PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT
To land Public Works Superintendent in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
The one gate is 1 year of relevant experience.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Examination announcements for this title
An open competitive announcement for this title is accepting applications, per the Civil Service Commission's list read on October 13, 2026. An announcement is an examination, not a vacancy; the announcement itself lists the fee, the requirements and how to file.
| Title | Symbol | Jurisdiction | Closes | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Works SuperintendentAll Departments | M1136H | VinelandResidents of New Jersey | October 21, 2026 | Open | Announcement |
Promotional
A promotional announcement for this title is accepting applications as of October 13, 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 | Employer and unit who may file | Closes | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT$90,000 to $175,000 a yearPromoted from: Assistant Public Works Superintendent | PM4010H | FORT LEEPROPERTY MANAGEMENT | October 21, 2026 | Open | Announcement |
Every row is CSC's own; see the full announcement calendar.
Promotion paths the Commission has published
Titles the Commission accepted as feeders for this one
Holders of the title below were eligible to compete in a promotional examination for PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT.
- ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENTstated by 1 employer
Each line comes from a promotional examination announcement, which sets its own eligibility for that employer and that examination — so this records what the Commission has accepted before, not a rule about who qualifies now. Most of these paths have been stated by a single employer, and the count beside each says how many. A promotional examination is also closed to anyone without permanent status in the unit the announcement names. How promotional eligibility works.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort LeeProperty Management | $90,000.00 ~ $175,000.00 | A year | October 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.
Where this title is used
Public Works Superintendent 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
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, performs administrative and supervisory duties in planning and organizing the installation, maintenance, and repair of various public works facilities; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Executes and plans for the effective utilization of available funds, personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Prepares department budget and maintains balances.
- Is responsible for all department purchases.
- Establishes and maintains procedures for the use of equipment and materials.
- Prepares specifications for all departments bids.
- Remains current with changes affecting department operations and purchase procedures.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with contracting, engineering, and manufacturing representatives, as well as state agencies.
- Develops suitable work programs for the varied functions of the department.
- Provides assignments and instructions to staff engaged in public works activities and supervises their work.
- Investigates complaints and takes action to see that repairs are made with a minimum delay; prioritizes repair requests.
- Ensures adherence to established safety precautions.
- Inspects ongoing and completed work to ensure adherence to established procedures.
- Prepares reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Obtains, stores, safeguards, and supervises the use of equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Establishes and supervises the maintenance of essential records and files.
- May be responsible for the supervision and administration of a water supply and sewage treatment system.
- Prepares plans and specifications for work performed by private contractor and follows through on public work projects undertaken by private contractors to ensure that such work is completed properly and in compliance with terms of contract.
- In conjunction with the municipal engineer, plans, designs, and recommends to governing body new and improved public works facilities to meet future needs of the community.
- May oversee the billing of water and sewer services.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related unit.
Experience
Five years (5) of supervisory experience in the construction, maintenance, and repair of streets, sewer, water, sanitation, or other public work facilities or similar heavy construction and maintenance work.
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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the techniques used to plan for effective use of available funds, personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Knowledge of procedures used to make routine/complex repairs to water/sewer equipment and in the construction, maintenance, and repair of street/roads.
- Knowledge of construction plans/specifications.
- Knowledge of the problems and procedures used in the design and supervision of public works construction projects.
- Knowledge of engineering principles relating to the construction and maintenance of public works facilities engineering functions are performed.
- Knowledge of varied engineering calculations when engineering functions are performed.
- Knowledge of problems involved in supervision of various public works construction and maintenance projects.
- Ability to coordinate varied, interrelated departmental programs and activities.
- Ability to read, interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to the organizational unit.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret construction plans and specification.
- Ability to participate in the development of construction projects.
- Ability to organize assigned work.
- Ability to provide assignments and instructions to staff.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the 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 with or without reasonable accommodation. 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.
Satisfactory completion of college level credits in engineering courses at an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to two (2) years of experience on the basis of thirty (30) semester hour credits being equivalent to one (1) year of experience.
Where the position involves responsibility for supervision and administration of a water supply and/or sewage treatment system, appointees will be required to possess a license of the appropriate grade issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to operate a public water, sewage treatment plant, and/or public water supply system.
Jurisdictions may require a single position in this title to function as the Principal Public Works Manager for the jurisdiction. Such appointees will be required to possess certification as a Certified Public Works Manager (CPWM) issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services.