ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
Assistant Commissioner is an unclassified role, so it is appointed at the discretion of the hiring authority and does not carry the usual exam-and-tenure track.
To be eligible you bring a bachelor's degree and 9 years of relevant experience. State payroll currently lists about 70 people in the title, led by Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 11 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 11 employers and how to apply →Why this title is unclassified
This specification cites N.J.S.A. 11A:3-4(L), state unclassified service.
(l) All other titles as provided by law or as the Civil Service Commission may determine.
A title in the State unclassified service sits outside Title 11A unless a provision says otherwise. In practice that means no competitive examination to get the job, and none of the career service protections that come with it: no permanent status after a working test period, and no right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission from a removal. Appointment and removal rest with the appointing authority.
The rule that allocates a title to this service is N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.3.
Who employs this title
Assistant Commissioner appears on the State payroll at 12 departments, most of them at Department of Health.
State departments
Showing the largest 8 of 12 departments. All agencies.
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 70 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $183,000. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (10)
- Labor (10)
- Corrections (9)
- Environmental Protection (8)
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 the direction of the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner in a state department, institution, or agency, within a broadly defined area of objectives, formulates plans to accomplish programs of the department; may provide advice to the Commissioner to assist in policy formulation and other policy matters; coordinates and integrates departments initiatives to achieve set goals and objectives; manages staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Evaluates proposed Federal and State legislation and makes appropriate recommendations to the Commissioner.
- Interprets departmental goals to program managers and provides guidance for establishment of effective programs.
- As required, directs, administers, formulates policy and guides work operations in functional program areas.
- As required, controls and organizes the work of divisions, bureaus, offices and organizational units for efficient and effective operations.
- In conjunction with other Assistant Commissioners or managers, develops departmental goals and objectives, and designs and implements a system of evaluative controls to determine whether goals and objectives are being met. Recommends necessary program changes, remedial actions and alternative courses of action.
- Recommends short and long term planning initiatives and formulates methods to achieve the required level of services for the operating programs.
- Formulates procedural guidelines to implement policies of the operating unit.
- Oversees the preparation and subsequent monitoring of the budget and other administrative functions of the office.
- Formulates policy and confers with other officials regarding fiscal recommendations and annual budget requests.
- Confers with departments' officers to plan, analyze and make recommendations concerning the various program areas.
- Coordinates program activities to eliminate overlapping and duplication of functions.
- Guides and determines the most efficient use of personnel and funds, including the consequences resulting from alternative allocation of resources.
- Addresses public groups to interpret policies and provide information concerning the work, programs and operations.
- Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Prepares extensive correspondence in the course of official duties.
- Prepares and/or directs the preparations of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, budgetary, administrative, and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Directs the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Will be required to learn how 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 Bachelor's degree.
Experience
Nine (9) years of professional experience dealing with administrative work requiring independent interpretation of rules, regulations, and policies; dealing with the general public; governmental agencies or other business enterprises, five (5) of which shall have been in a managerial capacity.
License
Appointees 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 practices, policies and procedures utilized and applied in the direction, conduct, control and guidance of a department.
- Knowledge of the laws, acts, regulations and statutes of the State of New Jersey that pertain to the operations and programs of the department.
- Knowledge of management techniques.
- Knowledge of federal legislation, regulations and programs related to the department.
- Knowledge of fiscal and budgetary principles and practices.
- Ability to coordinate program activities to eliminate overlapping and duplication of functions.
- Ability to formulate policies and confers with other officials regarding fiscal recommendations and annual budget requests.
- Ability to investigate and present the need for existing and new positions in the classified service in the State service.
- Ability to address public groups to interpret policies and provide information concerning the work, programs and operations.
- Ability to provide administrative direction, technical assistance and coordination to Department staff as required.
- Ability to investigate the effects of the administration Statutes, Rules, and Regulations and reports findings to the Commissioner's office.
- Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative statistical, financial, budgetary, administrative and other related reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
- Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.
- Ability to learn how 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 if they can perform the 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.