SUPERVISING ENTOMOLOGIST

Code: 02475 State Competitive Range: S25 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $79,843.57 - $117,227.97/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 the Chief, Bureau of Entomology, Division of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, implements and directs the programs and the inspection and certification of nurseries and horticultural stock production and imported and domestic plant material entering New Jersey from foreign countries and other states; supervises Senior Horticulturalists and Entomologists; does work as required.

Examples of work

• Implements and directs programs of certifying New Jersey nurseries and dealers from freedom of plant pests and plant quality.
• Implements and directs programs certifying imported and domestic plant material entering New Jersey as free of important plant pests.
• Enforces the State regulations concerning plant quarantines against other states. Enforces State statutes which require the eradication and/or suppression of certain exotic pests.
• Implements pest survey programs which provides for prompt detection of insect infestation and plant diseases in the State.
• Develops cooperative Federal-State suppression programs for gypsy moth and other pests for the purpose of reducing economic and environmental impacts of pest outbreaks.
• Performs identification of plant materials, plant pests, plant injury, and makes recommendations for corrective measures.
• Prepares, and issues reports, bulletins, and circulars, on recommendations dealing with the control of forest pests which will benefit the industry and the consumer.
• Assists Chief in planning and budgeting to make recommendations to insure the program issues and needs are properly considered.
• Supervises subordinates, provides training in pest control instructs survey methods and procedures and directs and evaluates work performance.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Evaluates functional programs specific to the Bureau of Entomology.
• Receives, investigates and recommends action on pest detection reports received from private landowners, land managers, and other State agencies.
• Plans, evaluates, and supervises special insect and plant disease surveys and the testing of new suppressive control measures.
• Prepares clear, scientifically sound, accurate, and informative reports on matter pertaining to insect and disease prevention, detection and suppression containing findings, conclusion, and recommendations.
• Participates as a speaker before various private and public organizations and in various educational and training programs to describe various pest problems and the best means available to suppress them.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential pest reports, records and files. Prepares correspondence as may be required.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Entomology, or Plant Science. Applicants who possess a Bachelor's degree in Biology or Plant Science must have nine (9) credit hours in Entomology included in or supplemented to the degree.

Experience

Three (3) years of professional experience in plant pest inspection and control programs and identification of major injurious insects, one year of which shall have been included supervising responsibility.

License

Appointees will have the opportunity to acquire registration as a certified regulatory Pesticide Applicator from the Department of Environmental Protection during the working test period.

Applicants will be required to qualify for a Federal License to issue phytosanitary certificates during the working test period.

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

• Thorough knowledge of the plant pests of economic significance and the methods of preventing and controlling them.
• Ability to acquire a thorough knowledge of the provisions of Federal, New Jersey, and other state laws and quarantines relating to the inspection and certification of nurseries and nursery stock and with regard to injurious forest insects and diseases.
• Thorough knowledge of entomology and horticulture.
• Wide knowledge of survey procedures and statistical methods used to detect and evaluate and control injurious pest problems.
• Wide knowledge of foreign, Federal phytosanitary regulations for the movement of all plant material and ability to acquire the knowledge as it pertain to the State of New Jersey.
• Wide knowledge of Federal-State Cooperative programs and guidelines to obtain financial aid for prevention, detection, evaluation, and suppression of forest pests.
• Ability to acquire a thorough knowledge of New Jersey Pesticide Laws as they apply to the conduct of suppression programs.
• Wide knowledge of Federal Pesticide Laws as they apply to the conduct of suppression programs.
• Wide knowledge of forest, ornamental, and shade tree species.
• Considerable knowledge of insect taxonomy for use in identifying pest which attack food, fiber, and man.
• Considerable knowledge of the techniques involved in securing cooperation regarding inspections and in encouraging voluntary compliance with legal requirements.
• Considerable knowledge of standard insecticides and spray equipment and of the methods used to calibrate dosage rates.
• Considerable knowledge of supervisory principals, techniques and their application.
• Ability to analyze, interprets, and apply basic law and regulations relating to the inspection and certification work of plant material.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with local, state, and Federal agencies to coordinate control training programs.
• Ability to develop, organize, and supervise suitable work programs and working procedures.
• Ability to assign, instruct, and supervise the technical and professional staff assigned to pest detection and suppression work.
• Ability to prepare official correspondence in connection with work programs.
• Ability to prepare clear, scientifically sound, accurate, and informative reports of inspection and certification matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations,
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of the essential records and files.
• 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.

A Master's degree with specialization in Entomology may be substituted for one year of experience in a non-supervisory experience.