CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR 1 CORRECTIONS
Corrections
Career Family: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR
Contract Administrator 1 Corrections 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.
It lists a master's degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $67,312 to $98,503, and state payroll currently lists 4 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Contract Administrator 1 Corrections on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- 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.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- 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: Contract Administrator series
- Contract Administrator 1 — $70,431 – $103,187
- Contract Administrator 2 — $84,548 – $124,366
- Contract Administrator 3 — $92,711 – $136,605
Its top salary lands around the 42nd 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 4 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $72,069. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (4)
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 Contract Administrator 1 or other supervisory officer in the Department of Corrections, initiates the development of contracts with private non-profit community agencies for the care, supervision, subsistence, and security of persons committed to a correctional institution; monitors the physical plant, administration of programs, and facilities; provides training to agencies; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Participates in the negotiation, execution, administration, and termination of contracts, and the technical description of services for a wide variety of correction, detention, and community treatment programs for state prisoners (male/female adult and/or juvenile) to ensure security, safekeeping, care, supervision, and subsistence of inmates. Provides institutional community release coordinators with training to keep pace with changes in legislation, classification, standards, and policies and procedures. Trains contract agencies to write disciplinary reports of escapes from halfway houses; follows up on disciplinary action and/or returns to the correctional institution. As a member of the Central Office Review Committee, reviews inmate applications for the various residential community release programs; places stipulations for out-client treatment programs upon the inmate. Collaborates with staff of Federal Bureau of Prisons/county jails in the development of policies and procedures for contracting with halfway houses for inmate population. Prepares reports on status of halfway houses; recommends changes required to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract, department standards, and accreditation standards to ensure that the basic rights of inmates are maintained while a participant of a residential community release agency. Reviews inmate-residents' program plans and progress reports submitted by contract agencies; provides recommendations and investigates administrative problems within the contract agencies and makes a determination on inmates' status. Participates in the design, development, and implementation of monitoring procedures for reviewing physical plant, staffing patterns, and programs of each agency under contract with the department; conducts quarterly inspections to ensure compliance and provides recommendations for change. Collects and analyzes data and prepares reports; notifies supervisor of problems. Provides liaison to expedite Parole Board determinations disciplinary actions, and returns; certifies payment of invoices and other technical information. Participates in the analysis of new legislation and regulations regarding the contract operation of the department. Participates in drafting and revising department standards for the program to maintain consistency with department policy. Provides input used to justify operation expenses for residential community release programs. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system 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 purpose and goals of correctional programs. Knowledge of the problems involved in the review of contract proposals/ grant proposals. Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze data. Knowledge of principles of cost allowability and reasonableness, contract budget principles, principles of matching fund accounting and procurement guidelines. Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on the programs for social offenders or socially atypical persons, and the sources of funds available to finance components of that program. Ability to interpret information on the federal and state laws regarding contract operations of the department and apply them to specific situations. Ability to gather and analyze data. Ability to interpret technical data and classification procedures to respond to questions from provider organizations and other department personnel. Ability to recognize and identify problems in the administration of contracts. Ability to prepare reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Ability to draft and revise standards to maintain consistency with new legislation and department policies. Ability to conduct field audits of contract agencies. 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. Six (6) years of professional experience in the development, administration, analysis or evaluation of contracts for the rehabilitation and social adjustment of offenders. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Public Administration, Social Services Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Accounting, or Finance; and one (1) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "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.