Property Agent Trainee (Hybrid)(Target Class: Property Agent 1)
Contract
Introduction
The State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) seeks a full time Property Agent Trainee (Connecticut Careers Trainee (Engineering And Related)) with a target class of Property Agent 1 to join the Farmland Preservation Unit of the Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Preservation.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company - 'Forbes': State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees
THE ROLE
This position supports the Farmland Preservation Program through the stewardship of farmland parcels on which the CT Department of Agriculture has purchased the development rights (“PDR”). Engaging with farmers and farmland owners, conducting field investigations, reading and applying property deed terms, working in Excel calculating formulas, reviewing and creating Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, and applying learned knowledge to write stewardship monitoring reports will be required. Coordinating with and providing outreach to farmers, federal agencies, municipalities, non-profit land trusts, soil scientists, attorneys, and other organizations involved in farmland preservation, farmland access, and long-term land stewardship will also be expected. The position may also assist and periodically engage with the Connecticut Farmlink Program.
The ideal candidate would have knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of monitoring and stewardship;
- Principles and practices of land acquisition by purchase or condemnation;
- Relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations;
- Property values and appraisal methods.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class will be required to travel.
- Frequent days spent outdoors conducting on-site fieldwork and analysis are required and should be expected.
- Incumbents in this class will be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
- Monday - Friday
- Full-time (35 hours per week)
- First shift
- Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, CT
- Hybrid position (telework and in office)
APPOINTMENT
The length of the development program is determined by the experience and training requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent. At the completion of the development program incumbents must meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class. The program cannot be less than one (1) year and cannot exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.
Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service.
All appointments to this class shall be under terms of a development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. All development programs must be approved by the Department of Administrative Services prior to appointment to this class.
*SALARY NOTE:
First year of training:
Bachelor's degree and/or qualifying experience: ES 15 Step 1 ($48,410/year)
Master's degree: ES 15 Step 2 ($50,157/year)
Second year of training:
General rate: ES 15 Step 5 ($55,393/year)
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Selection Plan
- For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
- The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
- Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
- All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
- Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.
Important Information After You Apply:
- This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
- Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
- Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
- Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions;
- Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period;
- Conducts site inspections of proposed land acquisitions;
- Maintains records and prepares reports;
- Engages with farmers and farmland owners;
- Conducts field investigations;
- Reads and applies property deed terms;
- Works in Excel to calculate formulas, reviews and creates Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, and applies learned knowledge to write stewardship monitoring reports;
- May also assist and periodically engage with the Connecticut Farmlink Program;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification;
- understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic;
- read, interpret and understand written material;
- perform basic arithmetical computations;
- interpret charts, graphs and tables;
- learn and reason;
- establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public;
- utilize computer software.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience interacting with municipalities, land conservation organizations, or farmers, including farm businesses
- Experience or coursework creating and modifying GIS maps using GIS software
- Experience or coursework in preparing a monitoring report
- Experience independently being outdoors or working in inclement weather conditions
- Experience or coursework related to farmland access
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.