NJ Civil Service Navigator

NUTRITION PROGRAM SPECIALIST 3

Code: 44797 State Competitive Range: S29 (FY2026)

Career Family: NUTRITION PROGRAM SPECIALIST

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

Nutrition Program Specialist 3 sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.

This is the senior rung of the Nutrition Program Specialist series, the level you reach after Nutrition Program Specialist 2. The requirements come down to a bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $92,711 to $136,605, and state payroll currently lists 3 people in the title, most of them at Agriculture.

How to get hired

  1. Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Nutrition Program Specialist 3 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
  2. Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
  3. Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
  4. When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.

Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.

Pay ladder: Nutrition Program Specialist series

  1. Nutrition Program Specialist 1 — $64,340 – $94,062
  2. Nutrition Program Specialist 2 — $80,756 – $118,678
  3. Nutrition Program Specialist 3 — $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 3 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $136,605. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Agriculture (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.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory officer in the Department of Agriculture, supervises activities and staff engaged in the oversight and delivery of nutrition programs, supervises staff monitoring program sponsors and participants for compliance with applicable program regulations; provides technical assistance to sponsors and participants; does other related duties.

Examples of work

  • Supervises staff and activities engaged in the oversight and delivery of nutrition programs in schools, institutions, day care, recreation a ether facilities and agencies.
  • Supervises staff engaged in the development, implementation and evaluation of participation standards to ensure that services are provided in accordance with regulations.
  • Supervises the work operations and/or functional program and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
  • Supervises and/or conducts research and evaluation of proposed nutrition legislation and regulations, and the impact on nutrition programs.
  • Supervise and/or develops, implements, evaluates and conducts training programs for staff and food service personnel from agencies participating in nutrition programs.
  • Supervises and/or conducts studies of service delivery problems and recommends appropriate corrective action.
  • Evaluates effectiveness of program activities; provides recommendations for changes when appropriate.
  • Supervises and provides technical assistance to participating sponsors and program participants.
  • Supervises and/or prepares reports and correspondence.
  • Supervises the 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

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Service Management, Dietetics, Food Science, Food Technology, Home Economics, or other areas related to nutrition.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in the development, implementation, evaluation or administration of nutrition programs, one (1) year of which shall have involved supervisory experience.

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 principles of nutrition, food nutrient contents and food groupings.
  • Knowledge of the methods of menu planning and food purchasing.
  • Knowledge of sanitary safe food handling standards.
  • Knowledge of the types of agencies which participate in nutrition programs.
  • Knowledge of the methods and practices used to implement and evaluate the delivery of food service programs.
  • Ability to develop, implement and maintain an effective system of program delivery for the nutrition programs.
  • Ability to organize and designate assignments to staff, as well as, recommend effective methods and adequate instructions to complete such assignments.
  • Ability to plan, supervise and participate in evaluative studies regarding program and fiscal operations at the State and local levels.
  • Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
  • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the unit.
  • 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.

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

The degree in Home Economics must include or be supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Food and Nutrition.

A Master's degree in one of the above subject areas may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.