NJ Civil Service Navigator

PLANNING ASSOCIATE 2 POLICY AND PLANNING

Policy And Planning

Code: 72624F State Non-Competitive Range: P28 (FY2026)

Career Family: PLANNING ASSOCIATE

Salary: $88,529.64 - $130,338.5/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

Planning Associate 2 Policy and Planning is a non-competitive state civil service title, so there is no ranked exam. You qualify by meeting the stated education and experience.

It expects a master's degree and 4 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $88,530 to $130,339, and state payroll currently lists about 51 people in the title, most of them at 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

    Department of Environmental Protection 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

    Office of Administrative Law'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.

Pay ladder: Planning Associate series

  1. Planning Associate 1 — $80,756 – $118,678
  2. Planning Associate 2 — $88,530 – $130,339
  3. Planning Associate 3 — $97,100 – $143,176

Its top salary lands around the 72nd 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 51 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $121,977. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Education (46)
  • Environmental Protection (3)
  • Office of Administrative Law (2)

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 a Planning Associate 3, manager, or other supervisory official in the Department of Education, analyzes, develops, and recommends 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. Establishes, maintains, and evaluates program and fiscal data related to state and federal formula aid and discretionary grant applications and allocations; performs mandated regulatory functions; is knowledgeable in and works with 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.
  • Designs and implements evaluation instruments to analyze effectiveness of education policy, plans, training, and education services in local school districts and intermediate and regional units.
  • Assists in the establishment of developmental priorities for curriculum and training services.
  • Establishes and maintains effective work communications with county offices, and regional units to ensure compliance with educational policy, plans, and programs.
  • Develops technical documents for all New Jersey education systems to evaluate educational services.
  • Analyzes complex demographic data, develops plans, and recommends policy and formula for funds distribution.
  • Analyzes relevant state and federal laws and regulations and develops policy and planning recommendations for their enforcement.
  • Initiates the planning of specialized programs for target populations.
  • After review, makes recommendations on changes in maintenance of local district education policy, plans, and 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.
  • As directed, trains other professional or nonprofessional personnel.
  • Review administrative law judge decisions for impact on education.
  • Evaluate impact of policy changes on programs or services.
  • Researches and analyzes demographic, labor market, and technological data and makes recommendations on education programs and plans to meet changing needs.
  • As required, develops and recommends funding criteria and competitive application procedures and forms for awarding grants and contracts to eligible agencies.
  • Provides technical assistance to local programs and coordinates the development of training programs for funded agencies, as needed.
  • Coordinates the ongoing statewide implementation and evaluation of instructional programs as required by federal law and regulations to ensure compliance.
  • As required, coordinates program maintenance and fiscal reporting comparing results with department standards and recommending changes to meet standards as needed.
  • 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

Four (4) years of experience in education 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 applied to education.
  • Knowledge of principles and practices providing adult 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 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 program plans from needs assessment information.
  • Ability to analyze state and federal labor projections and identify appropriate educational programs to meet these needs.
  • Ability to analyze trends and project future educational 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.

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.