DIRECTOR OF DATA PROCESSING
Career Family: DIRECTOR
Because Director of Data Processing is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.
The spec names a bachelor's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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Director of Data Processing 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.
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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 administrative guidance, plans, organizes, and controls the overall data processing department activities, including systems, programming, and operations; evaluates and specifies systems, programming, and equipment requirements; supervises systems, programming, and equipment installation and acceptance testing; determines priorities for system studies, designs, programming, and operations; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Participates in the development and interpretation of policies pertaining to the data processing unit. Develops objectives, policies, and procedures for the data processing unit. Supervises the training and assignment of the staff. Establishes work standards, schedules, and priorities for projects assigned to the data processing unit. Supervises and performs system analysis for data processing projects. Establishes necessary controls to ensure an error free data processing operation. Analyzes current and proposed workloads for computer online and peripheral equipment to ensure effective utilization of existing equipment. Evaluates requirements for replacement and/or additional equipment. Directs the maintenance of essential records, files, and programs. 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 the capabilities, programming techniques, and intricacies of the general purpose digital computer and peripheral equipment. Knowledge of agency programs, policies, and objectives after a period of training. Knowledge of the methods of analyzing and correcting systems operation and programming procedures. Knowledge of problems involved in the planning, design, and logic of a computer aided system. Knowledge of important factors in the analysis of extensive data and in recommending specific courses of action. Ability to reason logically for purposes of systems design. Ability to work out specific system operating problems and to develop controls for accuracy and verification. Ability to plan long and short-range computer aided systems applications. Ability to prepare statistical and other reports. Ability to supervise the maintenance of records and files. Ability to analyze and evaluate office and field production, flow of work forms and records system, staff utilization, and other means of determining administrative efficiency and work performance. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with associates. Ability to prepare comprehensive charts, layouts, forms, handbooks, and other media of information and instruction. 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.
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. Ten (10) years of professional experience in computer programming and in the design and installation of computer aided systems, including systems analyses work, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "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.