DAY CARE CENTER SUPERVISOR
New Jersey treats Day Care Center Supervisor as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
The minimum is a high school diploma and 3 years of relevant experience. The FY2026 range lands between $51,480 and $74,754, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, most of them at Children and Families.
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 Children and Families 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 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $74,754. The agencies employing the most are:
- Children and Families (2)
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 the general supervision of a supervisory official in the Department of Children and Families, is responsible for the day to day operations of the assigned Regional School, responsible for program planning, working effectively with staff, families, and children, as well as maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Supervises staff and work activities. Prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinates; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Supervises the maintenance and cleaning of the physical facility and supervises the daily work activities of the regional school maintenance staff.
- Conducts scheduled inventory reviews of janitorial, repair and maintenance supplies to ensure that supplies are appropriately stocked; ensures that supplies are stored in compliance with safety standards.
- In conjunction with the building repairer, performs weekly inspections of equipment used by janitorial, repair and maintenance staff to ensure that it is in safe working order.
- Supervises the food service program in assigned regional schools, and supervises the daily work activities of food service staff.
- Conducts scheduled inventory reviews of food and food delivery supplies to ensure that supplies are appropriately stocked; ensures that food and supplies are stored in compliance with health, safety and sanitary standards.
- In conjunction with the building cook, performs weekly inspections of equipment used by food service staff to ensure that it is in safe working order.
- Monitors vendor contracts related to the maintenance of the facility (pest control, trash removal, snow removal, etc.) to ensure efficient delivery of services.
- Contacts appropriate Office of Education Fiscal Unit designee to obtain emergency authorization to obtain needed services and, as directed, may monitor and evaluate delivery of provided services.
- As directed, completes admission/ departure forms for students enrolled in the school's educational program.
- Records contracted staff and student daily attendance.
- Logs scheduled community trips and outings, identifying staff and students participating in each scheduled activity.
- As required, obtains permission slips for students participating in outings.
- Compiles data and documentation and completes "Workers Right to Know" reports annually and as needed.
- Conducts monthly inventory review and notifies building administrator of missing or malfunctioning supplies.
- Maintains food roster information, including current record of those students participating in school lunch program and other child nutrition programs, as applicable.
- Monitors time spent by contracted vendors to complete assignments to finalize the recording and verification of timekeeping records.
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
- Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, progress, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations
- Supervises the maintenance of routine records, files and reports.
- 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.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in the direct care and/or training of intellectually and/or behaviorally disabled children, teenaged mothers and/or infants in an institution, general hospital, or educational setting.
License
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 problems of intellectually and/or behaviorally disabled children who are enrolled in a Regional School.
- Knowledge of the problems likely to be encountered in work involving the students enrolled at the Regional School.
- Knowledge of the methods used in cleaning floors and walls; washing dishes; and in sterilizing dishes, utensils, tables, and other equipment.
- Knowledge of the principles of first aid and accident prevention.
- Knowledge of prescribed fire and safety regulations.
- Knowledge of the methods used to coordinate and supervise the activities and operations of a Regional School.
- Knowledge of safe food handling methods.
- Ability to apply acceptable health, safety and sanitation standards to the operation and maintenance of a school and/or day care facility.
- Ability to analyze and evaluate the maintenance needs of the school and discuss them with the maintenance staff.
- Ability to interpret policies and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to comprehend the problems of the students who are enrolled in Regional Schools.
- Ability to prepare and to supervise the preparation of clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, analyses, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports and files.
- Ability to physically lift, move and position clients as needed.
- Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
- 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 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 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.
Thirty (30) college credit hours in a curriculum leading to a degree in psychology, child development, special education, or nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.