PRINCIPAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (PLANT INDUSTRY)
Plant Industry
Career Family: PRINCIPAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
To land Principal Laboratory Technician (plant Industry) in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
An associate's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY 2027 range lands between $58,222 and $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 (plant Industry) 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 the direction of a Senior Biologist, Entomologist I, or other supervisor, Division of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, supervises and does the technical laboratory and field work necessary in the production and distribution of natural control agents for insect pests, plant diseases and nematodes; and in the detection of chemicals used to treat certified seed stocks; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Supervises technicians engaged in the laboratory rearing of insect parasites, disease organisms and host material.
- Supervises the field collection of parasitic insects as may be required in the maintenance and development of breeding stock and in the evaluation of new or exotic parasite species.
- Supervises the collection, appropriate storage and care of living host material required in the rearing of insect parasites and disease organisms.
- Assists program professionals in planning, developing and evaluating mass-rearing techniques, behavioral studies and bio-assay procedures.
- Coordinates production levels, release and shipping schedules of biological material.
- Makes complex microscopic examinations of parasitized insects to determine the specific causative agents.
- Supervises others in the processing of plants material collected during field visits to commercial nurseries and plant growers for laboratory examination and in the maintenance of such materials in appropriate conditions pending examination.
- Supervises the separations of soil and plant parts necessary for the determination of phytoparasitic nematodes and makes complex microscopic examinations of nematodes and classifies these as specific plant pests.
- Examines moribund and dead insects for the presence of the agent responsible, recognizes the symptoms and signs of virus diseases; obtains in pure culture and identifies specific insect diseases of a fungal or bacterial nature; classifies other diseases and parasitic organisms and screen them for expert examination.
- Makes comparative laboratory observations concerned with habits and behavior of insect parasites which may be required in the development of rearing techniques.
- Assigns and instructs subordinate laboratory employees and supervises the performance of their work.
- Supervises the preparation of insect diets and culture media.
- Examines treated plant seed chemically and by bio-assay to determine and evaluate treatment with approved seed disinfectants.
- Prepares written records of laboratory work undertaken and reports of the progress of field and laboratory work containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- 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.
- Maintains essential laboratory records and files.
- 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.
Education
Successful completion of 60 semester hours at an accredited college or university, 12 hours of which shall have been in the biological sciences and 12 additional credit hours in any combination of either the biological or physical sciences.
Experience
Two (2) years' experience as a technician in an agricultural or research laboratory dealing with biological pests and disease control in plants.
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.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Wide knowledge in the biological sciences, including entomology, general zoology and microorganisms.
- Wide knowledge of insect behavior, rearing requirements and culture techniques.
- Wide knowledge of the use of standard laboratory equipment, supplies and reagents.
- Wide knowledge of the precautions to be taken in receiving, identifying, analyzing, labelling, shipping and other handling of biological materials.
- Wide knowledge of plant materials affected by plant pests and disease.
- Wide knowledge of the purposes of biological control techniques and precautions to be observed in their use.
- Ability to organize assigned work and analyze routine laboratory problems.
- Ability to supervise a group of technical employees, provide assignments and instructions and develop appropriate work methods.
- Ability to carry out routine laboratory bio-assay and culture techniques of varied types in accordance with standard and prescribed procedures.
- Ability to observe appropriate precautions and do precise and accurate work in the receiving, handling, storing and shipping of biological materials.
- Ability to use and maintain scientific equipment including microscopes, environmental chambers, balances and autoclaves.
- Ability to prepare accurate reports of parasite production, shipments and behavior.
- Ability to maintain essential records and files.
- Ability to carry out and supervise investigations of behavior, characteristics or culture requirements of biological control organisms.
- Ability to discuss laboratory operation and the concepts of biological control with interested laymen and professionals.
- 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, or 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 the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Successful completion of a course or training equivalent to one (1) academic year in Clinical Laboratory Technology.
For applicants who do not possess the required education or the course in Clinical Laboratory Technology, two additional years of experience as a technician in a public health, agricultural or research laboratory performing bacteriological, chemical and other tests may be substituted.