SUPERVISOR, COMPLAINTS AND SURVEILLANCE
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
Supervisor, Complaints and Surveillance is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
You can qualify with a master's degree or, if you do not have one, by piling up more experience instead, and a professional license is required on top of that. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $95,955 to $141,386.
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.
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 the general direction of a higher level supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, is responsible for the organization, methodology, and day-to-day operations of the complaints and surveillance program that includes investigations of complaints related to health care and other services provided by health care facilities and services, and supervision of the maintenance of surveillance in each of the health care delivery programs; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required. 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.
Examples of work
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 investigative methodologies for handling health care service complaints to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid state licensure and federal certification. Supervises preparation of detailed inspection reports and recommends appropriate licensure and certification action that includes enforcement activities. Develops a control system for health care facilities, oversees related maintenance to ensure timeliness of investigations and facility surveillance, and ensures adherence to administrative processes within state and federal mandated timeframes. Approves inspection documentation and ensures completeness, accuracy, and validity in accordance with complex laws, rules, and standards. Represents the program at speaking engagements, as directed, for various health care provider and/or consumer group associations. Advises management of innovative plans for methodology improvement and technological impact. Organizes the program within fiscal and human resource constraints. Determines investigatory priorities, procedures, and techniques based on uniqueness or variables of complaints. Advises management of human resource problems and staff development needs and recommends solutions to resolve issues. Identifies problem areas that may be regulated, but impact health care delivery service systems or other public health issues. Provides consultation and technical assistance to health care providers or other state agencies, professional groups, and community organizations on the application and interpretation of state and federal regulations and standards for licensing and/or certification. Participates in or supervises employee participation in formal and informal hearings. Coordinates directly with agencies and departments where complaint investigations indicate jurisdiction for additional action or joint investigations. Evaluates proposed standards for non-residential health care facilities and reports recommendations to management. Develops and maintains a policy and procedure manual for program activities. Prepares or directs preparation of statistical data and forecasting reports for the department and other interrelated agencies. Prepares correspondence as required for official duties. Provides backup phone availability for 24-hour calls. Develops and maintains a system for receiving and acting upon hotline calls regarding complaints. Participates in investigative and surveillance visits to determine compliance with regulations governing licensure and certification. Assigns staff to investigate complaints on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis. Participates and leads teams conducting inspection of health care facilities in crisis situations and completes of surveys to determine compliance with federal and state standards. Investigates Governor and Commissioner referral complaints concerning non-residential health care facilities. 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
Applicants must possess a current, valid license as a New Jersey Registered Nurse. 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 various problems, devices, techniques, and procedures involved in supervising the work of field surveyors assigned to health care facility surveying and in collecting required statistical data. Knowledge of health care administration principles, particularly the improvement of patient health care. Knowledge of interdepartmental and intradepartmental agencies that impact health care delivery services. Knowledge of the health care field and related specialties delivering health services in facility settings. Knowledge of federal regulations, rules, standards, and statutes of health care facilities and their impact on survey and evaluation processes necessary to instruct staff and guide health care facility personnel. Knowledge of health care facility administrative laws and codes and their impact on survey and evaluation processes necessary to instruct staff and guide health care facility personnel. Knowledge of state regulations, rules, standards, and statutes of health care facilities and their impact on survey and evaluation processes necessary to instruct staff and guide health care facilities personnel. Knowledge of inspection policies and procedures of the survey process to facilitate guidance and direction to subordinates as required by state regulations. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to act as liaison with other state departments and agencies and federal agencies regarding expertise, authorities, and responsibilities to effect cooperation in establishing and implementing administrative procedures for health care facilities. Ability to provide technical assistance and consultation on the interpretation of regulations within federal and state guidelines of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region II and NJ Department of Health, to health care facilities staff and other concerned individuals and groups to ensure compliance with regulations. Ability to interpret state and federal health care standards. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with lawyers, consultants, and providers while adhering to legislation. Ability to act as a professional witness for the Department of Health and in areas of concerned responsibility. Ability to interpret complex health care facility state and federal laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and guidelines and to render judgments and decisions and advise accordingly. Ability to speak at meetings, workshops, and seminars as a representative of the unit. Ability to create a positive public image and encourage feedback for evaluation and monitoring of standards and programs. Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate statistical reports and other correspondence including findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to coordinate joint activities with other agencies involving planning, evaluating, and monitoring combined projects. Ability to prepare comprehensive reports for federal and state agencies and for public disclosure. 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
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 inspecting and evaluating health facilities services and recommending appropriate action. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in public health or in health care administration or management from an accredited college or university; and three (3) 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.