What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Assistant position at New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets |?
Student Assistant
$16.58/hour
Counsel’s Office
Albany, NY
Posting Dates: May 11, 2026 – May 21, 2026
Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral part of a team dedicated to fostering a competitive food and agriculture industry that benefits both producers and consumers alike. Here, you can cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from environmental science to economic development, you can find your niche in public service and grow both professionally and personally. Embrace the chance to join our team, and you’ll not only reap a fulfilling career but also sow the seeds for a healthier, stronger New York.
Position Information:
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking a Student Assistant to work at their headquarters in Albany, NY. This position performs a variety of duties in support of the Counsel’s Office and will provide a wide range of services supporting departmental programs within the Divisions of Land and Water Resources, Food Safety and Inspection, Plant Industry and Animal Industry.
Duties include but are not limited to preparing legal analysis, memoranda, guidance, and position statements related to issues involving agricultural districts, food safety, invasive species and animal and plant diseases. The Student Assistant will help with FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests, regulations, administrative guidelines, Notice of Intents, litigation papers, administrative warrants, and conservation easements. The Student Assistant will perform duties that are both of legal and paralegal nature.
Candidates must have excellent writing and research skills and be proficient in Microsoft Word and Westlaw.
The Student Assistant is a temporary position beginning immediately, working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. for approximately 6-8 weeks. The position will be based in our Albany office located at 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12235. Opportunities for telecommuting may be available in accordance with the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
Minimum Qualifications:
Student Intern Program - Eligibility Requirements:
Eligibility
To be considered for the New New York Leaders: Student Intern Program, students must:
To be considered for the New New York Leaders: Student Intern Program, students must:
- Be a United States citizen or foreign national eligible to work in the United States
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be actively enrolled in a New York State college, university, or graduate program, or be a resident of New York State, attending a college, university or graduate program outside of New York State*
- Have completed a minimum of one (1) year as a student at a degree-granting two or four-year college or university (completion of one year's worth of academic credits over a longer period may qualify part-time students for participation in the program), or be a currently enrolled graduate student or accepted in a graduate degree program
- Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, or the letter grade equivalent
Professional Skills
A student intern should have the following skills:
A student intern should have the following skills:
- Analytical and evaluative skills
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Organizational skills, efficiency, and flexibility
- Computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft products (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint), email software, internet searching, and other programs
Applicants may come from any academic discipline. Candidates must be available to work at assigned New York State offices. Opportunities are available statewide.
* For Summer Internship applicants only: Attending a New York State school or being a New York State
resident is not required.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates must create a Civil Service Account and apply through the Department of Civil Service Intern Program Portal. Click HERE to create a Civil Service account in order to access the Portal. The deadline to apply for this internship through the portal is September 11, 2026.
Candidates that are eligible and interested in being considered for appointment to one of these opportunities must apply by May 21, 2026. Within this online application please upload your resume, transcript, and cover letter.
If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Leo in Human Resources at (518) 457-3216 or HarvestYourPotential@agriculture.ny.gov.
Additional Position Information:
Division: Counsel’s Office
Negotiating Unit: PEF
Location: Albany
Number of Vacancies: One
Status of Vacancy: Full time; Temporary Hourly
Hours per Week: 37.5
Jurisdictional Class: Non-Competitive
Civil Service List(s): No Eligible List Exists
Salary : $17