PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 2 MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE
Career Family: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Program Development Specialist 2 Management and Finance sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
This is where the Program Development Specialist ladder starts, one grade under Program Development Specialist 1 Corrections, whose band tops out about $24,616 higher. It lists a master's degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $64,340 to $94,062.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Program Development Specialist 2 Management and Finance 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: Program Development Specialist series
- Program Development Specialist 2 Management and Finance — $64,340 – $94,062 (this title)
- Program Development Specialist 1 Corrections — $80,756 – $118,678
Promoting to Program Development Specialist 1 Corrections raises the top of the band by about $24,616. Its top salary lands around the 37th 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 direction of a supervisory official in a state department or agency, provides fiscal and management technical assistance and has charge of the review, analysis, and appraisal of divisional procedures, organization, and performance, and prepares recommendations for change or revision; is responsible for program planning, performance analysis, and budgeting for assigned divisions; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Provides technical, fiscal, and management assistance. May assist in conducting studies relative to personnel, budget, purchasing, and bookkeeping. Makes recommendations to ensure that total operating policies, procedures, and systems conform with sound management principles. May assist in reviewing programs and activities, and evaluates their administrative objectives, efficiency, effectiveness, and suitability. Confers with division directors and bureau chiefs to bring greater effectiveness in attaining program, management, and financial policies and goals. May assist in investigating and developing solutions to problem areas. Identifies and works toward elimination of unnecessary and/or wasteful practices, and determines where program and/or administrative duplication may exist. Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties. Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports. 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.
License
Appointees wil 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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of federal and state programs relating to the fields of human resources, adult education, economic development, youth employment, juvenile delinquency, community action, and other areas. Knowledge of methods and procedures used in submitting proposals to the federal government and/or private foundations. Knowledge of how to prepare and analyze financial documents. Ability to learn to prepare financial documents for the application of federal monies. Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply federal, state, and private foundation regulations for operation purposes of the agency assigned. Ability to give assignments and instructions to clerical employees and to supervise the performance of their work. Ability to comprehend filing systems, procedures, business machines, and office equipment. Ability to prepare, analyze, and execute budgets utilizing financial controls. Ability to make and participate in administrative and other studies/surveys and to prepare reports as a foundation for assessing the need for a specific program. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and comprehensive reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the maintenance of records 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 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 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. CODES: 21/P21 - RKR/mk 3/11/98
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 the preparation and/or management of budget and other financial operations involving a government 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 Political Science, Economics, Government, Business Administration, or Public Administration 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.