TECHNICAL PROGRAM ASSISTANT
DEFINITION:
Under direction of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, has charge of the work program and/or staff of a technical unit responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and processing specific actions requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies, and/or procedures; or, independently, under general supervision, reviews, analyzes, and makes effective recommendations for actions involving a specific element of a regulatory or administrative program requiring the application of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and/or technical concepts; does related work as required.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
AS A SUPERVISOR OF A TECHNICAL UNIT
Gives appropriate assignments and instructions to technical employees and supervises their work.
Supervises the review and processing of assigned actions for correctness and, when errors are discovered, makes required corrections.
Reviews and verifies actions of a complete nature taken by subordinates.
Interprets new regulations and policies as they affect the processing of actions and sees that these are put into practice.
Devises methods of reducing the work load without sacrificing efficiency and essential information.
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
Prepares routine correspondence and form letters which may or may not be signed by a supervisory official.
Prepares and supervises clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, and other reports.
Supervises the maintenance of essential records and general files.
WHEN ASSIGNED TO A TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Makes specialized technical determinations, within authority assigned, regarding actions specific to the program.
Maintains tracking and information systems to ensure efficient flow of actions.
Resolves processing problems and serves as a liaison between the program and other agencies.
Reviews requested actions to ensure that all necessary technical information is correct and appropriate; works with submitting agency to correct deficiencies.
Provides technical and procedural information to agencies and individuals concerning the assigned program; resolves technical problems within scope of authority.
Provides technical assistance to all staff members in matters of mutual interests.
Prepares statistical and technical reports.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EXPERIENCE:
Five (5) years of experience in work involving the application of rules, regulations, procedures, or policies in the processing of technical actions.
NOTE: Applicants who do not possess the required experience may substitute semester hour credits from an accredited college or university on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience, substituting to a maximum of four (4) years.
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 AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of modern office methods, practices, routines, machines, and equipment.
Knowledge of the problems encountered in planning and developing effective work procedures in a technical field.
Knowledge of approved English usage, modern filing systems, and statistical procedures.
Ability to correctly interpret New Jersey Department of Personnel rules and regulations, and apply them to specific situations.
Ability to organize assigned technical and/or supervisory work, analyze the problems which arise therein, and develop effective work methods.
Ability to give suitable assignments and instructions to technical employees, and supervise the performance of their work.
Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws and regulations.
Ability to supervise a specialized unit of technical work, create appropriate schedules and routines, and ensure that emergency and peak work periods are covered.
Ability to resolve complaints involving independent decision making based upon rules and regulations.
Ability to interpret basic department laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and methods to persons within or without the department.
Ability to prepare and supervise the compilation of materials for and the preparation of suitable bulletins, pamphlets, and circulars of varied types.
Ability to prepare detailed, technical and confidential correspondence as may be required for the signature of a supervisory official.
Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of statistical, budget, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
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.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
