AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SPECIALIST 3
Career Family: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SPECIALIST
To land Affirmative Action Specialist 3 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
On pay it sits at the foot of the Affirmative Action Specialist ladder. One promotion up is Affirmative Action Specialist 2, whose band tops out about $12,761 higher. A bachelor's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2026 range lands between $58,818 and $85,742, and state payroll currently lists 3 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
How to apply
-
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.
-
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.
-
Agency posting
Department of Transportation 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.
-
Agency posting
Department of Children and Families 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: Affirmative Action Specialist series
- Affirmative Action Specialist 3 — $58,818 – $85,742 (this title)
- Affirmative Action Specialist 2 — $67,312 – $98,503
- Affirmative Action Specialist 1 — $77,144 – $113,264
Promoting to Affirmative Action Specialist 2 raises the top of the band by about $12,761. Its top salary lands around the 27th 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 3 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $58,818. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (2)
- Children and Families (1)
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 direct supervision of an Affirmative Action Officer or other supervisory official, performs routine work involved in organizing, planning and implementing the agency's Affirmative Action Program, and assists in ascertaining that the goals and objectives of the agency's Affirmative Action Program are being met; does other related duties.
Examples of work
Assists in compiling monthly data on the agency's ethnic/gender profile. Compares data to previous months and alerts the Affirmative Action Officer or Affirmative Action Specialist 1 of any significant changes in this data. Acts as liaison with agency staff involved in submitting personnel actions; acts as liaison with Personnel Assistants in order to investigate the technical aspects of any complaints received. As requested, studies and reviews in detail the internal and external operations of a specific organizational unit. Based on these reviews, makes recommendations to the Affirmative Action Officer for areas where improvements may be made with respect to the unit's equal employment opportunity and affirmative action activities. Testifies in hearings and in court actions related to violations of equal employment opportunity laws. Hears and attempts to resolve discrimination complaints for simple and routine cases; reports findings to the Affirmative Action Officer. May assist in analyzing and evaluating possible labor compliance violations and complaints. Meets with representatives of the public and outside agencies to explain the agency's affirmative action commitment and to acquire firsthand knowledge of program's impact on persons and agencies that share an interest in the agency's activities. Makes detailed verbal and written reports on all activities to the affirmative Action Officer. Prepares correspondence. Prepares reports on all activities, containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Periodically meets with agency employees to provide information on current affirmative action activities. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized 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 techniques used in analyzing the operations of government agencies and of the public and private concerns with which they do business. Knowledge of the methods used to gather and analyze data. Ability to understand and make effective use of the operations and the policies and procedures of the assigned large or complex unit and of department operations and policies and procedures as they affect the work of the unit. Ability to understand and apply the policies and guidelines set by the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and the department's Affirmative Action Officer, regarding the goals and objectives of the department's Affirmative Action Program. Ability to analyze internal and external operations of the assigned large or complex unit with a view toward discovering how improvements may be made in the application of the Affirmative Action Program. Ability to meet with supervisory and other personnel within and throughout the assigned units to discuss sensitive issues. Ability to confer with department's Affirmative Action Officer and to receive and deliver oral and written information and reports concerning the effectiveness of the Affirmative Action Program. Ability to meet with representatives of the public and outside agencies to explain the department's affirmative action commitment and gather knowledge of its impact and effectiveness. Ability to make detailed oral and written reports in a concise and complete manner so that they will be effective in accomplishing the goals of the Affirmative Action Program. Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties on sensitive matters. Ability to establish rapport in the investigation of employee complaints and draw objective decisions from the evidence presented. Ability to maintain liaison with department officials and other public or private agency personnel with specific interests in affirmative action programs. Ability to maintain records and files. 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. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
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. Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. 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. Five (5) years of professional experience involving the implementation of equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and/or civil rights. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions. SCNE19N/AP19-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishSCNE19N/AP19- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 10/3/2015