PLANT PATHOLOGIST 2
Career Family: PLANT PATHOLOGIST
New Jersey treats Plant Pathologist 2 as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
This is the senior rung of the Plant Pathologist series, the level you reach after Plant Pathologist 1. The minimum is a bachelor's degree, 2 years of relevant experience, and a professional license. The FY 2027 range lands between $69,668 and $101,951, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Agriculture.
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
Plant Pathologist 2 appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Agriculture.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Plant Pathologist series
- Plant Pathologist 1 — $60,876 – $88,743
- Plant Pathologist 2 — $69,668 – $101,951 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 48th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $86,027. The agencies employing the most are:
- Agriculture (1)
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 the Supervising Plant Pathologist, or other supervisory officer, Division of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, assists in the planning, development and implementation of plant pest and disease control programs that involves scientific detection and evaluation of damage to important crops, trees and other valuable plants; assists in the planning and takes the lead in the conduct of surveys, plant pathological and pest control examination and phytosanitary inspections and carries out regulatory control action; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Plans, surveys, inspects and monitors a wide variety of plants, including imported vegetable transplants, in order to detect, identify, measure and evaluate plant diseases, insect pests and weeds.
- Assists in the planning and coordination of the more complex plant pest and disease control surveys, regulatory and enforcement actions involving the several Bureaus of the Division, other State agencies, the Cooperative Extensive Service and units of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Assists in the planning and conducts complex plant pathological examinations and tests in the field, laboratory, and greenhouse for the diagnosis of plant diseases, reports results, and recommends a course of control action to be taken.
- Serves as lead worker in assigning work to, instructing field staff, and overseeing their performance on a special project or assignment basis.
- Takes the lead in instructing, training and supervising field personnel working on plant pest and disease surveys and control assignments.
- Maintains a reference plant pathology herbarium, and a reference culture collection, for use in diagnosing diseases and training inspectors.
- Recommends appropriate control actions and regulatory alternatives to meet new plant pest and disease control problems.
- Prepares and submits technically sound reports of plant pest and disease control data collected.
- Assists in developing biological control programs as a supplemental or alternative to chemical control programs of plant pest and disease.
- Establishes and is responsible for the maintenance of appropriate written, photographic, computer and other records and files.
- Prepares clear and accurate correspondence; maintains communication with plant growers and others involved in plant pest and disease control programs.
- Serves as Division representative at various public program functions, information meetings and similar gatherings related to plant pest and disease control programs.
- 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
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in plant science which shall include or be supplemented by at least 9 credit hours in plant pathology.
Experience
Two (2) years of professional experience in a laboratory or field environment involving the detection, control and eradication of plant pest and disease.
License
Appointee will be required to obtain certification as a Pesticide Applicator in New Jersey.
Appointee 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 the principles of plant pathology and of plant pathological laboratory and field diagnostic and indexing methods and equipment.
- Knowledge of major plant diseases, insects, pests and weeds; their origin, identification and control.
- Knowledge of plant pest detection and monitoring survey methods and equipment; their operation in the field, laboratory and greenhouse tests.
- Knowledge of agriculture crops, trees, plants and plant materials of economic or environmental importance including identity, distribution and culture.
- Knowledge of the principles and application of plant pest and disease control regulatory actions; such as plant quarantines and eradication programs.
- Knowledge of planning surveys and plant pest and disease control strategies in cooperation with other agency groups and individuals.
- Knowledge of the principles of supervision to aid in serving as lead field survey and inspection worker.
- Knowledge of Federal laws pertaining to plant pest and disease control.
- Ability to read and interpret State and Federal laws and regulations regarding plant pest and disease control programs and activities, and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to diagnose a wide variety of plant diseases, including the ability to carry out the plant pathological examinations, tests and procedures necessary to substantiate the presence and identity of various kinds of plant pathogens.
- Ability to systematically plan, organize, direct and train program activities of plant pest and disease control detection, inspection, survey collection of data, data analysis, and the reporting of results, interpretations and recommendations.
- Ability to interpret the plant pest control laws, rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, other states, and the Federal government.
- Ability to make biological control agent population measurements.
- Ability to develop, organize and lead, giving necessary training suitable for work programs and working procedures, and to evaluate their effectiveness in field and laboratory.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and complete reports of plant pathological and other plant pest control matters, including findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to provide instruction to professional and technical field and laboratory staff assigned to plant pest and disease control.
- Ability to work effectively with associates, superiors, farmers, nurserymen, college representatives, Federal personnel and others associated with the various plant survey, inspection, plant pest and disease control programs, and regulatory programs.
- Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties.
- Ability to establish and maintain reports, records and files.
- 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 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.
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 in Plant Science may be substituted for one year of experience.