MANAGER 3, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Administrative/Management
Career Family: MANAGER
Manager 3, Environmental Protection is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
On paper it calls for a doctoral degree, though the specification lets enough relevant experience stand in for the degree. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $122,565 to $181,344, and state payroll currently lists about 16 people in the title, most of them at Environmental Protection.
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.
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Agency posting
Department of Environmental Protection posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Pay ladder: Manager series
- Manager 4, Waste Management — $106,547 – $157,363
- Manager 1 Insurance — $116,962 – $172,991
- Manager 2 Insurance — $116,962 – $172,991
- Manager 3 Fiscal Resources — $128,443 – $190,161
Its top salary lands around the 96th 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.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 16 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $161,742. The agencies employing the most are:
- Environmental Protection (16)
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.
Definition
Under the direction of a higher level official in the Department of Environmental Protection, plans, coordinates and directs the work programs, activities and staff of a division and/or major element performing complex engineering, administrative/management, fiscal, environmental, or scientific activities relative to the areas of environmental management; provides executive guidance and direction, and establishes and recommends policies impacting the operations of the division; does related work as required. SPECIAL NOTE: A major element is defined as two or more bureaus within a division.
Examples of work
Functions as an assistant director responsible for the overall operation of a major element (two or more bureaus) within a division. Directs the environmental, technical, and administrative activities and programs for a division and/or major element; establishes standards for performance and priorities. Administers annual work plans, contracts, and agreements relating to the functions and responsibilities of the division and/or major element. Directs the development of regulatory strategy consistent with established State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations; reviews, interprets and evaluates proposed State and Federal legislation, rules, policies and procedures and drafts comments. Represents the Department at meetings, conferences, committees, and other groups. Ensures consistency with policy administration, the resolution of conflicts between divisions, and cooperation between the various programmatic activities by participating as a member of a policy, planning and management team for the purpose of developing and implementing overall divisional policies and programs particularly where there is a need to integrate complementary initiatives between the various functional areas of the division. Acts as a principal advisor to executive staff; apprises management of current activities, problems, and developments on matters related to enhancement and management of the State's environmental resources in the assigned division and/or major element. Reviews budgetary items and grant applications for programmatic areas relating to the assigned division and/or major element. Oversees staff responsible for identifying program deficiencies and recommending improvements in operating procedures, work processes and administrative practices. Manages the work operations and/or functional programs of the division and/or major element and has responsibility for employee evaluation and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, disciplining, and/or training of employees. Coordinates, oversees, and provides executive guidance to staff involved in the study evaluation, and servicing of community environmental needs. Prepares and delivers presentations and speeches before professional, technical and lay groups to disseminate environmental management information; establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with same. Directs the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, and other related reports and correspondence containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Directs the maintenance of essential records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related unit.
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 management and planning principles, administrative practices and procedures, and operation/organizational theories, and the application thereof in directing work operations. Knowledge of the tools, techniques, principles, and practices utilized in the specific discipline appropriate to the position. Knowledge of rules, regulations, and guidelines associated with the program area. Ability to read, interpret and apply information on the priorities, programs, objectives, policies, and the internal organization of the division. Ability to coordinate and administer the overall operations and to make sound decisions necessary to carry out the programs and functions of the division. Ability to develop long and short-term management plans and procedures and develop effective methods. Ability to analyze and interpret federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of federal, state, and local governments, as well as professional groups, societies and others interested in issues, problems, and topics relative to the designated program. Ability to direct the preparation of clear, accurate and informative statistical, financial, and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to assign, instruct and supervise professional, technical, and other employees and to effectively evaluate their performance. Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on the executive decision-making methodologies utilized to ensure maximum program operating efficiency. Ability to direct the maintenance of essential 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 if they can perform the 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
This specification will be used for the following base and variant titles for Manager 3, Environmental Protection: M35 - M35 - Technical/Scientific/Engineering M35 - Fiscal M35 - Administrative/Management - - Technical/Scientific/Engineering 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. Positions in the Administrative/Management Ten (10) years of professional experience in human resource management, organization/operational practices and procedures, program development/administration, or other area closely related to administrative/managerial experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration or related field; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in business administration or related field; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience which shall have been in a managerial capacity. Positions in Fiscal Ten (10) years of professional experience in Budget practices, accounting, auditing, financial planning and analysis, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in any combination of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or Finance courses. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in any combination of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or Finance courses; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or Finance; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or Finance; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience which shall have been in a managerial capacity. Positions in Technical/Scientific/Engineering Possession of a valid Professional Engineer's license issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; and six (6) years of professional experience in the scientific/technical or engineering aspects of environmentally related activities, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological, chemical, environmental, or physical sciences or engineering; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological, chemical, environmental, or physical sciences or engineering; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, four (4) years of which shall have been in a managerial capacity. OR Possession of a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological, chemical, environmental, or physical sciences or engineering; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience which shall have been in a managerial capacity . "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.
Study guides for this exam
- Management Test Battery (MTB) National Learning Corporation · $52.95
- Manager/Administrator Test National Learning Corporation · $49.95 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.