WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey is committed to an economical and effective State government and recognizes that the employment of competent senior managers who are accountable for their performance is indispensable to the achievement of this goal; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Executive Service (SES) was established by the 1986 Civil Service Reform Act to attract, retain and develop professional senior level managers with demonstrated skills and expertise for leadership positions in New Jersey State Government; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Management Review Commission and the Commissioner of Personnel have reviewed the operation of the current SES program and recommend a centralized, Statewide system rather than the current departmentally focused process; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to develop appropriate criteria for SES positions as well as a performance based compensation system and to establish a talent bank, procedures for mobility assignments and succession planning for SES employees.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby Order and Direct:

1. The Senior Executive Service system of high level managers shall be implemented on a Statewide basis and administered by the Commissioner of Personnel.

2. The compensation program for SES managers shall be designed to insure high performance standards, documented achievement and fair and consistent salaries, and shall be administered from a central salary account by the Department of Personnel.

3. The Commissioner of Personnel shall establish executive development programs to ensure that the SES appointees are well-trained, competent managers.

4. The Commissioner of Personnel shall develop and implement an SES plan which shall include:

a. criteria for identifying SES positions and making appointments;

b. a review of current SES positions and redesignation of positions where appropriate;

c. a compensation and benefits program based on performance standards and achievement;

d. an executive development program for SES members;

e. the optimal use of mobility assignments and the development of succession plans; and

f. a Human Resource Information System including a talent bank to be used for, among other things, SES selection, mobility assignments and succession planning.

5. The Commissioner of Personnel shall prepare an implementation plan and schedule for achieving the directions contained in this Order within 60 days of this Order.

6. The Commissioner of Personnel shall implement this Executive Order and each department, office, division or agency of the State is authorized and directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Commissioner of Personnel and to make available to him such information, personnel and assistance as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

7. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 17th day of October in the
Year of Our Lord, one thousand
nine hundred and ninety, and of
the Independence of the United States,
the two hundred and fourteenth.

/s/ James J. Florio
GOVERNOR

Attest:

/s/ Andrew Weber
Chief Counsel to the Governor