COMMISSIONER (State)
Commissioner is an unclassified role, so it is appointed at the discretion of the hiring authority and does not carry the usual exam-and-tenure track.
State payroll currently lists 8 people in the title, led by Human Services.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 7 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 7 employers and how to apply →Why this title is unclassified
This specification cites N.J.S.A. 11A:3-4(L), state unclassified service.
(l) All other titles as provided by law or as the Civil Service Commission may determine.
A title in the State unclassified service sits outside Title 11A unless a provision says otherwise. In practice that means no competitive examination to get the job, and none of the career service protections that come with it: no permanent status after a working test period, and no right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission from a removal. Appointment and removal rest with the appointing authority.
The rule that allocates a title to this service is N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.3.
Who employs this title
Commissioner appears on the State payroll at 7 departments, most of them at Department of Human Services.
State departments
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 8 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $210,000. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (2)
- Banking and Insurance (1)
- Corrections (1)
- Children and Families (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. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
As the executive official under the authority delegated by the Governor, directs, administers, guides and formulates policy for the department of assignment; enforces the acts, statutes, laws, rules or regulations under the jurisdiction of the departments; manages staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Works with officials and other committees, employees, State and local government officials, representatives of lay professional, civil, educational, and other organizations and with the Chief Executive's Office and the Cabinet.
- Directs, administers, formulates policy and guides work operations and functional program areas.
- Controls and organizes the work of divisions, bureaus, offices and organizational units for efficient and effective operations.
- Institutes or causes to be instituted legal proceedings or processes as may be necessary to enforce and give effect to the activities for which the Commissioner is responsible.
- Adopts, issues and promulgates rules and regulations authorized under various statutes.
- Formulates and adopts rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the department, its officers and employees.
- Appoints and removes officers and other personnel subject to NJSA Title 11A, the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and other applicable rules, laws and regulations.
- Serves as Chairperson and ex-officio member of commissions or authorities as designated by law.
- Enters into agreements as needed to provide additional and necessary services or to enhance programs.
- Formulates policy and confers with other officials regarding fiscal recommendations and annual budget requests.
- Confers with departments' officers to plan, analyze and make recommendations concerning the various program areas.
- Coordinates program activities to eliminate overlapping and duplication of functions.
- Guides and determines the most efficient use of personnel and funds, including the consequences resulting from alternative allocation of resources.
- Formulates reports as requested by the Governor or required by law.
- Addresses public groups to interpret policies and provide information concerning the work, programs and operations.
- Enforces and/or provides for the enforcement of the acts, statutes, laws, rules or regulations under the jurisdiction of the departments.
- Performs those functions as called for in the N.J.S.A., or other laws, statutes and acts.
- Prepares and/or directs the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative statistical, financial, , budgetary, administrative, and other related reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Directs the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- 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.
Requirements
The executive officer and administrator shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the governor's term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the commissioner's successor.
License
Appointees must possess the required license or certification if required by statute.
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 practices, policies and procedures utilized and applied in the direction, conduct, control and guidance of a department.
- Knowledge of the laws, acts, regulations and statutes of the State of New Jersey that pertain to the operations and programs of the department.
- Knowledge of management techniques.
- Knowledge of federal legislation, regulations and programs related to the department.
- Knowledge of fiscal and budgetary principles and practices.
- Ability to coordinate program activities to eliminate overlapping and duplication of functions.
- Ability to formulate policies and confers with other officials regarding fiscal recommendations and annual budget requests.
- Ability to direct, administer and formulate policies for the departments.
- Ability to direct the operations, programs and activities of a department.
- Ability to implement rules and regulations for the efficient operation of the departments.
- Ability to analyze and direct the implementation of legislative action into the department's activities.
- Ability to guide the department's fiscal and budgetary program areas.
- Ability to integrate and coordinate department services among the various divisions and program area.
- Ability to deal effectively with other public agencies.
- Ability to conduct staff conferences for planning, analyzing and recommending department goals.
- Ability to address public groups to interpret policies and provide information concerning the work, programs, and operations.
- Ability to enforce and/or provide for the enforcement of the acts, statutes, laws, rules or regulations under the jurisdiction of the department.
- Ability to deliver the annual report to the Legislature and Governor concerning the operation of the department.
- Ability to prepare and/or direct the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative statistical, financial, budgetary, administrative and other related reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement
- projects within the unit.
- Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Ability to direct the preparation of extensive correspondence.
- 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 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 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.