SUPERVISING CONSERVATION POLICE OFFICER

Code: 03198 State Competitive Range: 4A26 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $105,675.57 - $162,702.4/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 general direction of the Chief, Bureau of Law Enforcement, Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection, develops, organizes, and supervises technical and administrative activities of the bureau; oversees and monitors the statewide staff responsible for the administration, planning, and coordination of a subdivision of the bureau's activities; exercises all of the powers and duties conferred by law while conducting regular duties; supervises staff and work activities. Prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Acts as representative of the Chief, Bureau of Law Enforcement, as required, and may assume control of the bureau in accordance with the Chief's directives.
• Recommends changes or additions to the State Game Code, the State Fish Code, law revisions, new legislation, and special permits from data collected from staff and other agency units or from concerned private organizations.
• Assists in the development of internal organization work schedules, programs, and procedures.
• Supervises bureau involvement in the preparation and execution of fish and game land use and development programs.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of correspondence and reports regarding laws, codes, and regulations concerning the use of the wildlife resource and bureau programs.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Develops and executes new conservation enforcement programs.
• Represents the bureau at DEP radio committee meetings; provides input for DEP system evaluation and improvement.
• Supervises the planning and coordination of wildlife resource protection and regulatory programs.
• Plans, directs, and coordinates the activities of subordinate officers assigned to water pollution and marine law enforcement.
• Represents the bureau to various federal, state, and municipal units regarding administrative or operational unit activities or, in the development or coordination of interstate law enforcement.
• Provides information for various citizen groups interested in the fish and wildlife resources.
• Upon being deputized, serves as a Deputy Game Warden of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; ensures compliance with federal regulations including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Lacey Act, the Airborne Hunting Act, the Bald Eagle Protection Act, and the National Wildlife Act.
• Reviews staff submissions for technical errors and compliance with bureau objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains and analyzes records and reports of all fieldwork, and assumes responsibility for their accuracy and completeness.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how 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 one of the Biological Sciences, Biology, Biostatistics, Microbiology, Natural Science, Zoology, Marine Science, Wildlife Biology, Marine Biology, Animal Science, Botany, Physics, Wildlife Science/Conservation, Fisheries Science, Wildlife Management, Conservation Law Enforcement, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science. The Bachelor's degree must include or be supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hour credits in any combination of the following areas: Fisheries Science, Wildlife Science, Ecology, Natural Resource Management or Biological Sciences.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in law enforcement, wildlife science, fisheries science, or environmental science, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

<b>SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:</b>

<b>AGE:</b>

Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.

<b>CITIZENSHIP:</b>

United States citizenship.

<b>TRAINING:</b>

Appointees must have satisfactorily completed the police training course administered by the New Jersey State Police or other accredited police training academy certified by the Police Training Commission (PTC). Such training includes successful attainment of a level of proficiency in the use of firearms.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of natural resources, and fish and wildlife management, and the techniques of gathering information on these resources, their environment and requirements, and the resource users.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of fish and wildlife management and the recreational and commercial use of these resources.
• Knowledge of interview techniques and investigative methods.
• Knowledge of law enforcement methods.
• Knowledge of federal laws and statutes pertaining to migratory wildlife and their habitats.
• Knowledge of the principles of fisheries and wildlife science and their relationship to the development and enforcement of laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the techniques used to identify water and soil pollution.
• Knowledge of the procedures used to prepare affidavits and search warrants.
• Knowledge of citizens' rights concerning arrest, prosecution, search and seizure, and confiscation of evidence.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in covert investigations.
• Knowledge of the methods used to detect and apprehend law violators.
• Ability to collect samples from water and soil.
• Ability to supervise the conduct of comprehensive, effective investigations in preparation for court.
• Ability to instruct volunteers and the public on hunter safety according to established Fish and Game laws and regulations.
• Ability to work outdoors for extensive periods of time under varying climatic conditions and in all types of terrain.
• Ability to operate outboard motorboats and other small craft, including canoes on inland and coastal waterways.
• Ability to read and interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to handle firearms safely and correctly, and to instruct others on the safe, lawful, and proper use of firearms.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others involved in programs for fish and wildlife management.
• Ability to confer with supervisors, Deputy Attorneys General, county and municipal prosecutors to prepare cases for hearings and/or trials.
• Ability to keep current with bureau priorities, programs, objectives, standards, internal organization and development, and maintenance needs.
• Ability to understand the laws and/or regulations associated with Title 23, Title 39, Title 50 and Title 58.
• Ability to understand the procedures to prepare cases for court and final case disposition.
• Ability to work joint investigations and patrols with federal, other state, county and municipal authorities.
• Ability to instruct subordinate officers in proper wildlife law enforcement procedures and methods.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to evaluate staff and their performance.
• Ability to effectively communicate division goals and directives to other agencies and the public.
• Ability to assist in the development and implementation of division policy.
• Ability to conduct training programs in conjunction with assigned duties and responsibilities, this may include, but not be limited to schools, police departments and/or various community groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively to educate and inform the public on the biological principles associated with the rules, laws, procedures and management practices pertaining to the use of fish, game, wildlife and natural resources.
• Ability to act quickly and decisively during emergency situations.
• Ability to cooperate with state and local government officials on matters relating to fish and wildlife conservation programs, and to initiate local programs relating to specific wildlife resources.
• Ability to organize assigned supervisory and technical law enforcement work, analyze law enforcement problems, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to maintain all issued equipment.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of reports and correspondence.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Ability to determine budgetary requirements for an assigned area.
• Ability to learn how 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 if 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 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 Bachelor's degree in Environmental Education, Parks and Recreation or Criminal Justice supplemented by thirty (30) semester hour credits in any combination of the subject areas indicated above will be considered acceptable.

Appointees to this position must successfully qualify semi-annually in the use of firearms.

<b>MEDICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM:</b>

Candidates certified from the eligible list for this title will be required to undergo medical and psychological examinations administered by the appointing authority.

<b>RESIDENCY:</b>

Appointees must reside within the State of New Jersey.

Appointees may be required to possess a motorboat operator's license issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and a Boating Safety Certificate from a program approved by the New Jersey State Police.