PLANNING ASSOCIATE 3 (POLICY AND PLANNING)
Career Family: PLANNING ASSOCIATE
New Jersey treats Planning Associate 3 (policy and Planning) as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
The minimum is a master's degree and 3 years of relevant experience. 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 filled by competitive examination.
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 3 (policy and Planning) 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 1, manager, or other supervisory official in the Department of Education, assists in analyzing, developing, and recommending education policies, plans, and priorities in order to implement state and federal laws pertaining to education programs and practices; develops education programming by conducting analyses and evaluation 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 formula aid and discretionary grant applications and allocations; performs mandated regulatory functions; works with some independence in areas of assignment; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Establishes plans and priorities for education programs as needed for eligible populations by analyzing and conducting surveys, administrative procedures, and related research.
- Develops policy recommendations and/or administrative code for implementation of state and federal laws pertaining to education programs and practices.
- Drafts legislation and prepares legislative bill analyses.
- Conducts legislative briefings.
- Plans implementation of education projects and programs.
- Assists 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.
- As directed, establishes and maintains effective work communication with county offices and regional units.
- Assists in developing 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, plans, and program recommendations for their enforcement.
- Assists in the planning of specialized programs for targeted populations.
- Assists in reviewing the progress of local district education goals, as approved by the Department of Education.
- Establishes and maintains liaison with education and public interest groups to inform them of department activities and identify their needs.
- Assists in researching and analyzing, demographic, labor market, and technological data used in establishing educational programs and plans to meet changing needs.
- Provides technical assistance to local programs and assists in coordinating the development of educational programs for funded agencies.
- Assists in developing and recommending funding criteria, competitive application procedures, and forms for awarding contracts to eligible agencies for instructional program services.
- Evaluate impact of policy changes on programs or services.
- Review administrative law judge decisions for impact on education.
- 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 computerized 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, or a related field or a degree in Law.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in educational planning, analysis of educational policy, or intergovernmental/ legislative relations in the implementation of educational policy and planning.
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 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 develop education policies and plans based on need and in accordance with legislation.
- Ability to interpret and explain information on laws, rules, regulations, policies, and plans pertaining to education.
- 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 problems 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 federal rules and regulations and develop a plan to meet special needs.
- Ability to prepare extensive official correspondence.
- Ability to coordinate the maintenance of a program and fiscal reporting system 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 educational programs to meet these needs.
- Ability to analyze trends and project future education needs based on these trends.
- 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 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: P26- JMR 10/30/93