HEAD CLERK
Career Family: CLERK
Head Clerk is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
The main requirement is 3 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $50,990 to $73,902, and state payroll currently lists about 94 people in the title, led by Children and Families.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 7 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 7 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Head Clerk appears on the State payroll at 7 departments, most of them at Department of Children and Families. It is also used at one independent authority, New Jersey Transit Corporation.
State departments
Independent authorities
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| New Jersey Transit Corporation | 36 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 94 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $69,189. The agencies employing the most are:
- Children and Families (53)
- Labor (26)
- Corrections (5)
- Law and Public Safety (3)
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 of an administrative officer in a state department, agency, or institution, has charge of the development and maintenance of clerical procedures and services of a large bureau or small division; interprets details of bureau and/or division policy as they affect clerical work of the department; sees that rules, regulations, policies, and procedures are observed as far as clerical work of the department is concerned; interprets with considerable independence the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the department to that portion of the public interested in or concerned with the work of the department; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Organizes assigned clerical and supervisory work and develops effective work procedures.
- Assigns and instructs individuals and groups and supervises the performance of their work.
- Directs training of and supervises work of clerical employees engaged in making determinations involving the application of law and/or established policies.
- Reviews and checks established clerical procedures, methods, and devices to develop and maintain maximum efficiency with available personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies and to plan and carry out suitable revisions therein as the need arises.
- Maintains records of a confidential nature.
- Receives and processes complaints received from outside agencies and from individuals.
- Talks with employees who have grievances and when possible makes suitable adjustments.
- Confers with persons who desire detailed information concerning department law, regulations, policies, and procedures, and interprets such laws, regulations, and procedures in accord with established policies.
- Assembles materials for and prepares bulletins, pamphlets, circulars, and reports.
- Supervises work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluation and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Prepares detailed and/or technical correspondence and correspondence of a confidential nature.
- Prepares statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- 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.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in work involving the processing of technical clerical work which involves independent interpretation of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
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 problems encountered in planning a complex clerical program, in organizing assigned clerical and supervisory work, and developing effective work procedures.
- Knowledge of approved English usage, filing systems, statistical procedures, and business and office equipment and machines and their advantages and limitations.
- Knowledge of office methods, practices, routines, machines, and equipment and of the internal organization, personnel, functions, and established regulations, policies, and procedures of the department after a period of training.
- Ability to comprehend office methods, practices, routines, machines, and equipment, and the internal organization, personnel, functions, and established regulations, policies, and procedures of the particular department after a period of training.
- Ability to organize assigned clerical and supervisory work, analyze problems arising therein, and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to assign and instruct clerical employees and supervise the performance of their work. Ability to comprehend filing systems, procedures, business machines, and office equipment with due appreciation of their advantages/disadvantages.
- Ability to receive and where possible adjust complaints originating within or without the department.
- Ability to interpret laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and methods to persons within or without the department.
- Ability to prepare detailed, technical, and confidential correspondence.
- Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to establish and supervise the 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 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.
- CODES: 16/R15 - RKR/cah 1/17/98
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.