PLANNING ASSOCIATE 3
Career Family: PLANNING ASSOCIATE
Because Planning Associate 3 is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.
It is the top of the Planning Associate ladder, a grade above Planning Associate 2. A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY 2027 range lands between $100,498 and $148,187, and state payroll currently lists about 40 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. 8 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 8 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Planning Associate 3 appears on the State payroll at 8 departments, most of them at Department of Education.
State departments
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 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 88th 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 40 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $143,176. The agencies employing the most are:
- Education (32)
- Treasury (2)
- Law and Public Safety (1)
- Office of Information Technology (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 manager, in a state department, supervises the development of short and long-term education and/or financial plans by conducting analyses and evaluations of curriculum and other education programs, surveys, needs assessments, and related research; supervises the establishment, maintenance, and evaluation of programs and fiscal data related to state and federal formula aid and discretionary grant applications and allocations; performs mandated regulatory functions; performs work of considerable difficulty and works with a high level of independence; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
- Supervises the design and implementation of evaluation instruments to analyze effectiveness of training, curriculum, and related education services in local school districts and intermediate and regional units.
- Reviews, establishes, and determines priorities for curriculum and training services and funding.
- Supervises the establishing and the maintenance of effective work communications with county offices and regional units to ensure goals of education programs are being met.
- Analyzes relevant state and federal laws and regulations and develops policy and program recommendations for their enforcement.
- Supervises the development of specialized programs for targeted populations.
- Oversees and monitors the ongoing maintenance of local district education goals and progress toward meeting these goals and recommends improvement in meeting goals.
- Establishes and maintains liaison with education and public interest groups to inform them of department activities and identify their needs.
- Researches and analyzes census, demographic, labor market, and technological data and establishes education programs and plans to meet changing needs.
- Ensures that technical assistance is provided to local programs and coordinates the development of education programs for funded agencies.
- Monitors the ongoing statewide implementation and evaluation of instructional programs and ensures adherence to federal law and regulations.
- Supervises the preparation of budgets and negotiation of terms and conditions of third party grants and contracts with local education agencies and other providers.
- Supervises the development of funding criteria and competitive grant application procedures for awarding contracts to eligible agencies.
- 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 Education or a related field as determined by the appointing authority.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in education administration, planning, research, program evaluation, or finance.
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 program.
- Knowledge of public education policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of employee supervision.
- Knowledge of state statute and administrative code as applied to education.
- Knowledge of principles and practices for providing 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 supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
- Ability to establish and maintain working and informational 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 areas of potential problems or additional needs.
- Ability to analyze data and prepare accurate reports containing 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, fiscal reporting, and other essential files.
- Ability to maintain essential records, reports, and files.
- Ability to develop technical assistance materials.
- Ability to plan, conduct, and supervise regional and statewide in-service training programs.
- Ability to synthesize needs assessment information into responsive program plans.
- Ability to analyze state and federal labor projections and identify appropriate education programs to meet projected 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 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.
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.