Employment Opportunities

Here at New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation we need a variety of skills to maintain and operate our facilities and to provide patrons with a safe and enjoyable experience. From specialists in historic preservation to skilled trade workers to park maintenance staff, we seek out the brightest and most enthusiastic applicants to join our team. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) employs approximately 2,100 year-round permanent employees and more than 4,000 seasonal staff at the peak of our operating season.

Permanent Employment Opportunities
OPRHP has two kinds of permanent (annual) jobs - competitive and non-competitive. Entry-level positions in competitive jobs (clerical, technical, administrative, professional) are filled through examinations offered by the New York State Department of Civil Service. Some exams are given annually, others every three to four years, while still others are "continuous recruitment."

To track exams that are currently being offered for positions in our agency and throughout New York State, you should regularly check the "Jobs Seekers" section on the Department of Civil Service website at www.cs.state.ny.us. You can also write: New York State Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, 80 South Swan Street, Albany, N. Y. 12239, or call 1-877-NYS-JOBS (1-877-697-5627) or 518-457-2487. Our non-competitive annual jobs are mostly in skilled trades, such as plumbing and carpentry, and in our Park Worker series, which are semi-skilled park maintenance positions. Permanent non-competitive vacancies are normally advertised by OPRHP regions, however many of these positions are filled from our seasonal employee ranks.

Seasonal Employment Opportunities
Most seasonal staff work during the height of the summer season - Memorial Day to Labor Day. The bulk of our seasonal employees work as Park and Recreation Aides and are hired directly by OPRHP Regions. Park and Recreation Aides 1-7 perform a wide variety of tasks. Park and Recreation Aides at various levels may mow lawns and maintain landscaping, clean facilities and grounds, escort tours at historic sites, assist group outings, collect parking/admission fees, perform park office work, supervise other seasonal staff, respond to patron concerns or needs, plan deliver and supervise organized recreational, historic or environmental interpretation activities, perform semi-skilled labor in one or more trades and equipment operation. Current hourly salaries for Park and Recreation Aides (1-7 levels) range from $7.15 to $13.39 hr. depending on the type of work available and the experience of the employee. Many regions also employ a limited number of seasonal trades persons or recreation program specialists.

Temporary seasonal positions (except for Lifeguard) do not require an examination. For information on applying for seasonal employment, please contact the nearest OPRHP Regional Office at the address or telephone number below.

Further information on these and other positions contact us.