Investigative Specialist 2 (Cannabis)

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.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before April 13, 2024, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as an Investigative Specialist 1 (Cannabis).

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before January 13, 2024, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After one year of service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Background Investigation: Due to the nature of these positions, there will be an investigative screening which will 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.
2. 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. Cannabis use is not permitted for employees in this title. Cannabis use will be tested for during the pre-employment screening process and may be the basis for disqualification for employment or may be a basis for removal from employment. A complete statement of drug testing for this title is available at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm.
3. Fingerprints and Fees: You may be required to get fingerprinted at the time of appointment. You are responsible for payment of the processing fee.
4. Firearms: Appointees will be required to obtain and maintain a New York City firearm permit, which requires an extensive background check from New York City in order to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties. You must successfully complete an assigned firearms training and annual re-qualification and display continued proficiency. Denial, suspension or loss of a New York City firearm permit may result in removal from employment in this position.
5. 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.
6. 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 are 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.
7. Psychological Evaluation: You must participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position prior to appointment.
8. 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.

Back To Top

Duties

As an Investigative Specialist 2 (Cannabis), you would supervise the performance of investigations related to the administration and enforcement of the laws, rules, and regulations cannabis operations, including but not limited to cultivation, processing, distribution, and sales in accordance with Cannabis Law. You would supervise two or more Investigative Specialist 1s (Cannabis) and independently perform the more sensitive or complex investigations requiring greater knowledge and interpretation of the agency's laws, rules, and regulations. You would perform the full range of supervisory duties including approving leave and tracking time and attendance, identifying staff development needs, evaluating staff performance, and completing performance evaluations. You would have Peace Officer status.

Note:

• Travel Requirements: Appointment to this title requires extensive travel within an area of assignment. Appointees will need to operate a motor vehicle or have other means to meet the transportation needs of the job. Travel to areas not serviced by public transportation is required. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must continuously have a driver's license valid in New York State to continue employment. Overnight travel is required.

Back To Top

Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice 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. Advanced investigative techniques - These questions test for knowledge of the more complicated and technical aspects of field investigations. The questions will cover such areas as: interviewing principles and practices, investigative principles, sources of information and reporting methods commonly used in field investigations, securing statements, rules of evidence and evidence collection, preparing cases for court or legal hearings, and testifying in the courtroom or in hearings. Many of the questions are situational in nature. The questions are generic rather than dealing with investigations in a particular field.
4. Supervision -These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.
5. Understanding and interpreting 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 Multiple-Choice Test for the Investigator 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.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice 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 application status, 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.

Back To Top

How To Apply

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 multiple-choice 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 Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.

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 multiple-choice 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 multiple-choice 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 multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice 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 BLM-dah
Issued: 1/26/24

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.

Back To Top