ORANGE COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Written
Written Test to Be
Test to Be Held
Held Last Filing Date
JUNE 10,
APRIL 13,2023
2024 FEBRUARY 21, 2024
Examination No. and Title Salary Processing Fee
#69303 OMBUDSMAN $30.9618/HR (2023 Rate) $25.00
This examination is being held to establish an eligible list in the above title for the Orange County Department of
Human Resources. At present one (1) vacancy exists.
A $25.00 non-refundable application processing fee is required. Check or money order payable to the
Commissioner of Finance must accompany application. A $20.00 service charge will be imposed for checks returned
for insufficient funds or like reasons. Please refer to the General Information section on the reverse of this page for
information regarding eligibility for waiver of application processing fees.
Applications received without the required fee will be returned to you unprocessed. If you wish to re-file, your
application and the appropriate fees must be postmarked no later than the last filing date noted above. Please
compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only if you are clearly qualified.
Application processing fees are non-refundable. If you are disqualified from or fail to appear for the examination,
your fee will not be refunded.
Minimum Qualifications Required for Admission to the Exam - Your application must clearly indicate possession
of the following requirements as of the last filing date noted above:
Maintenance of a valid Driver’s license permitting the applicant to drive anywhere in the State of New York AND at
least ten years of paid full-time work experience together with any of the following:
Please submit a copy of your driver’s license with your application.
(A) A Bachelor's Degree(or higher); OR
(B) Ten years management experience demonstrating problem solving, customer service (public or private
sector), contract negotiation and business or local government operation along with graduation from high
school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma.
NOTE: Part-time or volunteer experience will be prorated on a year-for-year basis.
You must submit a complete application. Be sure to answer all questions including dates of employment
(month/year), number of hours worked per week and a detailed description of your management experience
demonstrating problem solving, customer service (public or private sector), contract negotiation and business or local
government operation as required by the qualifications noted above. A resume may NOT be submitted in lieu of
completing the application. Applications that do not clearly indicate the required qualifications will be disapproved.
You should submit transcript(s) with your application or within thirty (30) days of filing an application if qualifying
under option (A). Transcripts downloaded from the internet, grade reports or copies that do not identify the
educational institutions are unacceptable for purposes of qualification. Note: Your degree or credits must have
been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an
accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree or credits were
awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent
verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at
http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.
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#69303 OMBUDSMAN PAGE 2
What the Job is Like: The work involves identifying issues of concern related to civil service hiring within Orange
County and its jurisdictions, intergovernmental affairs generally and making recommendations to resolve those
issues. The work involves assisting local jurisdictions with coming into compliance with applicable civil service
laws and rules. As necessary, the work may involve communication with local government public employees to
address issues of intermunicipal concern. The work also involves reviewing internal employee concerns relating
to workplace conditions and making confidential recommendations to the applicable Deputy Commissioner of
Human Resources. The position requires substantial workplace experience and problem-solving skill.
Incumbent does related work as required.
Subject of Examination – (Personnel and Employee Benefits Series) A test designed to evaluate knowledge,
skills, and /or abilities in the following areas:
Advising and Interacting with Others - These questions test for the ability to interact with other people in order
to gather and present information and to provide assistance and advice in a courteous and professional manner.
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.
Public Personnel Administration - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices used in
applying New York State, federal, and local laws, rules, and policies to situations encountered in planning and
executing the personnel functions in a government agency. Questions may cover such areas as recruitment,
selection, and placement; position classification; performance evaluation; and employee relations.
Recruitment, Selection and Placement- These questions test for knowledge of planning and implementing
programs to hire employees for public sector titles and occupational fields. Questions may cover such areas as
determining personnel needs; analyzing job content; ordering examinations; recruitment; and interviewing.
Understanding and Interpreting Written Material Based on Laws, Policies, and Procedures Relating to
Health Insurance, Retirement and Other Benefits- These questions test for the ability to read, interpret, and
apply relevant laws, policies, and procedures. You will be provided with brief reading selections based on or
taken from legal text, each followed by one or more questions. All information needed to answer the questions
is contained in the reading selections. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
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 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this
test. This publication is available on line at:https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.
