PLANNING ASSOCIATE 1, SCHOOL/EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Career Family: PLANNING ASSOCIATE
There is no civil service exam for Planning Associate 1, School/Education Programs. As a non-competitive state title, it is filled on the strength of meeting the listed qualifications.
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 9 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. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Planning Associate 1, School/Education Programs appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Education.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Education | 9 |
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 9 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $103,509. The agencies employing the most are:
- Education (9)
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 limited supervision of a supervisory official in the Department of Education, assists in analyzing, developing, and maintaining operating and grants-in-aid budgets for state, federal, and other funding sources; assists in analyzing management systems and financial controls; assists in developing education programming by conducting analyses and evaluation of educational programs, surveys, needs assessments, and program fiscal data related to state and federal formula and discretionary grant applications and allocations; and/or assists in monitoring all financial areas for school districts; performs mandated regulatory functions; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Assist 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.
- Analyze demographic data and helps develop, plan, and recommend policy and formula for funds distribution.
- Assist in analyzing management systems and financial controls in order to assess their adequacy to implement education plans and to increase program efficiency and cost effectiveness.
- Monitor, review, analyze, and recommend approval of lease purchase and bond fund transactions for school districts.
- Review applications of extension of credit and recommends approval.
- Ensure that the lease purchase and bonding transactions of school districts meet the acceptable accounting standards.
- Recommend bond forms and requirements from various entities for lease/purchase of school facilities.
- Review and recommend approval or disapproval of terms of lease/purchase agreements and extension of credit applications.
- Conduct hearings on school lease/purchase agreements and refinancing or defeasance applications.
- Develop and maintain operating budget and financial controls for the school districts, programs and/or the department.
- Develop cost estimates for proposed programs for the school districts, programs and/or the department.
- Assist in monitoring the acquisition and disbursal of education grants.
- Determine impact on education programming from changes in funding, personnel, programs, or services.
- Establish and maintain effective work communications with county offices and regional units to ensure goals of education programs are being met.
- Audit program records or finances.
- May establish and administer operating and grants-in-aid budgets and expenditures for state, federal, and other non-state funding sources.
- Conduct financial and compliance review of accounts, financial transactions, and program outcomes.
- Analyze relevant state and federal laws and regulations, and assist in developing policy and program recommendations for their enforcement.
- Establish and maintain liaison with education and public interest groups to inform them of department activities and identify their needs.
- Assist in researching and analyzing demographic, labor market, and technological data used in establishing education programs and plans to meet changing needs.
- Assist in providing technical assistance to local programs and assist in coordinating the development of training programs for funded agencies.
- Assist in the development of specialized programs for targeted populations.
- Assist in developing technical documents for the State education system to evaluate to educational services.
- Assist in reviewing the progress of local district education goals, as approved by the Department of Education.
- Assist in developing and recommending funding criteria, competitive application procedures, and forms for awarding contracts to eligible agencies.
- Assist to coordinate program maintenance and fiscal reporting systems with departmental standards.
- 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 Public Administration, Educational Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
Experience
Three (3) years of professional experience in school business management/accounting or private sector budgeting, accounting, or auditing.
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 law, regulation, policies and procedures governing public sector budgeting, purchasing, accounting
- Knowledge of principles and practices for improving specialized education programming at the local level.
- Knowledge of state and federal statutes and administrative codes as they apply to education.
- 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.
- Knowledge of budgeting methods and principles.
- Knowledge of cost-benefit analysis.
- Knowledge of laws and regulations regarding lease purchase agreements for school districts.
- Knowledge of bonding and financing of capital projects.
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of program monitoring and auditing.
- Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Procedures (GAAP).
- Knowledge of state school aid financing.
- Knowledge of school funding formulas.
- Ability to analyze complex financial records and manage complex budgets.
- Ability to apply guidelines and procedures to grant and aid allocation.
- 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 state and 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 in-service training programs.
- Ability to develop program plans from needs assessment information.
- 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 learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to maintain essential records, reports and files.
- 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.
Possession of a valid Certificate as a Certified Public Accountant issued by the New Jersey State Board of Certified Public Accountants may be substituted for the Master's degree.