CHIEF BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEALS
Career Family: CHIEF
In New Jersey, Chief Bureau of Administrative Review and Appeals 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 master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2026 range lands between $106,547 and $157,363.
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 direction of a Director, Deputy Director, or Assistant Director in the Division of Family Development, assumes responsibility for administering hearing functions attendant to public assistance programs administered by county welfare agencies and municipal welfare agencies; coordinates the preparation of responses to complaints and requests for information; maintains liaison functions with the Office of the Attorney General in connection with Judicial Appeals from fair hearing decisions; oversees bureau processes such as transmittal of fair hearing requests and writing and issuing of Final Agency Decisions (FADs); supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related work.
Examples of work
Develops and implements procedures and systems to ensure correct disposition of all fair hearing requests within the specified time period, correct implementation of all fair hearing decisions, and the publication of monthly digests of fair hearing decisions. Establishes systems for intra and inter-departmental communication essential to the disposition of complaints and requests for information pertaining to both individual case situations and public welfare in general. Liaisons with the Office of Attorney General for litigation and appeals of all the Division's public assistance programs. Reviews and makes recommendations of all proposed fair hearing decisions prior to submittal to the director for approval. Periodically reviews, or assigns personnel to review, local agency records to determine correct application for hearing and appeal procedures, and the correct and timely implementation of such fair hearing decisions. Reviews legislation, statutes, court rules, regulations, policy and procedure documents, case law, subpoenas, court orders, contracts, and other legal documents to provide guidance and impacts for the Division. Periodically reviews hearing and attendant procedures and recommends changes when necessary. 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 and supervises preparation of extensive correspondence in the course of official duties. Writes and issues Final Agency Decisions (FADs). Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports covering data pertaining to workloads, business transacted, conclusions reached, and other material. 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 the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the principles of internal organization, programs, policies, standards, and procedures and of the provisions of the New Jersey and federal Laws, rules, and regulations applicable to public assistance programs. Knowledge of notice monitoring systems pertaining to adverse notices by local agencies to applicants for and recipients of assistance. Knowledge of the fair hearing process. Knowledge of both private and public social welfare agencies essential to the administration of complaint adjustments and information referral services. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to organize and to effectively carry out methods for hearing procedures and amending procedures to accommodate changes in the workflow. Ability to understand and apply federal laws and regulations sufficiently to develop and amend state program regulations governing fair hearings. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret the provisions of the New Jersey Public Assistance laws, rules, and regulations and determine their correct application in individual situations. Ability to analyze procedural problems and to develop appropriate solutions. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of reports. Ability to administer and supervise the maintenance of essential hearings, records, and all other facets of fair hearing operations and to ensure that subordinates carry out their duties and responsibilities. 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. 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. Ten (10) years of professional experience in a public welfare agency, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, three (3) years 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.