-USE OF CALCULATORS IS RECOMMENDED-
Langdon C. Chapman, Commissioner of Human Resources Date of Issue: 01/30/24
– AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER –
GENERAL INFORMATION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
When the examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with 23.2 of the Civil
Service Law, the administration of this examination, including rating and review, is governed by the provisions of New York State Civil
Service Rules and Regulations. The passing grade for this examination is 70.
APPLICATIONS: Candidates may apply online for exams with a “logon” button. Candidates wishing to obtain a hard copy may print the
application, by visiting www.orangecountygov.com, or by visiting the Department of Human Resources between normal business hours.
For applicants not able to print a copy or visit this office, you may request a paper application by sending a self-addressed, stamped,
legal-sized envelope to the Orange County Department of Human Resources at 255 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924.
HOW TO APPLY: If applying by US Postal Mail, completed applications must be postmarked no later than the last filing date shown on
the front of this announcement or, if not mailed, must be received in the Department of Human Resources no later than 4:59 PM on the
last filing date established for this examination. Candidates applying online must submit their application online by 11:59 p.m. eastern
standard time on the last filing date shown of the front of this announcement. It is recommended that you not wait until the last moment
to apply in case a problem may arise during your submission process. The burden of ensuring a timely application is received rests solely
on the candidate. The date imprinted by a postage meter is NOT construed as a postmark. The application is part of the testing process:
It must be completely filled out, with all pertinent information provided, or disapproval may result. Reference is not made to applications
already on file. False or deliberately exaggerated statements may result in disqualification. Do not submit a resume in lieu of an
application. Ambiguity and vagueness will not be resolved in your favor. If your application is disapproved, you will be so notified and
given an opportunity to submit qualifying information. Failure to furnish such information or other requested information within the time
frame specified may be cause for disapproval. Applications faxed or emailed to this office will not be accepted.
APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE: If an application processing fee is specified on the front of this announcement it must
accompany the application. A check or money order payable to the Commissioner of Finance is the only acceptable form of payment
if applying by mail or in person. Write the examination number and your social security number on the check or money order. Do not
send cash. Online exam application submission requires a debit/credit card payment or an approved fee waiver. As APPLICATION
PROCESSING FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE, 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.
APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE WAIVER: Application processing fees may be waived for those candidates who are unemployed
and primarily responsible for the support of a household. Individuals who can be claimed as a dependent on any other person’s tax return
are NOT eligible for waiver as head of household. In addition, fees may be waived if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or
Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a state or local social
service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. Candidates who are not approved for a fee waiver
will be notified and have (2) two business days from notification of unacceptance to submit payment in the form of a check or money
order. Failure to submit payment will result in your application being unprocessed. Candidates interested in this waiver must submit a
“Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification” form with their application by the last filing date noted on the announcement.
Waiver forms can be obtained from the Orange County Department of Human Resources, Civil Service Unit, 255 Main Street, Goshen,
NY 10924 or on the web at www.orangecountygov.com.
MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS: If you have applied for another Civil Service Examination with New York State or other local government
jurisdiction scheduled for the same date as this exam, you must notify all civil service agencies involved of the dual candidacy. You
must make arrangements to take all exams at one test site as soon as possible, in any event no later than two weeks before the exam
date. For all examinations for positions in New York State you have to sit at a State examination center. The maximum time allowed for
any combination of exams is eight hours.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS, ALTERNATE TEST DATES, MILITARY PERSONNEL: If you
require reasonable accommodations as a disabled person, or special testing arrangements as one in need of religious accommodation,
or are an alternate test date candidate (in accordance with Alternate Test Date Policy), or an active member of the military away from the
area on the scheduled test date, clearly indicate this fact on the application. All such requests must be supported by appropriate
documentation.
VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: In reviewing applications for open-competitive and promotional examinations, where a year or
more of experience is minimally required, a tolerance of thirty (30) days is allowed in meeting said requirements. The amount of
experience required in the minimum qualifications is based upon the presumption of a thirty-five (35) hour workweek. Part-time experience
is pro-rated, unless otherwise specified on this announcement. Unpaid, verifiable volunteer experience may be substituted for an
equivalent amount of the required experience unless the minimum qualifications specify otherwise. To be credited as experience of the
type specified in the qualifications, the major function and primary emphasis of the duties performed must be of that type. Duties incidental
to a person’s job may not be credited. An applicant who has falsified or misrepresented any information, or who is found to lack any of
the established requirements for admission to the exam or for appointment from the resultant eligible list, may be denied the opportunity
to be examined. After examination, such a candidate may not be included on the eligible list, or may be removed or restricted from the
eligible list.
CREDENTIALS: Only college transcripts may be used to demonstrate possession of claimed post-secondary academic credentials.
Thirty (30) credit hours equals one year of college in evaluating a candidate’s qualifications. Foreign post-secondary educational
achievement must be independently evaluated to ascertain equivalency to education attained in the United States.
-continued on back of last page-
GENERAL INFORMATION (continued)
ADMISSION TO EXAM: Accepted candidates will be notified by letter approximately one week prior to the exam date when and where
to appear for the exam. You should call this office if you do not receive a notice three days prior to the exam. You may not be admitted
to the exam room without official notice, or more than one half hour after an exam has begun. Unless otherwise notified, candidates are
permitted to use quiet, hand-held, solar or battery operated basic calculators. Cell phones, programable or graphing calculators and
devices with typewriter keyboards, spell-checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries and any
electronic and/or communication device (e.g., smart watch, Fitbit, iPad, tablet, headphones, etc.) or any similar devices are strictly
prohibited. You may NOT bring books or other reference materials.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES: Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by
Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving direct
contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo extensive investigation of criminal history and background,
which will include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Costs related to such investigation may be borne by the
applicant. Failure to meet the standards of investigation may result in disqualification.
ELIGIBLE LIST: Eligible lists will be established on the basis of passing grades received by the candidates in the competitive portions
of the examination. Medical, physical and other appropriate non-competitive qualifying tests may be conducted as the need for
certification from the eligible list may require. The resulting eligible list will be used to fill appropriate vacancies as they occur in the
agencies listed on the face of this announcement. Lists resulting from promotion exams are certified first.
VETERANS: Non-disabled and disabled war veterans who are eligible for additional credits added to an earned passing score must
submit an application for veterans credits in conjunction with each application filed. Candidates who wish to claim veterans credits should
request an application and information sheet from this office, or from the monitor at the examination site. Completed forms, including
proof of war service (Form DD-214), must be received before the eligible list for the examination is established. An applicant currently in
the Armed Forces may request and receive additional credit, but must meet all criteria for such credit prior to its use.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: It is the candidate’s responsibility to notify this department of any changes of name and/or address. Please
include examination number on all correspondence.
RESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE: There is no residence requirement for exam, unless specified on the front of this announcement.
Preference in appointment from open-competitive lists may be given to residents of the jurisdiction making the appointment. In
accordance with law or resolution, you may be required to become a resident to secure appointment. All appointments will be made
pursuant to applicable laws including but not limited to NYS Public Officers Law and the local laws of Orange County.
ADDITIONAL EXAMINATION CREDIT TO CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY:
Children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive
examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in
this exam and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter
when you submit your application. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to
provide documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. No credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.
NEPOTISM: Executive Order #1 of 1983 holds that no one in the immediate family of anyone employed by Orange County Government
shall hold a position of employment in direct line of supervision as his or her relation.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: It is the County’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunities to all county employees and applicants for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any
other protected characteristic or conduct in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
WARNING: Anyone found unlawfully possessing or disclosing questions or answers from civil service exams, or giving or taking test
information from another candidate during the exam, or anyone found taking a civil service exam for someone else or enlisting another
person to take an exam for another, will be subject to being disqualified from that exam and may be barred from taking any further exam
with the Orange County Department of Human Resources and may be subject to other penalties as prescribed by law.
For further information call or visit:
Orange County Department of Human Resources
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
(Tel: 845-291-2707)
Hours: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
Website: www.orangecountygov.com
Email: Civilserviceexams@orangecountygov.com
