In the past 5 years there have been almost no new hires in the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC).

That all changed in 2022, with a HUGE hiring spree by NYSCC and it's parent entity, New York Power Authority (NYPA).


https://www.canals.ny.gov/about/jobs/index.html

And the vast majority of that expected Canal System work (and job openings) is related to redesign, repair, maintenance & inspection of various canal structures, trail property, and earthen embankment dams. You can see it when you look at the Job Specifics for each of the various openings.

There is also a large portion of that new workforce dedicated to working with NYS Canal Partners & Stakeholders, including adjacent canal neighbors. This includes issuing Work Stop Orders to contractors as needed, and also "resolving disputes arising from disagreements of contractual requirements and the involvement with other affected parties, such as utilities, municipalities and adjacent property owners"


https://statejobs.ny.gov/employees/vacancyDetailsView.cfm?id=101246



Not all jobs are alike, in fact some of the jobs are Full-Time but Temporary Positions for planned SUMMER work activities along the Erie Canal and the Empire Trail system. Many other jobs being offered are permanent, full-time, salaried positions, and almost 80% of them are directly addressing the need for stronger Canal Engineering, Design & Safety for the  waterway & trail.


https://statejobs.ny.gov/employees/vacancyDetailsView.cfm?id=101484



Here's a typical list of Job Duties & Description from one of the Professional Engineering Positions:

Under the direction of the Director of the Design Bureau, the incumbent performs planning, scoping, scheduling, field investigation, design calculations, detailing development, plan review, contract development, consultant management and construction support for a portfolio of infrastructure project types that exist as part of the canal system of locks, bridges (static and movable), water impounding embankments, reservoirs, buildings, roads, retaining walls, water control structures, breakwaters, guide structures, culverts, multiuse trails, and other civil infrastructure assets.

And here's a little summary of many of the  Job Descriptions, including key job duties:

• Manage the scoping and design phases of multiple active capital infrastructure rehabilitation and/or replacement projects included within the approved Capital Program Budget, as well as multiple consultant design assignments related to these projects.

• Project planning including scheduling, cost control, environmental impact assessment and any effect on historic preservation.

• Ensure consultant design work is completed in compliance with the Canal Corporation’s policies and needs as well as the regulations of Federal or State agencies (e.g., USACE, NYSDEC, NYS SHPO, NYSDOT) that may apply to Canal projects.

Under the direction of a higher-level Professional Engineer (Construction Manager CM), the incumbent will function as a Canal Project Engineer in the Construction Management Group and be responsible for acting as the on-site field representative of the Corporation to administer larger or multiple smaller construction contracts and, in partnership with the contractor, to achieve the established goals of the construction program. Incumbents will perform the following engineering and engineering related duties:

• Act as the primary point of contact between the contractor and the functional or administrative organizational units within the Corporation. The CPE will be the primary authority to order the contractor to stop work, suspend work, or issue any order that affects the progress of the work.

• Resolve disputes arising from disagreements of contractual requirements and the involvement with other affected parties, such as utilities, municipalities and adjacent property owners.

• Supervise Corporation and consultant inspection staff, including the assignment of staff to construction activities, to assure that contractor compliance is properly maintained.


NY Canals is seeking candidates for the position of Transportation Construction Inspector (TCI) 1 & 2. The maximum term for these positions is 8 months usually between April and December. College students are encouraged to apply for work during their summer break. These positions are designed to supplement current State construction staff and will assist in monitoring and inspecting construction projects to ensure that the work being performed in accordance with the contract language.

To address the dynamic nature of the Canal System, typical projects include infrastructure repairs and replacements for structures including locks, movable dams, guard gates and weirs, dredging work, dam rehabilitations, earthen dam repairs, emergency response and repairs, and culvert repairs, as well as the construction and repair of the Erie Canalway Trail.

Under the supervision of the Director of Construction Management or a designee, a TCI will be assigned to one or more construction projects to perform the following construction and/or material inspection and inspection-related tasks:

Earthwork Inspection
Inspects contractor’s operations of building earth or rock embankments that serve as foundations for pavement; review and observe gradation tests, compaction tests, and moisture content tests to ensure material is of correct size and is properly densified; checks thickness of the layers of materials placed; inspects the type and suitability of compaction equipment; assists in survey, layout and measurement activities.

On-site Concrete Inspection
Inspects contractor’s operations in placement of concrete for pavements and for bridge piers and abutments; review and observe air content tests, slump tests, and cylinder reports; inspects contractor’s methods of handling and placing concrete to minimize segregation; inspects the methods of concrete curing and surface finishing; inspects paving trains to ensure a smooth concrete surface.

Miscellaneous Inspection Assignments
Construction inspection assignments may also include: inspection of curbing, sidewalk, signs, guide railing, pavement markings, landscape items, water, sanitary, traffic signals, maintenance and protection of traffic, highway lighting, fencing, crack sealing, joint filling, and projects associated with the maintenance and rehabilitation of various components and structures that comprise the Canal system.

Maintenance Assistants perform a variety of semiskilled maintenance, repair, and related activities. Specific duties and job requirements will include, but not be limited to, the following:

•Under direct supervision, assists a skilled trade (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, etc.) worker in the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of canal buildings, facilities and related equipment;

•Assists in installation, maintenance and repair of canal equipment;

•Assists in the painting of boats, walls, ceiling, wood and metal trimmings and ornaments and;

•Operates tools and machinery and ensures equipment is in proper working condition.


So of the 13 jobs currently open in the NYSCC, 80% of them are directly related to Canal Infrastructure work, specifically asking for these types of qualifications... all have to do with Earthen Embankment Integrity Program work. And the vast majority also are centered on inspecting the work of Canal Corporation partnering companies, who will be performing much of the Canal Embankment Integrity efforts

• College course work as part of a Bachelor's Degree program in engineering, engineering technology, environmental sciences or environmental technology, construction management, construction supervision, engineering management, construction engineering or construction engineering technology, transportation planning, mathematics, physical science, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, landscape architecture, surveying, physics, geology, or forestry.

• The incumbent performs planning, scoping, scheduling, field investigation, design calculations, detailing development, plan review, contract development, consultant management and construction support for a portfolio of infrastructure project types that exist as part of the canal system of locks, bridges (static and movable), water impounding embankments, reservoirs, buildings, roads, retaining walls, water control structures, breakwaters, guide structures, culverts, multiuse trails, and other civil infrastructure assets.

• To address the dynamic nature of the Canal System, typical projects include infrastructure repairs and replacements for structures including locks, movable dams, guard gates and weirs, dredging work, dam rehabilitations, earthen dam repairs, emergency response and repairs, and culvert repairs, as well as the construction and repair of the Erie Canalway Trail.

Apply today... if you have the qualifications, and the desire to work on improving public safety in and around the NYS Canal System.

You will have to be pleasant, able to work with others, and also liaison with Erie Canal Neighbors who are on the front line of all this Canal Integrity work that is moving once again to restore safety to the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor.

https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/