NJ Civil Service Navigator

EDUCATION: PROGRAM SPECIALIST 3

Code: 70329 State Competitive Range: P26 (FY2026)

Career Family: EDUCATION: PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Salary: $80,755.57 - $118,678.05/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

Education: Program Specialist 3 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 Education: Program Specialist ladder starts, one grade under Education: Program Specialist 2, whose band tops out about $11,660 higher. The requirements come down to a master's degree and 3 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $80,756 to $118,678, and state payroll currently lists about 10 people in the title, most of them at State.

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 State 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: Education: Program Specialist series

  1. Education: Program Specialist 3 — $80,756 – $118,678 (this title)
  2. Education: Program Specialist 2 — $88,530 – $130,339
  3. Education: Program Specialist 1 Council on the Arts — $97,100 – $143,176

Promoting to Education: Program Specialist 2 raises the top of the band by about $11,660. Its top salary lands around the 61st 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 10 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $94,028. The agencies employing the most are:

  • State (10)

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 general direction of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, designs and produces curriculum, training, and related educational services and materials to ensure the achievement of mandated goals and existing and emerging needs; functions at a high proficiency level in one or more of the following areas; Adult Secondary Education, Adult Basic Skills Education, GED Programs, K-12 Education, Bilingual/Compensatory Education, Handicapped Education, Vocational Education, General/Academic Education, Pupil Transportation, or School Facilities Education; does related work as required.

Examples of work

  • Conducts evaluations of instructional programs in conjunction with other office staff.
  • As assigned, consults with staff and, based on evaluation findings, provides them with technical assistance in the design and implementation of plans for improving instructional programming.
  • Under supervision, designs and implements procedures and evaluation instruments for the ongoing assessment of the training needs of instructional program staff.
  • Assists in developing and conducting training for program staff.
  • Develops and conducts, in cooperation with staff from other units, training activities for directors, teachers, counselors, and other supportive staff.
  • Under supervision, designs procedures and instruments for the ongoing assessment of instructional materials and methods.
  • Develops programmatic guidelines in the areas of curriculum and instructional materials and methods.
  • As assigned, consults with program staff and provides them with technical assistance in the development and implementation of improved curriculum/instructional materials and methods.
  • As assigned, reviews completion programs and recommends approval or modification and funding levels.
  • Analyzes and recommends changes in laws and codes.
  • Reviews annual program plans, applications for funds, and final reports, and recommends acceptance, modifications, or disapproval.
  • Assists in designing guidelines for funding and/or contracting of programs and services with state, county, and local agencies.
  • Reviews monthly and annual reports and develops reports and recommendations pertaining to program effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Recommends plans for developing programs and materials, as well as delivering training.
  • In cooperation with other staff, may develop technical aspects of legislation or administrative code for technical accuracy and compliance with current trends in the area of specialization.
  • May be required to engage in lifting clients when working in a setting which provides direct services to clients who are non- ambulant, or who are semiambulant, and/or have severe physical handicaps.
  • 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.

Education

PROGRAM SPECIALIST 3

Unclassified

11A: 3-4(l)

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Education or a related field.

Experience

Three (3) years of professional experience in education with emphasis on curriculum, training, and program development.

CERTIFICATE

Possession of a valid New Jersey Standard Teacher's Certificate or similar license issued by the State Department of Education.

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.

SPECIAL NOTE

Ability to physically lift, move, and position clients as needed.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Knowledge of education curriculum and instructional approaches, methods, and techniques.
  • Knowledge of the practices and methods effective in staff training.
  • Knowledge of effective methods of needs assessment.
  • Knowledge of instructional materials and assessment tools for elementary, secondary, and/or other educational programs.
  • Knowledge of learning and curriculum development.
  • Knowledge of current educational programming and state and local budgetary procedures.
  • Knowledge of tests and testing procedures.
  • Knowledge of the area of professional specialization including current practices, historical perspective, and future trends.
  • Knowledge of state and federal mandates related to the curricular area(s) of specialization.
  • Knowledge of curriculum assessment and evaluation practices.
  • Ability to develop, implement, and manage preservice and inservice staff training programs.
  • Ability to plan and develop curricular/instructional materials.
  • Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programming.
  • Ability to work cooperatively with community groups, school district professional staff, and other professionals.
  • Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to elementary, secondary, and/or other educational programs.
  • Ability to provide leadership and planning assistance to local and/or other educational programs.
  • Ability to develop training programs to improve the performance of teachers, counselors, and administrators.
  • Ability to write clearly and effectively.
  • Ability to assess the problems in education and to develop and implement resolutions.
  • Ability to assess and utilize the opportunities in education.
  • Ability to analyze application requests.
  • Ability to identify cost effective procedures.
  • Ability to design and implement training programs.
  • Ability to provide planning and program improvement assistance to test centers.
  • Ability to exercise leadership in the curricular area(s) of specialization.
  • Ability to work cooperatively with interest groups and network with specialist in the curricular areas(s) including counterparts in other state departments.
  • Ability to plan and execute a program and allocate resources provided for that purpose.
  • Ability to provide a technical analysis of legislation or administrative codes.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and deliver public presentations in the curricular areas(s) of specializations.
  • Ability to analyze needs to determine necessary product and training procedures.
  • Ability to lift nonambulant, semiambulant, and/or severely physically handicapped clients.
  • Ability to learn and 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 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.
  • CODES: 26/P26- JMR 4/16/94

Position Variants