N.J. Stat. § 11A:3-3
A senior executive service shall be established in State government and include those positions having substantial managerial, policy influencing or policy executing responsibilities as determined by the Civil Service Commission. Titles included in a collective negotiations unit shall not be included in the senior executive service. The total number of senior executive service employees shall not exceed 1,200. The Civil Service Commission shall adopt rules providing for the selection, placement, transfer, development, compensation, separation and performance appraisal of senior executive service employees, and for the reinstatement of career service employees to the career service. The senior executive service shall not be subject to the provisions of this title unless otherwise specified. The senior executive service shall include noncareer and career service employees. The number of noncareer employees shall not exceed 15% of the entire senior executive service work force.
Where an employee holds permanent career service status in a position in a title that is assigned to the senior executive service, the employee, with appointing authority approval, shall be provided the option of joining the senior executive service. Permanent career service employees who opt not to join the senior executive service or who do not receive approval to join the senior executive service shall have the right to reinstatement to the career service to a level directly under the senior executive service. Permanent career service employees who join the senior executive service and who are later separated from the senior executive service shall have a right of reinstatement to the career service to a level held prior to entry in the senior executive service, unless the employee has been separated, after opportunity for hearing, from the senior executive service for reasons which constitute cause for removal from the career service.
N.J.S. § 11A:3-3