NJ Civil Service Navigator

REGULATORY OFFICER 3

Code: 61649 State Competitive Range: R32 (FY2026)

Career Family: REGULATORY OFFICER

Salary: $106,547.31 - $157,362.62/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

New Jersey treats Regulatory Officer 3 as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.

It sits mid-series for Regulatory Officer, one step up from Regulatory Officer 1 and one below Regulatory Officer 2. The minimum is a doctoral degree, 4 years of relevant experience, and a professional license. The FY2026 range lands between $106,547 and $157,363, and state payroll currently lists about 31 people in the title, led by Law and Public Safety.

How to get hired

  1. Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Regulatory Officer 3 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
  2. 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.
  3. Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
  4. 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: Regulatory Officer series

  1. Regulatory Officer 1 — $80,756 – $118,678
  2. Regulatory Officer 3 — $106,547 – $157,363 (this title)
  3. Regulatory Officer 2 — $106,547 – $157,363
  4. Regulatory Officer 4 — $116,962 – $172,991

Its top salary lands around the 88th 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 31 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $142,118. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Law and Public Safety (7)
  • Health and Senior Services (5)
  • Human Services (5)
  • Labor (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 the general supervision of a higher-level supervisory official or other designated official in a state department, institution, or agency, supervises regulatory matters, formal and informal, both legislative and quasi-judicial in nature, including matters related directly to administrative procedure and policy matters considered by the agency; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Supervises the drafting, coordinating, and revision of rules, regulations, and orders that may be required to implement the statutory authority, powers, and duties to effectively regulate programs and activities. Supervises the formulation of policies and procedures governing the conduct of all formal proceedings in uncontested cases or pursuant to agreement between the Office of Administrative Law and the department or agency. Assists the higher-level regulatory officers in advising the department or agency and staff regarding the application of various federal and state statutes, including the Administrative Procedure Act and the Open Public Meetings Act as they apply to formal public meetings and hearings. Advises management regarding the format and content of official minutes. Conducts legal research. Analyzes and evaluates legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation. Reviews and analyzes regulatory matters in a government agency. Supervises the coordination and/or conduct of formal hearings. Supervises the formulation of policies and procedures covering all investigations. Supervises investigations conducted on behalf of the department or agency. Supervises the review of formal decisions, orders, and reports to ensure their compliance with appropriate laws as they affect the administrative and regulatory functions; and that they conform to established department policy and precedents. Advises Regulatory Officers 4 in coordinating activities with the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Law and Public Safety. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Supervises the staff in the performance of their duties which are affected by regulatory and legal responsibilities of the department or agency. Assists Regulatory Officers 4 in coordinating activities and functions involving the department or agency with other state and local government agencies. As directed, advises the department or agency regarding procedures to be followed at public forums and field interviews in which members of the staff confer with the public. Supervises the coordination of regulatory activities. Supervises the evaluation of testimony and proofs to facilitate the presentation of testimony in state and federal courts and agencies. Advises and supervises staff on enforcement policies. Supervises the preparation and review of contracts between the department or agency, the State of New Jersey, and independent consultants. Coordinates submission of inquiries pertaining to the Conflicts of Interest Law to the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards. Evaluates and advises on policy statements issued affecting its jurisdiction. Coordinates and supervises the implementation and enforcement of the department or agency's rules and regulations. Reviews and advises the department or agency and staff regarding decisions, orders, memoranda, correspondence, penalty settlements, and other instruments prepared by the staff prior to adoption or issuance. Evaluates initial decisions issued by Administrative Law Judges that must be considered and decided by the department or agency. Drafts decisions and orders adopting or modifying initial decisions of Administrative Law Judges. Prepares clear, accurate, and informative reports. As assigned, advises the department or agency members and other supervisory officials on regulatory precedents to assure policy continuity and legal sufficiency regarding all formal decisions. Recommends responses to informal inquiries regarding jurisdiction or policy of the department or agency. Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience performing any of the following: conducting legal research; analyzing, reviewing, and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, legislation, and/or regulatory matters. OR Four (4) years of experience as an attorney.

License

Appointee must be eligible to practice as an Attorney-At-Law in the State of New Jersey. Appointee must possess a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any state in the United States. 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 techniques and procedures necessary in the conduct or regulatory matters. Knowledge of agency jurisdiction, function, and programs. Knowledge of legal terminology. Knowledge of administrative law procedures. Knowledge of state and federal statutes governing the operation and regulation of public utilities and/or regulated industries and their interpretation and application to specific situations. Ability to analyze and interpret regulatory laws, rules, and policies and apply them to specific cases. Ability to conduct legal investigations. Ability to draft statutes, rules, regulations, decisions, orders, and reports. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to prepare extensive official correspondence. Ability to supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative legal documents, memoranda, summaries, and reports. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files. Ability to provide competent advice and information to staff and members of the public. 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.