SUPERVISOR OF EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
Supervisor of Employment Counseling and Selective Placement 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.
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 FY2027 schedule runs $79,844 to $117,228.
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 direction in the Department of Labor, plans, develops and supervises the employment counseling and selective placement program; supervises employment services provided to special applicant groups; does other related work.
Examples of work
Plans and develops the employment counseling and selective placement program. Identifies, develops, and plans employment counseling and placement services required for individuals or groups having special employment needs or problems. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Evaluates the effectiveness of employment counseling and placement services; recommends improvements when needed. Keeps current with changing trends in occupations, industries, the existing employment and industrial conditions, and the skills, abilities, qualifications and training required for employment. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with other public and private organizations and agencies providing employment or other support services to program applicants. Supervises staff providing employment-counseling services. Interprets and supervises the interpretation of various aptitude, performance and other tests designed to measure and evaluate vocational potential. Reviews applicant eligibility determinations. Supervises staff engaged in the selection and referral of applicants to training programs. Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports and correspondence. Establishes and maintains records and files. 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 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 problems encountered in counseling applicants for employment. Knowledge of the methods used to plan and develop employment counseling and selective placement programs. Knowledge of the principles and techniques used to appraise the vocational possibilities of applicants. Knowledge of the variety of occupations and industries, and of current employment and industrial conditions in New Jersey, and the skills, abilities, qualifications and training required for specific types of work. Knowledge of the available resources and techniques used to assist applicants to secure employment. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of vocational guidance. Knowledge of employment interview and counseling techniques. Knowledge of occupational testing and evaluation techniques. Knowledge of supervisory techniques. Ability to become familiar with a variety of occupations, industries and current employment and industrial conditions in New Jersey, and the skills, abilities, qualifications and training required for specific types of work. Ability to learn to utilize the tools, equipment and other reference material used to determine an applicant's employment potential. Ability to observe and evaluate the characteristics, physical capacities, education, training, work histories, and potential abilities and interests of applicants and to relate these factors to prevailing occupational requirements and conditions. Ability to read, interpret and apply laws and regulations regarding unemployment compensation, federal social security and other acts which impact upon agency operations. Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, applicants, employers and with public and private community agency representatives. Ability to provide assignments, guidance and instruction to counseling and other support staff, and supervise their work performance. Ability to prepare correspondence and reports. 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 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 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
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. Eight (8) years of professional experience in vocational guidance and employment counseling, including or supplemented by six (6) semester hour credits in Non-introductory Sociology or Psychology or other field of study directly related to vocational counseling or workforce and career development, and nine (9) semester hour credits in the Behavioral Sciences, Statistics, or Non-Introductory Labor Market Information courses, one (1) year of which shall have involved supervisory responsibility. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by six (6) semester hour credits in Non-introductory Sociology or Psychology or other field of study directly related to vocational counseling or workforce and career development, and nine (9) semester hour credits in the Behavioral Sciences, Statistics, or Non-Introductory Labor Market Information courses; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have involved supervisory responsibility. OR Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology, Education, Social Work, Personnel Administration, Counseling, Student Personnel Services, or related fields, which shall have included a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hour credits outlined above; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have involved supervisory responsibility. Courses in Public Safety, Criminal Justice, Public Safety Administration and Philosophy will not be accepted toward meeting the special credit requirements in the Behavioral Sciences. "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.