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:

A Planner-Geographic Information Systems assists in the development and coordination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and projects; 

Assists in researching design specifications for geospatial database tables and applications;

Assists in developing and testing end user geospatial applications;

Works with supervisor and staff of County departments to develop integrated Geographic Information Systems; Produces and maintains GIS datasets;

Designs detailed geospatial applications to add to or enhance database entries relating to their display, modifications and utilization;

Under direction of supervisor, assists in the development and coordination of GIS data and projects, including and updating and attributing geographic databases and data conversion between GIS systems;

Under supervision of higher level technicians, assists in the installation and testing of new versions of GIS software;

Performs analyses and quality control of geospatial data collection and conversions;

Participates in GIS data distribution functions;

Assists higher-level technicians and technologists in responding to requests for geospatial/ map products; Reviews planning and environmental aspects of proposed physical development projects.

Qualifications:

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

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Urban or Regional Planning, Computer Science or a related field and one year experience implementing and administering Geographic Information Systems software; or:

B) Completion of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two or four year college or university with a major in Geographic Information Systems, Urban/Regional Planning, Geography, Computer Science or a related field and three years experience implementing and administering Geographic Information Systems software; or:

C) Five years experience implementing and administering Geographic Information Systems software; or:

D) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

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:

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.
 

Collection, analysis, and presentation of data, including basic statistics

These questions test for knowledge of the proper procedures and methods used to gather, evaluate, organize, and present various types of technical data and information, and the fundamental concepts, terminology, and computations involved in statistical analysis for cartographic and land use planning studies.
 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including data conversion, plotting, database construction, interactive editing, and labeling

These questions test for knowledge of GIS design features, global positioning systems, and the concepts, terminology, and proper procedures to use when creating, producing, and revising various types of maps and site plans using GIS and computerized mapping software.
 

Principles of data bases for PC's

These questions test for a basic background in the design and use of data bases on microcomputers. They cover such topics as data base terminology and concepts, analyzing a data base project, planning the data base, organizing the data, designing data entry forms, accessing and manipulating the data, generating reports, and performing backups.

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.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. 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.