CHIEF APPEALS EXAMINER
Career Family: CHIEF
New Jersey treats Chief Appeals Examiner as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
The spec names a doctoral degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2026 range lands between $101,708 and $150,105.
How to apply
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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.
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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.
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 direction of a supervisory official in the Division of Unemployment and Disability Insurance, Department of Labor & Workforce Development, manages the programs, activities and staff of the Appeals Tribunal; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Manages program activities and staff engaged in making determinations on disputed unemployment and disability (state plan & DDU) insurance benefit cases Formulates policies, procedures, and practices to staff Evaluates program activities and recommends changes for improvement Oversees the assignment and tracking of work distributed to the regional offices; establishes work priorities Reviews precedent decisions of the Board of Review and the court system, and directs the implementation of such precedents in the hearings and decision process Ensures appeals are processed in a timely manner, and decisions are rendered in accordance with established law, regulations, policies and procedures Monitors production statistics to ensure maximum utilization of staff Allocates resources and adjusts goals, staff, equipment, and fiscal resources among the Appeals Tribunal central and district offices Provides technical advice and assistance Oversees a program of administrative resolution proceedings under the State Offset of Individual Liability Act Determines training needs; arranges for the training of subordinate staff Manages the 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 Assesses and may implement changes to organizational structure Represents the department at meetings, conferences, workshops and other gatherings Supervises the preparation of detailed reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations Supervises the maintenance of essential records and files May 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
Requirements
NOTE: 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. Nine (9) years of professional experience making determinations on eligibility in various phases of temporary wage replacement insurance in a public or private agency, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Admission to practice as an Attorney at Law in New Jersey or possession of a J.D. or L.L.H. degree; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
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 the conduct of court proceedings and administrative or quasi-judicial hearing procedures Knowledge of State and federal laws involving unemployment, disability insurance, and other compensatory programs administered by the department and their application to specific claim situations Knowledge of the rules of evidence and elements of jurisdiction and limitations Knowledge of the factors considered in the determination of eligibility claims Knowledge of supervisory methods and techniques Ability to effectively manage program activities and staff involved in the review, evaluation, and determination of initial, reconsideration, and continuing disability cases Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and apply the appropriate sections of Federal and State law, regulations and policies governing Unemployment-Disability Insurance and apply them to specific cases in accordance with established procedures Ability to effectively evaluate program activities and recommend changes for improvement Ability to handle and resolve complaints from claimants and/or their representatives Ability to deal with distraught and argumentative individuals Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and formal recommendations 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 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. "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.