Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning. 

Examples of Duties:

An Assistant Deputy Commissioner is responsible for the collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal of sewage, and research and recommendation for improvements; 

Supervises and has the direct responsibility for the coordination, administration of, and engineering tasks associated with all County facilities for the collection, conveyance, treatment, and disposal of sewage and for such other similar facilities as the County may have responsibility;

Supervises the preparation of data, plans and studies needed to recommend programs and work to increase the quality of the County sewerage management services;

Supervises all State and Federally mandated remedial programs to correct problems related to sewage treatment and drainage, and the preparation of the necessary reports;

Supervises consultant studies relating to operations or to State and Federally mandated remedial programs;

Provides technical assistance and advice to local municipalities to improve the operation and maintenance of sewage facilities;

Provides direct liaison and advice to Boards of Managers of all sewer districts relating to budget preparation and relating to operations;

Utilizes computer software such as word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in chemical, civil, environmental or sanitary engineering and six (6) years of sanitary engineering experience, including at least one (1) year in a managerial capacity.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
License to practice professional engineering in the State of New York.

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements.

2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Administrative supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

2. 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.

3. Principles and practices of sanitary engineering as related to wastewater collection, treatment and disposal

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of sanitary engineering involved in wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal processes, and may include such areas as the design, analysis, installation, upgrading, and maintenance of wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal systems; wastewater treatment plant operations, processes, equipment, and maintenance; and proper disposal of treated wastewater.

4. Understanding and interpreting construction plans, specifications, and estimates

These questions test for the ability to read, understand, and analyze construction plans and specifications; and for the ability to calculate material and cost estimates.

5. Construction terms, methods, and materials related to hydraulic facility installations

These questions test for knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, materials, and terminology involved in constructing and maintaining hydraulic facility installations such as water, sewer and stormwater systems. 

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.