AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SPECIALIST I

Code: 54726 State Competitive Range: R27 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $87,507 - $128,718.8/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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.

Examples of work

• Assists in the planning, development and implementation of public relations, promotions and publicity programs to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness in the marketing of New Jersey agricultural products.
• Serves as lead worker in providing highly technical expert marketing assistance to marketers of New Jersey agricultural products.
• Provides professional market planning and development advice and assistance to Agricultural Commodity Promotion Councils and other commodity and producer groups in support of their market promotion and development programs.
• Conducts consumer and retailer preference surveys concerning New Jersey agricultural products to determine when changes or new trends are occurring in the marketplace which will necessitate market development program alterations.
• Plans and implements promotional and educational activities such as display and recipe contests, seminars and conferences, exhibits and trade shows which highlight to producers, consumers, retailers and others the benefits of purchasing and/or using New Jersey agricultural products.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Develops innovative market development and expansion programs for funding by various Federal and State, public and private sources to provide additional resources.
• Assists in the planning, development and implementation of market development and merchandising programs with agricultural buyers in local, national and international market areas in order to develop new sales for New Jersey produced agricultural commodities.
• Solicits the cooperation of producers, consumers, community, civic and government organizations in participating in agricultural promotion and market development programs which develop interest in and expand the sale of New Jersey agricultural commodities.
• Serves as market development specialist in support of expanding the sale of New Jersey agricultural products to the military and other specialized procurement systems.
• Performs the more complex liaison and coordination activities associated with market expansion and promotion efforts which utilize mass media campaigns to promote the sale of New Jersey farm products.
• Evaluates and prepares material for newspaper, magazine and outdoor advertising as well as for point-of-purchase, news releases and other printed material used in the promotion of agricultural products produced in New Jersey to increase their sale and use.
• Reviews and prepares technical reports on the results of market surveys and other marketing projects, and special events.
• Develops and conducts market promotion and expansion programs in support of specialized agricultural outlets such as roadside markets, community markets and auction markets.
• Represents the market development program and serves as division representative at meetings, conferences and seminars as assigned.
• Assists the chief, in the assignment and instruction of subordinate staff, and oversees their performance on a project or assigned basis.
• Drafts correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Maintains the appropriate and essential market development and promotion files.
• 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.
• <b> REQUIREMENTS
• EDUCATION </b>
• Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, or Home Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Agribusiness or Business Administration, including or supplemented by at least 12 credit hours in marketing.
• Four years of professional experience in programs of promotion, marketing or public relations for agricultural products.
• A Master's degree in any of the above subjects may be substituted for one year of the indicated experience.
• 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, methods and techniques of successfully marketing farm products.
• Knowledge of modern public relations and publicity methods, procedures, techniques and materials and their utilization to improve farm product marketing.
• Knowledge of market development and promotion techniques as they relate to the sale of agricultural products.
• Knowledge of international trade: import restrictions, letters of credit, label clearance and export publications.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the important farm products of New Jersey and the production and marketing practices used by producers and marketers in this State.
• Knowledge of developments in agricultural products marketing in the United States and abroad in order to improve the marketing of products produced in New Jersey.
• Knowledge of food distribution systems, its components and operating systems.
• Knowledge of communications skills as used in marketing and promotion program.
• Knowledge of supervision as it applies to serving as lead worker on special projects and assignments.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse mixture of agricultural industry representatives, including farmers, buyers, dealers, distributors, food processors and other groups.
• Ability to prepare appropriate, attractive and useful publicity and promotional material used for point-of-purchase signs, price cards, advertising copy used in various media and various events.
• Ability to assist in the planning and development programs to improve the marketing of New Jersey products.
• Ability to assign, instruct and oversee the performance of other staff members.
• Ability to conduct verbal and/or written consumer and retailer surveys.
• Ability to conduct consumer promotional events.
• Ability to prepare correspondence in connection with New Jersey marketing and promotion programs.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain the essential unit records 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.