SENIOR INVESTIGATOR CONSUMER PROTECTION
Senior Investigator Consumer Protection is a local-government title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
On paper it calls for an associate's degree, though the specification lets enough relevant experience stand in for the degree.
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This title is filled by competitive examination.
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Senior Investigator Consumer Protection is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
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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, makes complex, specialized office and field investigations of consumer complaints and prepares informative material about the consumer protection program; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Performs office and field investigations of a complex, specialized nature originating from complaints received from the general public.
- Advises and assists persons presenting complaints in person, by telephone, or in writing by setting forth information and supporting documentation to be submitted as part of a written statement of the complainant.
- Undertakes investigations of complaints, obtaining data in accord with established procedures.
- Communicates by personal interview, telephone, and written correspondence with complainants and subjects of complaints to obtain pertinent data.
- Confers with representatives of commercial enterprises to obtain professional opinions and factual data relative to complaints under investigation.
- Gathers informative materials concerning current and proposed plans of the consumer protection program and puts the collected data into usable form.
- Prepares news releases, pamphlets, circulars, and other informative material designed to acquaint the general public with functions, aims, regulations, policies, and procedures of the consumer protection program.
- Prepares posters, charts, graphs, exhibits, and other visual aid materials.
- Makes speeches and conducts informal talks explaining the consumer protection program to the public.
- Studies contracts, sales agreements, guarantees, warranties, and advertising material to aid in determining rights of complainants and to seek any evidence of misrepresentation.
- Makes recommendations as to whether cases should be considered for mediation, state administrative hearings, litigation, or dismissal.
- Arranges and participates in informal conferences when warranted by circumstances of particular cases to effect a settlement.
- May assist in the supervision of and takes an active part in the training of newly appointed staff members.
- Acts as a witness for the county or municipality in a state administrative hearing or in county or municipal court proceedings involving fraud relating to consumer purchases or services.
Education
Satisfactory completion of at least sixty (60) semester hour credits from an accredited college or university.
Experience
Two (2) years of office and/or field experience conducting investigations or two (2) years of experience as a field representative of a public or private organization investigating varied consumer or consumer-related complaints.
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
- Knowledge of New Jersey Consumer Protection laws and their application.
- Knowledge of investigative procedures and interviewing techniques and their application.
- Knowledge of problems which arise in assisting persons in setting forth information and supporting documentation to be submitted with complaints and in investigation of complaints from consumers.
- Knowledge of laws regarding commercial transactions, contracts, methods of conducting investigations, and the present cost of labor, parts, materials, and credit.
- Ability to deal with others in a courteous, tactful manner
- Ability to organize field and office investigative and related work.
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply basic law and regulations.
- Ability to do complex and/or specialized field and office investigative work.
- Ability to prepare reports of investigations and related matters following established procedures.
- Ability to maintain records, files, and reports.
- Ability 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 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 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.
Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.
Appointees may be required to satisfactorily complete a basic certification course administered by the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs.