TECHNICAL PROGRAM ASSISTANT, PERSONNEL
Personnel
Technical Program Assistant, Personnel 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 5 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $63,663 to $92,953, and state payroll currently lists about 22 people in the title, led by Civil Service Commission.
How to apply
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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.
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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.
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Agency posting
Civil Service Commission'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Corrections'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.
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Agency posting
Department of the Treasury'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.
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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.
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Agency posting
Department of Human Services'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Health 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.
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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.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 22 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $81,320. The agencies employing the most are:
- Civil Service Commission (5)
- Labor (4)
- Corrections (3)
- Treasury (2)
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 the direction of a supervisor in a state department or agency, has charge of a personnel work program and/or staff of a technical unit responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and processing specific personnel actions requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies, and/or procedures; or, under general supervision, independently reviews, analyzes and provides recommendations for assigned personnel actions involving a specific element of a regulatory or administrative program requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies, procedures and/or technical concepts; does related work as required.
Examples of work
AS A SUPERVISOR OF A TECHNICAL UNIT Provides appropriate personnel assignments and instructions to subordinate technical employees and supervises their work. Supervises the review and processing of assigned work to ensure completeness and accuracy prior to processing, and corrects errors. Interprets new regulations and policies affecting the processing of personnel work functions, and ensures implementation of policies. Creates methods of coordinating and reducing the work without sacrificing efficiency and essential information. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Prepares routine correspondence, documents, and forms for the supervisory officer's review and signature. Prepares and supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, and personnel reports and other associated documents. Supervises the maintenance of essential records and general files. WHEN ASSIGNED TO A TECHNICAL PROGRAM Makes specialized technical determinations, within authority assigned, regarding actions specific to the program. Maintains work assignment tracking and information systems to ensure efficient flow of work process; resolves processing problems and serves as a liaison between the unit's program and other agencies. Reviews requested personnel work assignments to ensure that all necessary technical information is correct and appropriate; coordinates with submitting agency to correct deficiencies. Provides technical and procedural information to agencies and individuals concerning the assigned program; resolves technical problems within scope of authority. Provides technical assistance to all staff members in matters of work assignments and procedures for the processing of work. Prepares statistical and technical reports. May 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
Five (5) years of experience in work involving the application of rules, regulations, procedures, or policies in the processing of technical and/or personnel actions.
License
Appointee 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 methods utilized to prepare personnel and other requisite reports and documents. Knowledge of modern office methods, practices, routines, machines, and equipment. Knowledge of modern filing systems and statistical procedures. Ability to interpret Department of Personnel laws and regulations, and apply them to specific personnel situations. Ability to plan and develop effective work procedures in a technical field. Ability to organize assigned technical and/or supervisory work, analyze the problems, and develop effective work methods. Ability to delegate suitable assignments, provide instructions to technical employees, and supervise the performance of their work. Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws and regulations. Ability to supervise the work of a technical unit, create appropriate schedules, and routines, and ensure that emergency and peak work periods are covered. Ability to comprehend and resolve personnel complaints involving independent decision making, based upon rules and regulations. Ability to answer inquiries regarding the interpretation and explanation of basic Department laws, regulations, policies, procedures and personnel methods. Ability to prepare and supervise the compilation of materials for operating requirements and procedures. Ability to prepare detailed, technical and confidential correspondence and other written communications for the signature of a supervisory officer. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of statistical, personnel, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the maintenance of the essential records, reports, and files. 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
Applicants who do not possess the required experience may substitute semester hour credits from an accredited college or university on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience, substituting to a maximum of four (4) years.