SUPERVISOR OF OPERATIONS
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
In New Jersey, Supervisor of Operations is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a bachelor's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2027 range lands between $83,582 and $122,832, and state payroll currently lists 9 people in the title, led by Treasury.
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
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 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 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 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 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.
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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.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 9 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $99,717. The agencies employing the most are:
- Treasury (4)
- Human Services (1)
- Corrections (1)
- Labor (1)
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 in a state department, institution, or agency, has direct responsibility for work operations of a division program operating area; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties.
Examples of work
Supervises work operations of a division program operating section which includes planning work schedules, determining work priorities, coordinating activities, issuing/interpreting instructions, reviewing work for accuracy/completeness, resolving backlogs, analyzing problem areas, and developing solutions. Determines priorities to meet section goals/objectives and evaluates effectiveness of operations. Establishes staff performance standards. Analyzes work progress and work utilization reports and corrects deficiencies. Evaluates processing procedures to determine areas for improvement. Plans, organizes, and assigns work of the organizational unit; evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of subordinates. Prepares reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Establishes and reviews workflow procedures to maintain efficiency and effectiveness. Recommends new procedures and/or technologies to maximize productivity. Identifies and eliminates safety hazards. Prepares correspondence. Maintains machinery/equipment assigned to the section. Supervises the maintenance of records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems 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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the methods used to plan and schedule work operations. Knowledge of the methods used to evaluate work-processing procedures. Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations. Ability to supervise, instruct, train, and evaluate subordinate personnel. Ability to plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to identify problems and recommend solutions. Ability to determine priorities and implement work schedules to maintain workflow. Ability to evaluate work processing procedures and recommend changes for increased efficiency. Ability to prepare reports. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with superiors, associates, and subordinates in all work functions. Ability to learn how 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 if they can perform the 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. 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. Eight (8) years of professional experience in the review and evaluation of operational methods including the planning and scheduling of workflow in a high production, high volume unit which may include responsibility for the processing of various revenue generating or financial documents or other transactions, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience; one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "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.
Study guides for this exam
- Supervisory Test Battery (STB) National Learning Corporation · $56.99
- General Supervisor National Learning Corporation · $49.90 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.