Alexander McClean, CSC Docket No. 2022-3032

BackgroundAlexander McClean appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) which found that he did not meet the experience requirements for the open-competitive examination for Senior Management Assistant (M0251D), Jersey City.

The subject examination announcement was issued with a closing date of February 22, 2022. The examination was open to residents of Jersey City and New Jersey who met the announced requirements. These requirements included graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, and two years of experience performing complex administrative support work which must have included the interpretation, verification and/or application of department/agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Applicants who did not meet the education requirement could substitute experience on a year-for-year basis, with 30 semester hour credits equal to one year of experience. It is noted that 17 candidates are eligible for the examination which has not yet been held.

On his application, McClean indicated that he possesses a Bachelor’s degree, and he listed three positions on his application. He did not provide a resume. His positions include: Chief Policy and Compliance Officer, Urban Planner and Senior Project Manager. Official records indicate that the appellant is a provisional Senior Management Assistant and that “Chief Policy and Compliance Officer” is not an official Civil Service title. He was credited with one year in his provisional position, and the remaining two positions were inapplicable. He was found to be lacking one year of applicable experience.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, McClean provides new descriptions for each of his positions by copying the required eperience and indicating which rules he was interpreting, verifying or applying.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.3(b) provides that applicants shall meet all requirements specified in the open competitive examination announcement by the closing date.

AnalysisIn this matter, Agency Services correctly determined that the appellant was not eligible for the subject examination. It is noted that qualifying experience has the announced experience requirement as the primary focus of the position. That is, the announced experience should be the main duty of the listed position. Since the Senior Management Assistant title requires completion of a Bachelor’s degree with a substitution clause, which permits additional experience in lieu of the college credits, as well as relevant experience, it is considered a professional title, and the announced experience requirement involves professional experience. The focus of the duties of a Senior Management Assistant is to assist in the coordination of management or administrative activities of an assigned unit or work area. The incumbents act as an assistant to Managers, not in a supportive or secretarial function, but rather, to relieve the Managers of detail-oriented and time-consuming professional tasks.

The appellant’s one year of experience in his provisional position was accepted. His positions as Urban Planner and Senior Project Manager are inapplicable as the appellant was not performing complex administrative support work. There is no evidence in the appellant’s application that he met the minimum qualifications for the title at the time of the appointment in March 2021. Additionally, the appellant did not list, or include any duties on his application for his provisional appointment as a Senior Management Assistant. Instead, he calls his position “Chief Policy and Compliance Officer,” and he has indicated that he supervises two professional staff members and one support staff. Senior Management Assistant is not a supervisory title. At this point, it appears that the appellant’s position may be misclassified. Therefore, the appellant and appointing authority should complete the attached Position Classification Questionnaire (PCQ) and submit it Agency Services within 30 days of the issuance date on this decision.

An independent review of all material presented indicates that the decision of Agency Services that the appellant did not meet the announced requirements for eligibility by the closing date is amply supported by the record. The appellant provides no basis to disturb this decision. Thus, the appellant has failed to support his burden of proof in this matter.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be denied, and the position undergo a classification review.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.