Program Specialist Trainee

POSTING NUMBER: HR26-0056
ISSUE DATE: 5/7/2026
TITLE: Program Specialist Trainee
CLOSING DATE: 5/21/2026
DIVISION / OFFICE / UNIT: Housing and Community Resources / Office of Low Income Energy Conservation - Weatherization Unit
LOCATION: 101 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08625
SALARY RANGE: P95 $51,479.83
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
OPEN TO: General Public and/or State Employees

Online application available at: https://njdcaportal.dynamics365portals.us/dca-services/public-job-postings/view-job-posting/?id=%7b08845139-8849-F111-88B4-001DD8007431%7d

DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR DUTIES:
As a trainee and productive worker, receives on-the-job training while assisting in the professional, administrative, and analytical work to promote the planning, operation, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of human or social service programs, programs serving the socio-economic needs of specific clients populations, or regulatory programs designed to ensure public safety, health and welfare, or protection of the environment; Assists in all activities pertaining to the administration of the Weatherization program such as grants management and monitoring; Reviews and monitor grantees' program activities to ensure that policies and procedures are adhered to and the grantees are meeting program standards through weekly site visits; Provide feedback and comments to grantees on concerns, issues and provide recommendations or solutions for improving program; completes assignments which provide practical Program Specialist experience; does other related work. *Note: Prior work experience in the construction field preferred. 

ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the 12-month training period will be eligible for advancement to one of the following titles: Program Specialist 1, Program Specialist 1 (Socio-Economic Programs), Program Specialist 1 (Social/Human Services), or Program Specialist 1 (Regulatory Programs). The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to one of the titles listed above shall be considered as cause for separation.

REQUIREMENTS
(APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW)

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: REQUIREMENTS: NOTE: 

Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. 

Four (4) years of professional experience relevant to the position. 

NOTE: Please refer to the Advancement section located at the bottom of this title specification for a comprehensive list of approved titles connected to this trainee title. Experience must be related to the journeyman title associated with the position. 

OR 

Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. 

NOTE: Appointees to positions assigned to the Weatherization Assistance Program in the Department of Community Affairs will be required to complete training and obtain a certification as a Quality Control Inspector, issued by an agency accredited by the United States Department of Energy (USDOE),in conformance with USDOE Weatherization Program Notice 14-4. Training is required to be successfully completed subsequent to advancement to the primary title, Program Specialist 1, Socio-Economic Programs. 

NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
 

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 essential duties of the position.
 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: The SAME program allows candidates who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. For more information about the SAME program, please go to: https://www.nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml. If you have any questions, please email, resume1@dca.nj.gov or call 609-292-6030. If you are applying under the NJ ”SAME” Program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter) must be submitted along with your resume to resume1@dca.nj.gov by the closing date indicated above. DO NOT SUBMIT VIA THE DCA PORTAL.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: The Department of Community Affairs provides many employee benefits, including but not limited to:

• Alternative Workweek Program*
• Telework*
• Deferred Compensation
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Health, Dental, and Life Insurance
• Benefit Leave (Vacation, Sick, Administrative Leave)
• Flexible and Health Spending Accounts
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Pension

*Pursuant to Department policy, procedures, and/or guidelines
Please submit a resume and any required documents (licenses, certification and/or transcripts) along with a letter of interest, including a phone number, by the closing date to:

Resumes may be mailed to:
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Office of Human Resources
HR26-0056
101 South Broad Street
PO Box 800
Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Online application available at: https://njdcaportal.dynamics365portals.us/dca-services/public-job-postings/view-job-posting/?id=%7b08845139-8849-F111-88B4-001DD8007431%7d