NJ Civil Service Navigator

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST 1

Code: 03210 State Non-Competitive Range: R29 (FY2026)

Career Family: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Salary: $92,710.52 - $136,605.11/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

Because Geographic Information Systems Specialist 1 is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.

This is the senior rung of the Geographic Information Systems Specialist series, the level you reach after Geographic Information Systems Specialist 2. The spec names a master's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2026 range lands between $92,711 and $136,605, and state payroll currently lists about 18 people in the title, most of them at Environmental Protection.

How to apply

  • No exam
    This title is not filled by examination

    Non-competitive, unclassified, and Senior Executive Service titles are appointed directly by the hiring agency rather than through a civil service exam. Apply directly to the agency below.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Environmental Protection posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Office of Information Technology's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Transportation posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Law & Public Safety posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Children and Families posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Board of Public Utilities's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

Pay ladder: Geographic Information Systems Specialist series

  1. Geographic Information Systems Specialist 3 — $67,312 – $98,503
  2. Geographic Information Systems Specialist 2 — $80,756 – $118,678
  3. Geographic Information Systems Specialist 1 — $92,711 – $136,605 (this title)

Its top salary lands around the 76th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.

Rungs are ordered by FY2026 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.

Who employs this title

State payroll records show 18 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $130,339. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Environmental Protection (11)
  • Office of Information Technology (3)
  • Transportation (1)
  • Law and Public Safety (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.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official, supervises the work of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit, and coordinates unit activities with the user community on statistical and geographic information needs and applications; has charge of complex GIS projects involving full responsibility for the implementation of all phases of project(s); or leads GIS projects developed for other agencies and has responsibility for the performance of nondirect staff; does related work.

Examples of work

Supervises and coordinates activities related to the use of the Geographic Information System and establishes policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the effective use of the Geographic Information System and completion of the anticipated objectives. Designs, develops, and implements technical training programs for various staff in order for programs to utilize GIS information in decision making. Promotes the Geographic Information System and its availability to other units and/or other agencies. Conducts, coordinates, and/or oversees research of modeling, computer graphics, and mathematical mapping techniques made possible by the Geographic Information System, and relates these directly to the information needs of users. Acts as liaison for the Geographic Information System Unit with other agencies for planning and design of new GIS projects and/or applications. Supervises all staff or program/project activities in the GIS Unit and coordinates agency activities associated with the Geographic Information System. Formulates, initiates, and supervises study, design, data selection, data acquisition, data reformatting, and application of GIS and image processing software (i.e. supervised classifications, feature enhancement, area calculation) for application to agency projects, activities, and issues. Designs, develops, and implements the budget for the GIS Unit, as required. Assesses internal and/or external needs for the application of the Geographic Information System. Supervises the integration of satellite acquired data with the Geographic Information System for analysis of spatial distributions in the environment and display of results as computer-generated maps and/or photographic images, as required. Supervises the collaboration with management, technical staff, scientists, and/or engineers in the planning of statistical data base design and development associated with geographic information. Supervises and coordinates activities of data acquisition, and supervises the design of coding conventions to ensure compatibility instructs users in data entry and editing procedures and in the creation of data bases from reformatted data files. Provides input for, and performs when necessary, design and development of statistical package programs to perform complex statistical routines and to generate reports, which may then be input to GIS software. Supervises the operation of and, when necessary, operates the Geographic Information System and all associated hardware and software to ensure the proper display of the results of computer analysis (which cannot be economically prepared with conventional cartography) by supervising application of cartographic principles in the production of finished maps. Supervises, designs, and coordinates complex projects utilizing geographic analysis of the spatial distribution of environmental contaminants which may affect the public health and/or the natural environment. Supervises the use of, and when necessary, uses image processing packages and other software on color graphics digital computer systems to interpret remote sensing data from satellites to solve problems in specific program areas. Supervises all digitizing activities to meet the needs of all- using agencies or units. Provides general supervision of GIS hardware availability, staff schedules, and/or contractor time to ensure project goals and deadlines are met. Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates. Liaison with various unit managers and private vendors; designs and plans data formatting procedures to ensure proper utilization in the Geographic Information System and/or image processing system. Interacts with scientists and engineers in various agencies or units regarding the project procurement, suitability, and accuracy of machine-readable data. Identifies and defines GIS products to be generated for each application. Acts as technical advisor to internal and external staff on questions or problems, which may arise in reference to geographic analysis and statistical mapping. Initiates and directs the use of map design principles and computer color videographics and output devices to ensure correct and effective use of color in production of maps and graphs. Provides general supervision of the design, layout, and features of all map, graph, and chart output products from the Geographic Information System. Develops and designs new techniques of geographic analysis and statistical mapping. Supervises maintenance of highly specialized computer graphics, GPS and image processing hardware/software/communications system, including emergency repairs to hardware when necessary. Prepares and supervises the preparation of technical reports and correspondence in the course of official duties. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized 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 cartography including mathematics of scale and projection transformation. Knowledge of geography and its applications to geographic information systems. Knowledge of all phases of manual map, chart, and graph preparation, including graphic display layout and design, and various techniques such as plotting options, and photographics. Knowledge of computerized data entry and formatting, data base. Knowledge of specialized computer graphics hardware, such as various output devices (i.e. plotters, printers), raster graphics displays, workstations, digitizers, microcomputers, and their advantages and disadvantages for production of specific map types. Knowledge of all phases of computer map preparation, including digitization, data transmission, data reformatting, and map production. Knowledge of statistical computer packages and multivariate statistical methods. Knowledge of graphic reproduction methods, including slide preparation, photographic enlargement and eduction, and film developing techniques and their advantages and disadvantages. Knowledge of the capabilities, programming techniques, and intricacies of general purpose computerized systems and peripheral equipment. Knowledge of geographic and statistical data output methodologies. Ability to use computer operating systems including logon, logoff, system editor, moving between directories, listing directory contents, copying and deleting files, and listing printouts. Ability to work with computer mapping and graphics software packages analogous to the agency Geographic Information System. Ability to apply techniques of computer image processing and map categorization of remote sensing data from aircraft and earth satellites. Ability to exercise knowledge of environmental quality and natural resource data. Ability to program in the various computer languages utilized by the agency after a period of training. Ability to assess the specific data needs of various agency units and to direct the implementation of computer mapping and geographic analysis capabilities. Ability to supervise the work operations and/or functional programs, to prepare employee evaluations, and too effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Ability to operate and supervise the operation of various agency geographic information systems and database software while pursuing complex geographic research. Ability to trouble shoot critical problems under guidance from vendors of highly specialized computer graphic hardware/software systems. Ability to transfer data from one operating system to another. Ability to learn 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, 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 the 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. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range

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. Eight (8) years of professional experience with geographic information systems, including computer graphics and computer hardware digitizing procedures, at least one (1) year which shall have included responsibility for the independent coordination and analysis of computerized geographic survey data. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, at least one (1) year of which shall have included responsibility for the independent coordination and analysis of computerized geographic survey data. OR Possession of a master's degree in Geography or Environmental Science including or supplemented by the additional credits indicated below; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, at least one (1) year of which shall have included responsibility for the independent coordination and analysis of computerized geographic survey data. OR Possession of a specific bachelor's degree in Geography, Environmental Science or related field with twelve (12) semester hours in computer mapping/GIS which shall have included spatial programming and digital image processing; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, at least one (1) year of which shall have included responsibility for the independent coordination and analysis of computerized geographic survey data. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions. CNNL2830R28- SNN428N/AR29- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 12/18/1999