainee 1. For Trainee 2 you must also have one year of professional experience working with conventions; trade shows; major fairs; expositions; convention centers; entertainment facilities; sports arenas and/or performing arts venues in the areas of fair management, equine/livestock exhibitions, event/ logistics planning, event promotions, oversight of facility use or concessions management. For the Full Performance Level, you must also have two years of professional experience working with conventions; trade shows; major fairs; expositions; convention centers; entertainment facilities; sports arenas and/or performing arts venues in the areas of fair management, equine/livestock exhibitions, event/ logistics planning, event promotions, oversight of facility use or concessions management.

If you are interested in this position, please submit a copy of your Department of Civil Service eligibility letter, your current resume, and a cover letter by April 24, 2025, by using the below application link: Position Vacancy Online Application.

Information about the Workers with Disabilities 55-b and the Veterans with Disabilities employment program 55-c can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to State Fair Administrator Trainee 1: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 11 title or higher.

Either: 1: A bachelor’s or higher degree

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) examination.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to State Fair Administrator Trainee 2: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 12 title or higher.

Either: 1: A bachelor's degree AND one year of experience working with conventions; trade shows; major fairs; expositions; convention centers; entertainment facilities; sports arenas and/or performing arts venues in the areas of fair management, equine/livestock exhibitions, event/logistics planning, event promotions, oversight of facility use or concessions management.

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) examination.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications to State Fair Administrator 1, G-18: Applicants may be appointed to this position permanently if they have: one year of permanent, competitive service in a Grade 16 title or higher.

Either: 1: A bachelor's degree AND two years of experience working with conventions; trade shows; major fairs; expositions; convention centers; entertainment facilities; sports arenas and/or performing arts venues in the areas of fair management, equine/livestock exhibitions, event/logistics planning, event promotions, oversight of facility use or concessions management.

Received a passing score on the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) examination.

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.