ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, PRISON COMPLEX
Associate Administrator, Prison Complex is an unclassified state title, filled by appointment and outside the tenure protections that cover the competitive ranks.
The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. Its salary schedule (frozen at an older rate) lists $83,210 to $116,477, though managerial and exempt titles like this are usually paid individually rather than on the step schedule, and state payroll currently lists about 12 people in the title, most of them at Corrections.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Why this title is unclassified
This specification cites N.J.S.A. 11A: 3-4(1) (printed that way in the specification; the paragraph letter is (l)), state unclassified service.
(l) All other titles as provided by law or as the Civil Service Commission may determine.
A title in the State unclassified service sits outside Title 11A unless a provision says otherwise. In practice that means no competitive examination to get the job, and none of the career service protections that come with it: no permanent status after a working test period, and no right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission from a removal. Appointment and removal rest with the appointing authority.
The rule that allocates a title to this service is N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.3.
Who employs this title
Associate Administrator, Prison Complex appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Corrections.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Corrections | 12 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 12 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $164,789. The agencies employing the most are:
- Corrections (12)
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. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of an Administrator, Prison Complex, in the Division of Operations, Department of Corrections assists in the organization, development and direction of programs and staff of a Class level 1 institution housing over 1,000 inmates for the care, custody, security, and rehabilitation of the social offenders; does other related work as required.
A Class 1 institution may be represented by administrative staffing which shall not exceed the numbers and level as follow: one (1) Administrator, one (1) Associate Administrator, maximum of four (4) Assistant Superintendents 1's, one (1) Business Manager 1, and one (1) Director of Custody Operations 1.
Examples of work
- Assists in the planning and direction of all administrative custodial treatment, and rehabilitative programs in the correctional institution; coordinates all functional programs and services supervised by subordinate department heads.
- Oversees the establishment and implementation of policies and procedures for the effective administration of the correctional institution: evaluates the efficiency and operational effectiveness of same.
- Interprets new and revised institutional and departmental policies, objectives, and operational procedures to subordinate department heads.
- Oversees the proper use and maintenance of the physical plant, equipment, and facilities of the institution.
- Oversees the conduct of the employees engaged in the care, custody, security, and rehabilitation of inmates.
- Coordinates with subordinate department heads to identify and resolve problems relating to program operations; evaluates the implications of custody and rehabilitation policies related to the utilization, allocation, and management of staff, capital, and fiscal resources.
- Oversees the development of short and long- range plans for the institution; oversees the development of specific budget requests and evaluates the institution's overall budget submission to ensure consistency with major planning objectives.
- Assists in administering specialized and physically separate programs such as adult and youth reception units, minimum security farms and complexes, medium security trailer complexes, and special maximum security units.
- Oversees the institution's infirmary and in-patient hospital unit to ensure proper and adequate medical treatment services.
- Assists in overseeing the classification of inmates and the institutional assignment and inter-institutional transfer of offenders within the department's jurisdiction.
- Directs the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
- Manages work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Assumes responsibility in the absence of the Administrator, Prison Complex.
- Maybe required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree, supplemented by a Master's degree in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Education, Guidance and Counseling, Criminology, or Public Administration.
Experience
Five (5) years of professional experience in administering correctional programs or five (5) years of professional experience in program administration in a public or private organization, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
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 theory, principles, and practices of modern sociology, psychology, and education relevant to the care and rehabilitation of social offenders.
- Knowledge of custodial procedures in a security setting.
- Knowledge of budget preparation and interpretation.
- Ability to comprehend the emotional, social, and adjustment problems of offenders confined to an institution.
- Ability to direct and administer practical and effective institutional programs such as fiscal control, food services, medical and dental care, classification, education, group and individual therapy, staff recruitment, personnel training, and preventive maintenance.
- Ability to direct the public relations aspect of prison operations and to maintain harmonious relationships with the nearby community.
- Ability to formulate and communicate productive goals and to inspire staff cooperation to achieve those goals.
- Ability to plan, direct, and evaluate prison programs and practices to meet the goals of the institution while serving the needs of the offenders.
- Ability to assign, instruct, and direct the work of technical specialists.
- Ability to keep abreast of new developments, concepts, and trends of thought in penology, criminology, institutional management, and other closely related fields.
- Ability to maintain institutional discipline.
- Ability to direct the measures required for the protections and rehabilitation of offenders.
- Ability to prepare and direct the preparation of extensive correspondence.
- Ability to prepare and direct the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, operating budget, and other reports.
- Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
- Ability to learn 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, or 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 as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year for year basis.