CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION SPECIALIST 3
Bilingual In Spanish & English
Career Family: CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION SPECIALIST
In New Jersey, Customer Service Information Specialist 3 is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Of the 3 Customer Service Information Specialist grades this one pays the most, sitting just above Customer Service Information Specialist 2. Qualifying turns on 3 years of relevant experience. The FY2026 range lands between $49,266 and $71,403, and state payroll currently lists about 11 people in the title, most of them at Human Services.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Customer Service Information Specialist 3 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- 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.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- 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: Customer Service Information Specialist series
- Customer Service Information Specialist 1 — $38,027 – $54,571
- Customer Service Information Specialist 2 — $45,147 – $65,245
- Customer Service Information Specialist 3 — $49,266 – $71,403 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 13th 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 11 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $69,189. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (9)
- Environmental Protection (1)
- Office of State Comptroller (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.
Definition
Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in a state department or agency, provides technical information and advice to callers regarding department or agency regulations, programs, services or regulatory functions and resolves the more complex inquiries; may research and provide information on matters crossing program areas; utilizes manual and electronic sources to access and provide information; serves as lead worker; does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Provides courteous, accurate and timely responses to requests for information.
- Explains agency regulations, programs and/or services.
- Notifies supervisor of repetitive problematic issues where a possible pattern may exist.
- Provides assistance in obtaining needed information or services from other departmental units.
- Verifies the identity of the requestor to ensure that information is provided to the authorized person.
- Processes and records customer information necessary to transact agency business.
- Provides information to the requestor regarding the functions, operations and procedures necessary to conduct business with the agency.
- Verifies information provided by the requestor.
- Serves as a lead worker to provide guidance, instruction and/or training.
- Takes the lead over lower grade Customer Service Information Specialists; provides guidance and instruction; may assist in training.
- Obtains information from other agency units to answer inquiries.
- Provides instructions for the completion of forms; reviews documents for completeness and accuracy; provides information on documentation required to complete agency transactions.
- May verify the issuance or non-issuance of agency documents.
- Provides information to requestors within the parameters of agency laws and regulations.
- Examines documents for authenticity or validity; authorizes the reissuance of lost or stolen documents.
- Conducts information searches in manual and electronic file systems to provide accurate responses to inquiries.
- Compiles information for activity reports.
- Assists supervisory personnel in the resolution of complex inquiries.
- Will be required to learn 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 disseminating, verifying and providing information to the public.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license 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 methods and techniques used to locate and analyze information. Knowledge of customer service techniques. Ability to read and interpret agency rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations. Ability to listen to inquiries and clarify facts and information to appropriately identify the nature of the call. Ability to provide guidance and instruction to Customer Service Information Specialists of a lower level. Ability to locate requested information utilizing electronic sources. Ability to comprehend agency laws and regulations and explain them to the public. Ability to deal with difficult callers and those that provide inaccurate or incomplete information. Ability to recognize customer difficulty in comprehending information, and to reiterate facts. Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with the public. Ability 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 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 as long as 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. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
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. NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. SC3516N/AA15-Bilingual In Spanish & EnglishSC3516N/AA15- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 7/07/2018