TECHNICAL ASSISTANT 3

Definition

Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in a State department, institution, or agency, takes the lead over the technical and/or clerical staff and has responsibility for the work programs of an identifiable technical unit responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and processing specific actions requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures, or independently, under general supervision, reviews, analyzes, and makes effective recommendations for actions involving a specific element of a regulatory or administrative program requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and/or technical concepts; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Takes the lead in overseeing assignments and guiding technical and/or clerical employees of varied grades, and reviews their work.
• Takes the lead in reviewing complex, irregular, and sensitive actions; when errors are discovered, makes required corrections and/or recommendations.
• May review and verify the completed actions of the unit.
• May analyze and interpret new regulations and policies as they affect the processing of actions and sees that these are put into practice.
• Provides recommendations in developing and evaluating methods for reducing the workload at the clerical and/or para-professional level without sacrificing efficiency and essential information.
• Prepares routine correspondence and form letters that may or may not be signed by a supervisory official.
• May research funding sources, assist in the development and review of grant applications, and write proposals.
• May prepare and execute contracts for funding within various programs.
• May provide oversight of payments, initiate payment activities, monitor processing of payments to ensure accuracy, and resolve payment processing problems.
• Oversees the maintenance of the unit's specialized and general files.
• May provide procedural information, obligations, responsibilities, and rights to program participants and other interested parties.
• May serve as the unit liaison to gather and disseminate information, and address problems.
• Makes specialized technical determinations, within the scope of authority, regarding specific program actions.
• Independently researches the feasibility of new program areas, involving data gathering, survey techniques, and preparing recommendations on project proposals.
• May assist in the planning, coordinating, implementing, and upgrading existing programs in an assigned area.
• Reviews completed cases prior to submission for payment to include re-certifications, budget revisions, and interim redeterminations.
• Maintains an automated data processing tracking and information system to ensure efficient flow of actions.
• Reviews requested actions to ensure that all necessary technical information is correct and appropriate.
• Works with the submitting agency to correct deficiencies and function as a representative of their department/institution/agency.
• May contribute to developing and implementing financial systems in order to improve budgetary procedures and internal fiscal control procedures.
• Cooperates and communicates with staff, and monitors production and program activities to ensure goals are met and maintained.
• May monitor socially oriented programs designed to meet the needs of state and/or local public and private agencies.
• Coordinates, gathers, compiles, assembles, analyzes, and interprets data required by the supervisory official and/or professional staff in completing assigned tasks.
• Responds to requests for information, providing technical and procedural information to agencies and individuals concerning the assigned program.
• May assist in planning and conducting program outreach and promotional activities.
• Assists in resolving technical problems and complaints within the scope of authority.
• Provides technical assistance to all staff members in matters of mutual interests.
• Takes the lead in preparing and verifying statistical, technical, or financial reports that are clear, technically sound, comprehensive, and accurate.
• 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.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in providing support to functions such as grant/contract compliance monitoring, program monitoring, or fiscal compliance and budgetary assistance and/or providing technical assistance to state and/or local communities or agencies, completing forms or applications, reviewing documents for accuracy and content, resolving complaints, or interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for the public and/or others.

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 office methods, practices, routines, machines, and equipment.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered while coordinating the collecting, appraising, and interpreting of data.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered in planning a large-scale clerical program, in organizing assigned clerical and technical work, and in developing effective work procedures in a technical field.
• Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze data.
• Ability to prepare, analyze, and audit financial documents and contracts.
• Ability to organize assigned technical and/or other work, analyze the problems that arise, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assist in the planning, coordinating, implementing, and upgrading existing programs in an assigned area.
• Ability to conduct surveys, independent research, and field investigations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to take the lead in overseeing assignments and giving instructions to technical and/or clerical employees, and review the performance of their work.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws and regulations in accordance with established procedures and policies.
• Ability to do research which will support the development of program proposals.
• Ability to assist in reviewing grant applications and writing program proposals.
• Ability to review programs using federal and state funds and to assist in formulating and recommending corrective actions where deficiencies exist.
• Ability to take the lead over a specialized unit of technical work, devise appropriate schedules and routines, and provide for emergency and peak load periods.
• Ability to resolve complaints involving independent decision making, based upon rules and regulations.
• Ability to interpret basic laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and methods to persons within or outside of the department.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the compilation of material for and the preparation of suitable bulletins, pamphlets, and circulars of varied types.
• Ability to prepare detailed, technical, and confidential correspondence, as may be required for the signature of a supervisory official.
• Ability to prepare and verify statistical, budgetary, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain essential records, reports, and files.
• 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 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 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 who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.

Applicants who do not possess the required experience may substitute additional education as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.