PLANNING ASSOCIATE 1, COMPUTER APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEMS DESIGN
Computer Applications & Systems Design
Career Family: PLANNING ASSOCIATE
Planning Associate 1, Computer Applications and Systems Design is non-competitive, meaning the state checks your education and experience against the spec instead of ranking you on a test.
The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY 2027 range lands between $83,582 and $122,832, and state payroll currently lists about 42 people in the title, most of them at Education.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 3 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 3 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Planning Associate 1, Computer Applications and Systems Design appears on the State payroll at 3 departments, most of them at Department of Education.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Education | 39 |
| Department of Banking & Insurance | 2 |
| Department of Children and Families | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Planning Associate series
- Planning Associate 1 — $83,582 – $122,832
- Planning Associate 2 — $91,628 – $134,900
- Planning Associate 3 — $100,498 – $148,187
Its top salary lands around the 69th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 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 42 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $107,301. The agencies employing the most are:
- Education (39)
- Banking and Insurance (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. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a Planning Associate 3 manager, or other supervisory official in the Department of Education, assists in developing and maintaining department databases and computerized systems; assists in planning the design, programming, and implementation of information systems; develops education programming by conducting analyses and evaluations of education programs, surveys, needs assessment, and related research; assists in the establishment, maintenance, and evaluation of program and fiscal data related to state and federal aid, grant applications, and allocation; performs mandated regulatory functions; is knowledgeable in and works with some independence in areas of assignment; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- May aid in designing and implementing evaluation instruments to analyze effectiveness of training, curricula, and related education services in local school districts and intermediate and regional units.
- Establishes and maintains effective work communication with county offices and regional units to ensure goals of education programs are being met.
- May develop technical documents for the evaluation of services.
- Analyzes demographic data and helps develop, plan, and recommend policy and formula for funds distribution.
- Analyzes relevant state and federal laws and regulations and assists in developing policy and program recommendations for their enforcement.
- May develop specialized programs for targeted populations.
- May review the progress of local district education goals, as approved by the Department of Education.
- May assist in planning information systems to meet organizational needs.
- Writes computer programs in SAS and COBOL/FMS.
- Develops information processing system documentation consistent with design parameters.
- Executes production functions by monitoring source data validity and quality control.
- Maintains department wide databases.
- Establishes and maintains liaison with education and public interest groups to inform them of department activities and identify their needs.
- May assist in researching and analyzing, demographic, labor market, and technological data used in establishing education programs and plans to meet changing needs.
- May develop and recommend funding criteria, competitive application procedures, and forms for awarding contracts to eligible agencies.
- Provides technical assistance to local programs and assists in coordinating the development of training programs for funded agencies.
- Helps to coordinate the maintenance of programmatic and fiscal reporting systems.
- 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 Educational Administration, Public Administration, Computer Science, or a related field.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in system design and computer programming on a mainframe or a PC LAN environment.
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 the organization and structure of the New Jersey education system.
- Knowledge of public education policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Knowledge of state and federal statutes and administrative codes as they apply to education.
- Knowledge of automated management information processing systems.
- Knowledge of procedures involved in the analysis, planning, and design of information systems.
- Knowledge of online system design.
- Knowledge of SAS.
- Knowledge of COBOL.
- Knowledge of principles and practices for improving specialized education programming at the local level.
- Knowledge of state and federal program aid requirements.
- Knowledge of legislation and guidelines related to funded programs.
- Knowledge of the operational processes and practices of state agencies, including the fiscal system.
- Ability to document system specifications.
- Ability to identify problems in involving system design.
- Ability to document programming (design) specifications.
- Ability to write computer programs in specified languages.
- Ability to establish and maintain working and information networks with education and public interest groups.
- Ability to exercise leadership in program planning and development with department staff, county offices, regional units, and local school district staff.
- Ability to coordinate plans and resources and identify problem areas or needs.
- Ability to analyze data and prepare accurate reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to prepare accurate documentation of budgetary needs.
- Ability to interpret state and federal rules and regulations and develop a responsive plan for meeting special needs.
- Ability to prepare extensive official correspondence.
- Ability to coordinate program maintenance, and fiscal reporting, and other essential files.
- Ability to develop technical assistance materials.
- Ability to plan and conduct regional and statewide inservice training programs.
- Ability to develop needs assessment information into program plans.
- Ability to analyze state and federal labor projections and identify education programs to meet these needs.
- Ability to analyze trends and project future education needs based on these trends.
- 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 as long as they can perform 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 who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of college. Applicants wishing to substitute additional experience for the required Master's degree, must possess a total of six (6) years of combined education and experience, in addition to the required experience cited above.