Program Research Specialist 2 (NY HELPS)

State of New York•Albany, NY

37d•Remote

About The Position

The Program Research Specialist 2, SG-23 will serve as the Regional Sustainability Coordinator who is dedicated to leading and supporting sustainability initiatives at OPRHP. Working closely with regional staff, facility managers, external partners, this role will foster sustainable practices, improve reporting accuracy, and drive measurable environmental outcomes aligned with New York State's climate and sustainability goals and Executive Order 22 is a directive aimed at advancing sustainability and decarbonization efforts within the state. The position will oversee one program research specialist 1 at the main office. The Program Research Specialist 2's duties: Identify and assess new sustainability program needs and opportunities, ensuring alignment with agency goals and best practices. Design, pilot, and implement region-wide sustainability initiatives, such as composting programs and energy audits. Organize and facilitate sustainability-focused public events and educational programs in collaboration with community groups and park staff. Support and evaluate pilot programs for sustainable technologies and processes, assessing feasibility for broader implementation. Develop and execute data collection strategies for regional sustainability programs, analyzing effectiveness and compliance with Executive Order 22 (EO22). Conduct trend analysis and forecasting to identify opportunities for program expansion or improvement, providing actionable recommendations. Prepare comprehensive reports, dashboards, and presentations for regional and agency leadership, including annual EO22 reports. Serve as the regional liaison to the Bureau of Sustainability, participating in statewide meetings and training sessions. Develop educational materials and engage with the community to promote sustainability initiatives and encourage public participation. Collaborate with various departments to ensure sustainable practices are integrated into daily operations and track progress toward sustainability goals.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree including or supplemented by nine semester credit hours in statistics, biostatistics, economics, econometrics, research methods, mathematics, data analysis, or data modeling and three years of professional research experience in the collection and evaluation of quantitative data directed toward review and analysis of program operations.
Substitution: J.D. or master's degree may substitute for one year of the experience; a doctoral degree may substitute for two years of the experience. If verifiable, we will accept and prorate part-time and volunteer experience.

Responsibilities

Identify and assess new sustainability program needs and opportunities, ensuring alignment with agency goals and best practices.
Design, pilot, and implement region-wide sustainability initiatives, such as composting programs and energy audits.
Organize and facilitate sustainability-focused public events and educational programs in collaboration with community groups and park staff.
Support and evaluate pilot programs for sustainable technologies and processes, assessing feasibility for broader implementation.
Develop and execute data collection strategies for regional sustainability programs, analyzing effectiveness and compliance with Executive Order 22 (EO22).
Conduct trend analysis and forecasting to identify opportunities for program expansion or improvement, providing actionable recommendations.
Prepare comprehensive reports, dashboards, and presentations for regional and agency leadership, including annual EO22 reports.
Serve as the regional liaison to the Bureau of Sustainability, participating in statewide meetings and training sessions.
Develop educational materials and engage with the community to promote sustainability initiatives and encourage public participation.
Collaborate with various departments to ensure sustainable practices are integrated into daily operations and track progress toward sustainability goals.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including:
Paid Time Off
PEF: 44 days - 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 5 personal leave days, 13 holidays
Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development
Health Care Benefits:
Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs
Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
Additional Benefits:
New York State Employees' Retirement System (ERS) Membership
NYS Deferred Compensation
Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Paid Parental Leave