NJ Civil Service Navigator

HUMAN SERVICES SPECIALIST 4

Code: 07997 Local Competitive

Career Family: HUMAN SERVICES SPECIALIST

To land Human Services Specialist 4 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.

An associate's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it.

How to apply

  • Exam

    This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.

  • Exam

    Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.

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 general direction of an administrative official, supervises work of assigned staff; ensures effective and efficient utilization of available resources to achieve established goals; assign workloads and specific duties to staff; review work of others; establish unit's work procedures and priorities; instruct staff on policies and procedures; ensures adherence to program laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; demonstrates effective leadership skills to assure employee development; establishes and maintains relationships with public and private agencies; does related work as required.

Examples of work

  • 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.
  • Responsible for development and training of assigned staff.
  • Reviews and authorizes disposition of applications for program services.
  • Reviews, for approval, legal documents for the formal presentation of complaints or petitions of paternity or support.
  • Establishes and periodically monitors the procedures utilized by staff to collect, investigate and verify information furnished by clients and alleged absent parent.
  • Establishes and maintains working relationships with private and public agencies and employers to create employment opportunities, placements and supportive services to enhance job retention.
  • Develops and updates information, given by staff to applicants, on job requirements, occupational opportunities, placements and supportive services to enhance job retention.
  • Collaborates with staff to plan and carry out services for clients.
  • Analyzes, interprets and applies program laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
  • Prepares reports and correspondence containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
  • Resolves interpersonal work problems among staff.
  • Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
  • 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.

Education

Sixty (60) semester hour credits from an accredited college or university.

Experience

Three (3) years' experience involving any combination of the following: securing/verifying information and making determinations or recommendations relating to eligibility or qualifications of applicants for loans, insurance, credit, employability, and/or job training services, or entitlement to cash awards, financial benefits, or adjustment and settlement of insurance claims; investigations involving the collection of facts and information by observing conditions, examining records, interviewing individuals, and preparing investigative reports of findings; or investigating, establishing and/or enforcing support obligations in a welfare board or agency, court system, or related agency. One (1) year of the above experience shall have been in a lead capacity.

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 public welfare theory, procedures, terminology, methods, and problems involved in supervising a public assistance program. Knowledge of applicable federal and State laws, rules and regulations governing public assistance programs. Knowledge of methods for reviewing, analyzing and evaluating information in relation to eligibility requirements. Knowledge of eligibility standards, policies, and procedures of the department or agencies associated with public assistance programs. Knowledge of principles and techniques of supervision. Knowledge of employee performance evaluation and disciplinary procedures. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret welfare laws, rules, regulations, and procedures and to apply them with consistency to individual cases. Ability to interpret and communicate agency or board policies and philosophy to clients and assigned staff. Ability to schedule and organize work activities for assigned staff. Ability to establish goals and set priorities for operating unit(s). Ability to instruct staff on the financial resources pertaining to client's eligibility for program services. Ability to evaluate recommendations of assigned staff, give them assignments, instructions, and supervise their work. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative, courteous relationships with assigned staff, businesspersons, employers and associates. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports and correspondence containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of 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 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. 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. Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. Bilingual in Spanish and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. A Bachelor's degree may be substituted for the education requirement shown above and for two of the three years of required experience. There is no substitution of education for the remaining one year of experience. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute experience as indicated on a year for year basis. LC N/A22-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishLC N/A22- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 6/23/2017

Study guides for this exam

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The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.