Nutrition Program Specialist Apprentice

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NOTICE OF JOB VACANCY

TITLE: Nutrition Program Specialist Apprentice

ANNOUNCEMENT #: 38-26

STARTING SALARY: $60,876.32

SALARY AFTER 1 YEAR: $63,662.98

LOCATION: Division of Food and Nutrition, Trenton, NJ

ISSUE DATE:  9/17/2026

CLOSING DATE: 10/01/2026

[X] GENERAL PUBLIC              

ELECTRONIC FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Interested applicants must email a cover letter,including the announcement number, resume, and transcripts by the closing date of this Notice of Job Vacancy to njdajobs@ag.nj.gov.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the close supervision of a supervisory official within the Division of Food and Nutrition, in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, as an apprentice and productive worker, receives on the job training in the delivery of nutrition programs, provides technical assistance, works with program staff to monitor program sponsors/participants to determine compliance with applicable program regulations, assists program staff responsible for implementing measures to expand program participation; performs related work as required.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Food Service Management, Dietetics, Food Science, Food Technology, Home Economics, or other areas related to nutrition; or a Bachelor’s degree in family and consumer health sciences, public health, or human services.NOTE: The degree in Home Economics must include or be supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Food and Nutrition.

FOREIGN DEGREES: Degrees and/or transcripts issued by a college or university outside of the United States must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your expense. This evaluation must be included with your submission and failure to submit the required evaluation may result in an ineligibility determination.

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.

APPRENTICE ADVANCEMENT: Upon the successful completion of a twenty-four (24) month apprenticeship, appointees will be eligible for advancement to Nutrition Program Specialist 1 in accordance with New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures.

NOTE: The inability of an employee in the apprentice title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to Nutrition Program Specialist 1 shall be considered as cause for separation.

AUTHORIZATION TO WORK:  Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services regulations. 

NOTE:  The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for permanent residency to the United States or work visa.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Effective September 1, 2011, NJ PL 70 (NJ First Act), requires all State employees must reside in New Jersey, unless exempted under the law, or current employees who live out-of-state and do not have a break-in service of more than seven calendar days, as they are "grandfathered." New employees or current employees who were not grandfathered and who live out-of-state have one year after the date of employment to relocate their residence to New Jersey or request an exemption. Current employees who reside in NJ must retain NJ residency, unless an exemption is obtained. Employees who fail to meet the residency requirements or obtain an exemption will be removed from employment.

SAME PROGRAM INFORMATION

SAME APPLICANTS: If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted to njdajobs@ag.nj.gov along with your resume, cover letter, announcement number, and transcript (if position has a degree requirement) by the closing date indicated above. For more information on the SAME Program visit their Website at: https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, email: CSC-SAME@csc.nj.gov, or call CSC at (609) 292-4144, option 3.

BENEFITS*

*Pursuant to the State/Department’s policy, procedures and/or guidelines

Statewide benefits include:

Deferred Compensation

Health and Life Insurance

Flexible and Health Savings Accounts (FSA) (HSA)

Alternate Work Week available for some positions

Paid Time Off

State Holidays

Up to $250 in rewards for Wellness Program

Telework available for some positions

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is an Equal Employment 

Opportunity Employer