PERSONNEL ASSISTANT 3
Bilingual In Spanish And English
Career Family: PERSONNEL ASSISTANT
In New Jersey, Personnel Assistant 3 is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
On the Personnel Assistant ladder it falls between Personnel Assistant 4 and Personnel Assistant 2. The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2026 range lands between $67,312 and $98,503.
How to apply
-
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.
-
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.
Pay ladder: Personnel Assistant series
- Personnel Assistant 4 — $58,818 – $85,742
- Personnel Assistant 3 — $67,312 – $98,503 (this title)
- Personnel Assistant 2 — $77,144 – $113,264
- Personnel Assistant 1 — $88,530 – $130,339
Promoting to Personnel Assistant 2 raises the top of the band by about $14,761. Its top salary lands around the 42nd 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.
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 limited supervision of a Personnel Assistant 1 or other supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, performs moderately difficult personnel work pertinent to one or more major personnel program areas such as classification, recruitment, personnel orientation and training, personnel research, administrative services, employee counseling and personnel services, and management assistance; does other related duties as required. 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, and communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
Examples of work
Works independently or as part of a team, reviewing personnel-related programs and activities and in evaluating their implementation and administration, including responsibilities for data information tasks and adherence to overall personnel policy. Installs, uses, and as needed, changes reporting systems that assess performance factors including workload volume, quality, and effectiveness. Reviews personnel operations or update of new and existing systems and procedures for improving effectiveness, efficiency, and management controls. Provides information, advice, and assistance to agency management, employees, union representatives, and the public. Engages in recruitment efforts using modern techniques to promote state departments, institutions, or agencies. Assists in the recruitment and interview processes for prospective employees and assists in managing employee retention initiatives. Conducts the new employee orientation program by providing information on department policies and employee benefits; may also assign new employees to offices and workstations. Develops and delivers personnel-related training presentations to enhance department employees' skills and knowledge. Conducts exit interviews and reviews statistical data or other studies to determine reasons for employee turnover. Utilizes applicant tracking systems (ATS) to streamline processes, manage candidate data, and track applicant progress through the hiring cycle. Interprets and analyzes collected data to develop comprehensive reports that offer an in-depth understanding of the agency's workforce standing and trends. Reviews personnel forms for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with Civil Service Commission rules and regulations. Maintains close liaison with the Civil Service Commission, the Department of the Treasury, and other department personnel offices to further the total program of personnel services. Researches and assembles information for complex personnel-related studies and investigations. Provides technical assistance to agency management on matters of public personnel administration including compensation schedules and fringe benefits. Performs technical work of the program area including problem solving that requires review, analysis, and follow-up on telephone calls and correspondence. Conducts surveys of individual and groups of positions, units of work, and prepares reports thereof. Conducts studies of department personnel routines and procedures to determine the need for updates. Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Answers inquiries from all sources on interpretation and application of Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and department, division, or unit policies and procedures including layoffs, RIFs, grievances, and appeals. Maintains records, reports, and files. Prepares correspondence, survey reports, memoranda, analyses, position descriptions, and other written materials using a predetermined form in the course of official duties. 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
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 organizational structures commonly found in business and government. Knowledge of occupations commonly found in public and private sectors. Knowledge of public personnel methods and techniques and principles and practices of public administration. Knowledge of statistical, psychological, economic, and scientific concepts, terminology, procedures, and tools used in personnel administration. Knowledge of personnel guidelines and procedures of New Jersey State government personnel, the Civil Service Commission, and Department of the Treasury. Knowledge of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, organizational structure and specific functions of incumbent's assigned department, institution, or agency and application thereof. Knowledge of Civil Service Rules and Regulations ( N.J.S.A . 11A and N.J.A.C. 4A), Department of the Treasury requirements, applicable federal regulations, Equal Employment Opportunity /Affirmative Action, and classification and compensation policies and guidelines of the Civil Service Commission. Knowledge of negotiated bargaining agreements. Ability to organize assigned technical personnel work, analyze program areas and related problems, and develop effective work procedures. Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to interpret and apply public personnel methods and techniques as well as the principles and practices of public administration. Ability to conduct interviews. Ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions. Ability to work effectively with others. Ability to collect and analyze extensive data and draw sound conclusions. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and comprehensive narrative and/or statistical reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to maintain records and files. 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. 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. 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. Six (6) years of professional experience in a personnel program of a public or private organization. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in business administration, personnel administration, public administration, management, or other related field from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year 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. SC3523N/AP22-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishSC3523N/AP22- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 12/28/2024