Personnel Officer

Assistant Personnel Officer

The City of Jersey City Human Resources Division is seeking a Personnel Officer to serve as the Assistant to the Division Director and support the administration of New Jersey Civil Service functions. The Personnel Officer will serve as a principal resource on New Jersey Civil Service laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and personnel transactions and will act as a liaison between the City of Jersey City, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, departmental leadership, employees, and other governmental agencies. Responsibilities include Civil Service administration, classification and compensation, certification processing, appointments and promotions, workforce planning, and personnel records. The position will also provide administrative support to the Division Director, including calendar management, scheduling, meeting coordination, and related administrative duties.

Examples of Duties

Civil Service Administration & Compliance

• Serves as a primary liaison with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission on personnel and employment matters.
• Interprets and applies New Jersey Civil Service laws, Title 11A, Title 4A of the New Jersey Administrative Code, Civil Service Commission policies, procedures, decisions, and related requirements.
• Provides guidance to departments and management regarding Civil Service appointments and personnel transactions.
• Reviews personnel actions to ensure compliance with Civil Service requirements before processing or submission.
• Coordinates and processes Civil Service certifications and eligible lists and ensures appropriate disposition and appointment actions are completed.
• Reviews certification lists, promotional lists, open competitive lists, special reemployment lists, and other Civil Service employment lists.
• Ensures appointments are made in accordance with applicable Civil Service rules, including permanent, provisional, temporary, regular, promotional, and other authorized appointment types.
• Monitors provisional appointments and works with departments and the Civil Service Commission to facilitate examinations, certifications, and permanent appointments where appropriate.
• Coordinates requests for Civil Service examinations, announcements, certifications, and related recruitment activities.
• Monitors employee status, working test periods, permanent status, seniority, and other Civil Service employment considerations.

Classification & Position Management

• Reviews requests to create, abolish, reclassify, or modify positions and determines the appropriate Civil Service title and classification.
• Prepares and coordinates requests for classification reviews, desk audits, title changes, and other classification actions.
• Reviews Civil Service job specifications and advises departments regarding appropriate titles, minimum qualifications, experience requirements, education requirements, and licensing requirements.
• Works with departments to ensure assigned duties are consistent with applicable Civil Service job specifications.
• Maintains and monitors authorized positions, titles, organizational assignments, and classification records.
• Serves as a technical advisor to executive leadership, department directors, supervisors, and managers regarding Civil Service and human resources matters.
• Provides guidance regarding organizational restructuring, staffing, position creation, classification, recruitment, succession planning, and workforce management.
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of modern local government human resources administration.
• Thorough knowledge of New Jersey Civil Service laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes and Title 4A of the New Jersey Administrative Code.
• Knowledge of Civil Service classification, examination, certification, appointment, promotion, working test period, layoff, disciplinary, and appeal procedures.
• Knowledge of public-sector recruitment and selection practices.
• Knowledge of classification and compensation principles.
• Knowledge of employee and labor relations principles, disciplinary procedures, and grievance administration.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and New Jersey employment laws and regulations.
• Ability to interpret Civil Service rules, job specifications, administrative decisions, collective negotiations agreements, personnel policies, ordinances, and employment laws.
• Ability to analyze complex Civil Service and personnel matters and recommend compliant and practical solutions.
• Ability to review organizational structures and employee duties to determine appropriate Civil Service classifications.
• Ability to manage multiple personnel transactions, certifications, deadlines, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate complex Civil Service requirements clearly to managers, employees, applicants, and executive leadership.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, governmental officials, labor representatives, employees, and members of management.
• Ability to supervise and develop professional and administrative HR staff.
• Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and personnel documentation.
• Ability to utilize modern HR information systems, electronic records, reporting tools, and Civil Service personnel systems.

Education and Experience Requirement: Bachelor's degree, along with three (3) to five (5) years of concentrated experience in New Jersey Civil Service administration. General human resources experience in other functional areas will not substitute for the required specialized Civil Service knowledge and experience.

Supplemental Information

This is a Civil Service Job and you must eventually pass and qualify for an applicable Civil Service title. Please note that this role is also subject to the residency requirements set forth by the NJ First Act.

The City of Jersey City is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations relating to anti-discrimination and anti-harassment.