Oil Spill Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Duties Description This position is located within the Oil Spill Unit of the Civil Recoveries Bureau and performs the following duties: Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as summonses with notice, summonses, complaints, affidavits of service, judgments, default judgments, and lien releases. Draft and prepare discovery responses, such as interrogatory answers and document demands. Copy and assemble motion papers, discovery, and other documents for service.

Oversee filing and/or service of litigation documents; track service of documents to ensure compliance with deadlines. Obtain relevant documentation from the Oil Spill Fund, DEC, county health department offices, fire marshals, and/or law enforcement entities; organize DEC files received from regional offices; communicate with DEC regional spill engineers, defendants, and/or defense counsel regarding facts of the case, relevant law, disclosure, and settlements. Use computer databases such as DMV, Lexis-Nexis, and the New York Department of State to conduct legal research and locate parties and assets of judgment debtors.

Track and update case information on the Access computer database. Calculate interest on costs expended by the Oil Spill Fund. Track case developments by making entries in the Units' Access database.

Organize files as needed. Order vouchers, costing reports, and liens from the Oil Spill Fund; track lien and release requests submitted to the Oil Spill Fund; request, track, and review title searches. Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination.

Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified. NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS Candidates must have: A minimum of two years of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see "Definition" below).

OR An associate degree (or higher) in Paralegal/Legal Assistant/Legal Studies or a certificate in a Paralegal/Legal Assistant program where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). OR An associate degree in any field where the degree was granted from a regionally accredited college or university or one approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) AND one year of full-time experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant (see "Definition" below). Substitution: Graduation from an accredited (ABA approved) law school with a degree required for NYS Bar will be accepted as meeting the educational and experience requirements for this title.

Definition: A Paralegal/Legal Assistant is someone who applies knowledge of the law and legal procedures in rendering direct assistance to lawyers, clients, and courts; prepares and interprets legal documents and forms; researches, compiles, and uses information from legal materials to provide both written and verbal comments on their findings; and analyzes and handles routine procedural problems independently with minimal attorney oversight. ***Non-qualifying experience includes receptionist, records clerk, bookkeeper, and office manager. OTHER WAYS TO QUALIFY: Reachable on the Department of Civil Service eligible list for Legal Assistant 1.

OR Eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 or 70.4 of the Civil Service Law. Eligible candidates must meet any special qualifications or conditions required for transfer. To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website

Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered into the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has recently covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024, and June 11, 2025. Notification to employees regarding a change in their status is forthcoming.

You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective 6/12/25 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.

Additional Comments Careers with the State offer multiple benefits including paid vacation leave (13+ days per year), sick leave, paid State holidays off, health insurance including vision & dental, entry into the NYS retirement (pension) system, education and training, eligibility for public student loan forgiveness, and job stability with promotional opportunities. Workplace flexibilities include multiple options for employees including telecommuting (up to two days per week) and alternative work schedules. For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position.

Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations, and negotiated union contracts. The Office of the NYS Attorney General (OAG) cannot provide sponsorship for work authorization. Candidates need to be authorized to work in the United States to be employed by this agency.

It is incumbent upon employees to maintain work authorization for the duration of their employment with the OAG. This agency does not participate in E-Verify for work authorization purposes. The agency's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm (37.5 hours/week)

Scheduling determinations are dependent upon the needs of the Unit and will be communicated during interviews. Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.