Vatsalkumar Patel, CSC Docket No. 2025-1038

BackgroundVatsalkumar Patel appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) that he did not meet the experience requirements for the Administrative Analyst 3, Information Systems (PS6759T), Department of Transportation promotional examination.

By way of background, the subject examination was announced with a May 21, 2024 closing date and was open, in pertinent part, to applicants who possessed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three years of professional experience in work involving the review, analysis, and evaluation of the administrative, business, and/or operational policies, procedures, practices, and processes and/or the technological requirements of an organization for the purpose of revising/enhancing existing information systems and/or developing/acquiring and implementing new IT solutions and services. Applicants who did not possess a Bachelor’s degree could substitute additional experience with one year of relevant experience being the equivalent of 30 semester credit hours. The examination announcement also stipulated that a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Information Security, Network Administration, or Database Management could be substituted for one year of the required professional experience.

On his application, the appellant indicated his employment with the Department of Transportation as a Principal Engineer Geotechnical from December 2023 to the closing date; as a Senior Engineer Geotechnical from November 2022 to December 2023; as an Assistant Engineer from October 2020 to December 2021; and as a Trainee Engineer from October 2019 to October 2020. He also indicated that he worked as a Field Inspector with Atlantic Engineering from June 2019 to October 2019; as an Assistant Engineer with AD Patel Institute of Technology from July 2013 to April 2019; and as an Assistant Engineer with GH Patel College of Engineering from August 1999 to June 2013. He provided an evaluation of his foreign transcript indicating that he possessed the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and the equivalent of a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering.1 Agency Services credited the appellant for his Bachelor’s degree and one year and seven months of applicable experience as a Principal Engineer Geotechnical and as a Senior Engineer Geotechnical. Agency Services determined that none of the remaining positions listed on his application involved primary responsibilities involving the review, analysis, and evaluation of the administrative, business, and/or operational policies, procedures, practices, and processes and/or the technological requirements of an organization for the purpose of revising/enhancing existing information systems and/or developing/acquiring and implementing new IT solutions and services as required. Accordingly, Agency Services determined that he lacked one year and five months of the requisite experience.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant argues that, in addition to his experience as a Principal Engineer Geotechnical and as a Senior Engineer Geotechnical, he claims that as an Assistant Engineer, he gained experience which mirrored the requirements of the title under test. He further claims that, as an Engineer Trainee Transportation and Assistant Engineer within the same unit, he performed similar responsibilities. The appellant claims that he possesses four years and seven months of relevant experience as of the closing date.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a)2 states that applicants for promotional examinations must meet all requirements by the announced closing date. N.J.A.C. 4A:4-6.3(b) provides that the appellant has the burden of proof in examination appeals.

AnalysisA review of the job specifications for Engineer Trainee Transportation and Assistant Engineer Transportation does not support the appellant’s argument that he performed appropriate duties while serving in either of these titles. Specifically, the primary focus of an Engineer Trainee Transportation is performing basic field, laboratory, and/or office engineering work which may include conducting routine

1Although the appellant possessed the equivalent of a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering - Structural

Engineering, since this was not one of the indicated subject areas, it could not be substituted for one year of the required experience.

surveys, designs, studies, tests, inspections and/or investigations relating to the engineering program and/or work of the unit. Likewise, the primary focus of an Assistant Engineer Transportation is working in the engineering or planning phases of surveys, studies, designs, investigations, construction, or inspections of highways or other transportation systems and appurtenances. Thus, the responsibilities gained in either of these areas does not rise to the level and scope of those responsibilities required of the title under test. None of the appellant’s remaining positions involved responsibilities in the required areas. Accordingly, the appellant does not satisfy the subject requirements and was correctly deemed ineligible for the subject promotional examination.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be denied.

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