ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE 1
Career Family: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE
In New Jersey, Economic Development Representative 1 is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Of the 4 Economic Development Representative grades this one pays the most, sitting just above Economic Development Representative 2. The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma, and a professional license is required on top of that. The FY2026 range lands between $97,100 and $143,176, and state payroll currently lists 4 people in the title, most of them at State.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Economic Development Representative 1 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: Economic Development Representative series
- Economic Development Representative 4 — $61,510 – $89,810
- Economic Development Representative 3 — $73,707 – $108,073
- Economic Development Representative 2 — $84,548 – $124,366
- Economic Development Representative 1 — $97,100 – $143,176 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 81st 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 $110,923. The agencies employing the most are:
- State (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 supervisory official, supervises a professional staff engaged in tasks involving the retention, attraction, promotion, amd development of business in New Jersey; or as project manager, oversees the establishment and execution of specialized programs related to overall business development throughout the state; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Does the field work involved in contracting and soliciting the establishment of new business for the state, and in the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Coordinates marketing efforts from the public and private sectors which are directed at business attraction and retention within New Jersey. Assists new or established businesses in obtaining fixed asset, working capital loans, and/or other forms of financial assistance. Monitors new federal programs, laws, and regulations which are included in the general information the staff makes available to New Jersey businesses or prospective businesses. Acts as a project manager in taking a comprehensive and coordinated business resource approach in delivery of services to individual businesses or the business community in general. Assists in-state and out-of-state firms with entry into the export market via liaison with the Division of International Trade in the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Receives and/or follows up on all inquiries from business firms, manufacturers, engineers, and others interested in establishing, expanding, or locating their facilities in the state. Consults with, advises, and provides technical information to prospective industries on plant location, raw materials, water supply, transportation, zoning, tax structures, product market, labor availability, utility rates, pollution controls required, and quality of life issues. Prepares technical reports to be used in publicizing the advantages of locating, expanding, or remaining in New Jersey. Maintains technical information such as plant space, commercial facilities, transportation, tax structures, and other business requirements. Develops and monitors procedures for implementing and controlling development programs. Administers and monitors business loan programs. Prepares charts, graphs, and booklets showing current economic/business trends and general conclusions. Represents the agency on various task forces, committees, and planning groups. Conducts meetings with or at out-of-state business/commercial complexes and/or confers with public officials in order to promote and encourage development of new business and industries in the state. Arranges for site inspections, including industrial/commercial/ recreation locations and the local visitations by out-of-state prospects, including evaluating a prospects's particular needs and attempting to match these needs with available facilities or properties in New Jersey. Maintains effective working relationships with community and county officials, local, and regional private consultants and local, statewide, and regional business groups and associations. May plan, organize, and supervise the work of a unit of Economic Development Representatives of lower grade. Maintains accurate records (daily, weekly, and/or monthly) as to activity in the state. Maintains essential records and files. Prepares correspondence. Prepares statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Maintains confidentiality of prospects. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a drivers license valid in New Jersey.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the industrial/commercial/business facilities and related development resources. Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in business solicitation promotion and industrial/commercial real estate. Knowledge of national business and industry trends. Knowledge of financing programs to assist business development, retention, and expansion. Knowledge of the principles of planning, zoning, and environmental laws and ordinances. Knowledge of the needs of industries as they relate to business location. Knowledge of requirements for effective plant/business operations. Knowledge of business construction needs and utility services. Ability to understand and utilize information contained in current trade, business, industrial, and financial literature. Ability to perform field work involved in soliciting industrial/commercial/business locations and expansions within New Jersey. Ability to develop and monitor procedures for implementing and controlling development programs. Ability to administer and monitor business loan programs. Ability to maintain liaison with business prospects, public officials, and business organizations in order to promote and encourage the development of new business and industry in the state. Ability to coordinate marketing efforts directed at business attraction and retention. Ability to understand financial statements and to make the necessary recommendations to businesses with regard to available financial assistance programs. Ability to assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinates. Ability to plan and organize the work of the organizational unit. Ability to prepare technical reports to be used in publicizing the advantages of locating in New Jersey. Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files and provide timely updates to the main 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. CODES: 30/R30- JMR 9/2/95
Note
Applicants must meet one of the following or combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Nine (9) years of professional experience in industrial/commercial real estate sales, area economic development, or business development and assistance including, but not limited to, providing professional services such as management, planning, training, organizational, or financial assistance to new or expanding businesses. OR Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field; and four (4) years of the above indicated 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. The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.