PRINCIPAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN, FORENSIC
Principal Laboratory Technician, Forensic is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
The main requirement is 2 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $58,222 to $84,763, and state payroll currently lists 5 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Principal Laboratory Technician, Forensic appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 5 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 5 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $71,639. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (5)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in a forensic laboratory, performs technical and scientific examinations relative to evidential materials submitted to the laboratory and prepares reports; supervises the work of Senior Laboratory Technicians and Laboratory Technicians; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Supervises Laboratory Technicians and Senior Laboratory Technicians in the receiving and handling of materials submitted for laboratory examination.
- Supervises the maintenance of laboratory areas with regard to cleanliness and contamination.
- 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.
- Assists in laboratory procedures relevant to scientific and technical examination of evidential materials received by the unit.
- Assists in examinations requiring the operation of analytical instrumentation.
- Supervises the maintenance of essential laboratory records and files regarding the storage and handling of evidence.
- Supervises the preparation of reagents and standard solutions essential to scientific and technical examinations.
- Under direction, conducts chemical, microscopic, and instrumental analyses of drugs and narcotics.
- Under direction, makes routine extractions from blood, urine, stomach contents, and body organs for toxicological determinations.
- Under direction, conducts examinations of physical evidence including blood stains, seminal stains, hairs, and fibers.
- Prepares reports relative to findings for review by appropriate higher level personnel.
- Offers testimony in court relative to examinations conducted.
- May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- <b>REQUIREMENTS
- EDUCATION</b>
- Completion of 60 college credit hours, 24 hours of which shall have been in the biological, chemical and/or physical sciences.
Experience
Two years of experience as a forensic technician in a research laboratory performing various types of tests.
For applicants who do not possess the required college or certificate in forensic laboratory terminology, two additional years of experience as indicated above may be substituted.
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.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of and familiarity with chemistry methodology, laboratory equipment, reagents, and techniques used in chemical tests and analyses.
- Ability to organize work, analyze routine laboratory problems, and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to supervise a group of laboratory technicians, provide assignments, instructions and develop appropriate work methods.
- Ability to use and supervise maintenance of analytical instruments employed in the laboratory.
- Under direction, ability to conduct chemical, microscopic, and instrumental analyses of varied types of evidence submitted for examination in criminal cases.
- Ability to prepare accurate reports and to establish efficient methods of maintaining essential records and reports regarding the receipt, handling, and storage of evidence.
- Ability to offer testimony in court relative to the results of examinations conducted.
- 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, and 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 essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODE: 19/R18 MER 06/19/2010
Note
Successful completion of a certificate program in Forensic Laboratory Technology may be substituted for the above education.