NJ Civil Service Navigator

EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 1 NUTRITION

Nutrition

Code: 70339O State Non-Competitive Range: P26 (FY2026)

Career Family: EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

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

Because Education Program Development Specialist 1 Nutrition is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.

It expects 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 23 people in the title, led by Education.

How to apply

  • No exam
    This title is not filled by examination

    Non-competitive, unclassified, and Senior Executive Service titles are appointed directly by the hiring agency rather than through a civil service exam. Apply directly to the agency below.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Education 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

    Civil Service Commission's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. 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.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Agriculture's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.

  • Agency posting

    Department of Health 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 Development Specialist series

  1. Education Program Development Specialist 1 — $80,756 – $118,678
  2. Education Program Development Specialist 2 — $88,530 – $130,339
  3. Education Program Development Specialist 3 — $97,100 – $143,176

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 23 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $99,717. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Education (11)
  • Juvenile Justice Commission (5)
  • Civil Service Commission (4)
  • 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 direction of an Education Program Development Specialist 1 or other supervisory official, in the Department of Education, assists in the design, production, and delivery of Nutrition curricula, training, program improvement, and related education services to education agencies to ensure the achievement of mandated goals and to meet existing and emerging needs; performs mandated regulatory functions; under supervision, performs work of a difficult nature in the monitoring and evaluation of education programs in school districts statewide; does other related duties.

Examples of work

  • Conducts local and state evaluation of instruction programs as required by law and regulation.
  • Develops technical assistance programs in designing and implementing plans for improving instructional programming.
  • In cooperation with the county offices and regional units, assists in the development of and conducts training activities for staff employed in education agencies.
  • Develops program guidelines in the areas of curricula and instructional materials and methods as directed.
  • Consults with local program staff and provides technical assistance needed to develop and implement improved curricular/instructional materials and methods.
  • Reviews education programs and recommends approval, disapproval, or modification of funding levels.
  • Analyzes legislation pertaining to educational programs and recommends changes.
  • Reviews annual program plans, applications for funds, and final reports and recommends acceptance, modification, or disapproval.
  • Assists in the development of guidelines for funding and/or contracting with state, county, and local agencies for programs and/or services.
  • Reviews monthly and annual reports and writes reports and recommendations pertaining to program effectiveness and efficiency.
  • In cooperation with other professional staff, may participate in developing technical aspects of legislation or administrative code for technical accuracy and compliance with current trends in the area(s) of specialization.
  • 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.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Home Economics including 18 credits in food and nutrition, Nutrition, or a related field, as determined by the appointing authority.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in developing and implementing child nutrition programs at the federal, state, local, or school district level.

License

Appointee 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 education theories, curriculum development, and instructional methods and techniques applicable to nutrition programs.
  • Knowledge of methods used to develop and train education staff.
  • Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of educational testing and measurement.
  • Knowledge of instructional materials and assessment tools used in elementary, secondary, or adult education programs.
  • Knowledge of state and local budgetary procedures.
  • Knowledge of the area of professional specialization, including current practices, historical perspective, and future trends.
  • Knowledge of state and federal laws, codes, and regulations governing curricular area(s) of specialization.
  • Ability to develop, implement, and manage pre-service and in-service staff training programs.
  • Ability to plan and develop curricular/instructional programming.
  • Ability to interface with community groups, school district professional staff, and other professionals.
  • Ability to provide technical assistance to local programs.
  • Ability to write clearly and effectively.
  • Ability to assess problems in education and implement plans to resolve them.
  • Ability to analyze application requests.
  • Ability to identify cost effective procedures.
  • Ability to provide planning and program improvement assistance for educational programs.
  • Ability to exercise leadership in the curricular area(s) of specialization with interest groups, specialists, and counterparts in other state departments of education.
  • Ability to plan and execute a program and allocate resources provided for that purpose.
  • Ability to analyze legislation or administrative codes pertaining to education.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and deliver public presentations in the curricular area(s) of specialization.
  • Ability to analyze needs in order to determine product and training procedures needed.
  • Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.
  • 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.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree AND possession of a New Jersey educational endorsement 1707, Family and Consumer Sciences: Food/Nutrition & Food Science issued by the New Jersey Department of Education and/or other professional endorsement in Home Economics, or possession of a current and valid certification as a Registered Dietitian issued by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics may be substituted for the above education.