Supervisors have extended the deadline for applications for an Agricultural Business Development Specialist until July 16.
The initial deadline for what had been Nick Kossmann’s position–Mr. Kossmann left in June to take a job with State Ag & Markets–had been July 1.
But members of the Ag Committee heard last Tuesday that only a couple of applications came in–and they were “kicked back,” because the candidates didn’t meet Civil Service requirements.
The position is now being advertised as a NY HELPS Program job, which temporarily removes the Civil Service exam requirements.
Employees hired under the NY HELPS Program are appointed on a permanent basis.
The NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program “streamlines the appointment process to allow state and county agencies to hire qualified permanent employees quickly and without examinations.”
It was created to help fill thousands of vacant critical positions across the state.
The Agricultural Business Development Specialist posting seeks someone with a master’s degree in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Policy or Agricultural technology with two years of professional experience or candidates with a bachelor’s degree in one of those fields and four years of experience.
Starting salary is $62,220.
John Crescimano, the county’s Economic Development specialist, has been carrying some of the job’s workload, and is now focusing those efforts on reaching out to farmers who might be interested in becoming part of Harvest Connection.
Based in the Hudson Valley, Harvest Connection is a new, mobile-friendly website that allows shoppers to find participating farms by searching for products or entering a zip code.
Each farm listed on the site has its own page with contact information and visitor information.
Liz Callahan, executive director for Cornell Cooperative extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties, said they’ve been having similar difficulties filling their own ag position and are struggling to find the balance between what they can pay and the job description.