ASSISTANT BUYER (Local)
Exam openExam status, as of November 4, 2026. Our captured announcement shows a promotional examination for OCEAN COUNTY (symbol PC4098H) accepting applications until November 23, 2026. Confirm current status with CSC. Only employees with permanent status in the unit it names may file. Exam schedule
Provisional hiring can precede the examination. See the provisional route
Rules that apply to this title
A guide to the rules, not legal advice.
Assistant Buyer is a competitive local-government title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
You can qualify with a bachelor's degree or, if you do not have one, by piling up more experience instead. State payroll currently lists 5 people in the title, led by Office of the Public Defender.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 4 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 4 employers and how to apply →Examination announcements for this title
Promotional announcements
A promotional announcement for this title is accepting applications as of November 3, 2026. A promotional examination produces its own eligible list and is open only to people who already hold permanent status in a qualifying title within the department named on the row, not across that employer generally; filing without eligibility means an ineligible determination and no refund of the fee.
| Title | Symbol | State or local, and unit who may file | Closes | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANT BUYER$39,500 to $99,000 a yearOpen to any competitive title meeting the stated requirements | PC4098H | LocalOcean CountyPurchasing | November 23, 2026 | Open | Announcement |
Previously announced, and no longer listed by the Commission
The Commission removes an announcement once it has closed and republishes nothing, so this examination is no longer on any of its own lists. We keep what we have read, here covering 2026. It cannot be filed for now; a title announced once is often announced again, so this is the record of whether that has happened.
| Title | Symbol | State or local, and unit | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant BuyerOpen competitive | M1052H | LocalHopatcong | September 21, 2026 |
Every row is CSC's own; see the full announcement calendar.
Salaries stated in examination announcements
One Civil Service Commission examination announcement has stated a salary for this title. Local pay is set by each employer under its own ordinance or contract, so this is one employer's figure for one position rather than a rate for the title.
| Employer | Salary as published | Basis | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean CountyPurchasing | $39,500.00 ~ $99,000.00 | A year | November 2026 |
Each figure is quoted as the Civil Service Commission printed it in that employer's announcement on the date shown. It is evidence of what was advertised then, not a statement of what the position pays now, and an announcement does not say whether a post is full or part time. No average, range or comparison is given across employers, because each sets its own pay and nothing here establishes that two of these positions are alike. Where an employer has announced the title more than once for the same department, only its most recent figure is shown. How this data is sourced.
Who employs this title
Assistant Buyer appears on the State payroll at 4 departments, most of them at Office of Public Defender. It is also used at one independent authority, New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Office of Public Defender | 2 |
| Department of Human Services | 1 |
| Department of Education | 1 |
| Department of Children and Families | 1 |
Independent authorities
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike Authority | 1 |
Where this title is used
Assistant Buyer is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 5 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $76,768. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (2)
- Human Services (1)
- Education (1)
- Children and Families (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction, assists a buyer in selecting, preparing orders for, and making arrangements for purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies used by various departments; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
May assist in a buyer team in the preparation of proposals for solicitation of bids, in the tabulation of bids, and in processing orders for purchase of commodities. May assist in work involved in receiving, tabulating, and recording requisitions submitted by using agencies required in various purchasing operations. Submits samples of ordered and delivered commodities to the laboratory, and assists in inspection and testing required to determine conformity with established specifications. May assist in the preparation of proposals for the solicitation of bids. Discusses specification details with appropriate personnel and where necessary visits factories, mills, warehouses, and other sources of supply for further marketing information by observing or inspecting the manufacturing or processing of commodities. Makes studies and analyses of procurement operations and submits statistical reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Prepares routine reports and correspondence Maintains records and files of various supply programs. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of methods and procedures involved in purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies. Knowledge of problems likely to be encountered in field and office purchasing work. Ability to organize assigned field, office, and other purchasing work, and develop effective work methods in accord with prescribed procedures. Ability to comprehend and analyze individual routine and seasonal supply problems and requirements. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret relevant purchase regulations and apply these to specific purchase situations. Ability to work harmoniously with associates, superior officers, department officers, vendors, salespersons, and with others interested in or concerned with purchase matters. Ability to assist with field and office work involved in receiving, tabulating, and recording requisitions in one or more fields received from different agencies, in the preparation of proposals to be sent to vendors, in checking of bids, and in submission of samples of ordered and delivered commodities. Ability to interview salespersons and vendors, department and agency heads, and others. Ability to make field visits required to expedite delivery of purchases. Ability to draft correspondence. Ability to prepare factual reports. Ability to maintain records and files. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Five (5) years of experience in the large scale purchase of commodities, equipment, and supplies. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.