GEOLOGIST 4, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Code: 08075C State Competitive Range: S28 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $91,628.18 - $134,900.38/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 a supervisory official in the Department of Environmental Protection, supervises professional staff engaged in the resolution of ground water resource evaluations, contamination investigations, and geological studies which require the application of specific geological science techniques and expertise; may coordinate a geological project(s) involving full responsibility for scientific research, recommendation(s), and implementation for all phases of project(s); supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Provides technical expertise, assistance, and consultation pertaining to regulatory and policy matters regarding the application of geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological techniques to groundwater resource evaluations, permitting activities, contamination investigations, and geological studies.
• Supervises investigations and the collection of geological data for geological studies and permitting activities to locate, evaluate, or characterize aquifers and aquicludes, groundwater contamination, geological formations, and potentially valuable deposits of minerals and geological materials; upon completion of such studies, incorporates the essential information into reports, maps, or permits designed for reproduction or public distribution.
• Supervises and coordinates the efforts of clean-up contractors or State personnel in the control and removal of pollutants from groundwater or subsurface environments.
• Supervises the preparation of reports, cross-sections, or maps showing or describing the extent and distribution of aquifers and other geological formations to evaluate the groundwater resources of an area or to predict the migration of actual or potential pollutants.
• Directs and supervises the maintenance, operation, and repair of various types of equipment used to evaluate the geology or groundwater quality of an area.
• Maintains liaison with mineral producers in the State to keep current with their problems and to provide effective assistance.
• In accordance with department protocol, plans, conducts, or participates in public information activities including public speaking, news media interviews, meetings, hearings, conferences, press releases, and publications pertaining to program activities of the unit.
• Modifies the permit review process and issues permits under New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) or other systems as needed.
• Supervises the development of rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines, and other formal documents pertaining to geological programs.
• Prepares project or unit budget(s) and plans the use of funds, personnel, equipment, and supplies.
• Provides technical expertise and assistance, including court testimony for the Attorney General's Office; prepares departmental orders when litigation involves geological, hydrogeological, geophysical, or geochemical issues, and provides high-level expertise for the revision of standards and regulations.
• Supervises, plans, conducts, and participates in training programs for federal, State, or local government employees and other interested personnel regarding hydrogeology, geophysics, geological mapping, geochemical studies, and/or aquifer evaluation and restoration.
• Supervises and directs activities of an unanticipated nature, resulting from a disaster which impacts or threatens groundwater supplies or quality, or involves other geological hazards.
• Reviews and/or supervises the review, preparation, application, or evaluation of mathematical or computer models used in the application of scientific techniques into permits, reports, and proposals pertaining to geological investigations.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative geological, hydrogeological, geophysical, and other related reports on environmental problems containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares detailed correspondence.
• Supervises the maintenance of essential 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 geology, natural science, or engineering to include or be supplemented by thirty-six (36) semester hour credits in geology, hydrogeology, geohydrology, and/or geophysics, and also supplemented by nine (9) additional semester hour credits in any combination of the following courses: hydrogeology, geophysics, chemistry, computer science/modeling, water resources management, environmental science, soil science, or engineering.

Experience

Four (4) years of professional work experience in geology, geophysics, and/or hydrogeology, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

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 the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the procedures, tools, instruments, materials, and supplies used in geological and geophysical studies and investigations.
• Knowledge of the geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, and groundwater theory.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques used in the evaluation, remediation, and control of groundwater pollution and prevention, the development of groundwater supplies, and of mineral resource exploration.
• Knowledge of the pollutants and the methods used to control their spread, prevent their entry into, and/or facilitate their recovery from the subsurface environment.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of organizing and administering a work unit.
• Knowledge of geological equipment and the methods used in compiling, interpreting, presenting, and mapping subsurface geology, and the extent of pollutants and/or contaminated groundwater.
• Knowledge of the natural resources, geography, geological setting, history, and groundwater resources of the State.
• Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to groundwater protection, and investigations, studies, and related activities, including regulatory standard.
• Knowledge of groundwater instruments and their uses in groundwater hydrogeology.
• Knowledge of the techniques used in designing and supervising field and/or laboratory studies in geology, hydrogeology, and geophysics.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply information pertaining to the geology, groundwater resources, natural resources, geography, geological settings, history, and hydrogeologic systems of the State of New Jersey.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply the New Jersey laws, rules, standards, regulations, and procedures as they pertain to groundwater protection, and hydrogeological and geophysical investigations, studies, and related activities.
• Ability to supervise the evaluation, analysis, and resolution of environmental problems pertaining to geology, groundwater contamination, pollutant migration, or hydrogeology.
• Ability to explain and apply new or routine technical procedures and provide advice, assistance, and training to personnel regarding complex geological and hydrogeologic problems.
• Ability to supervise the collection, interpretation, and evaluation of geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological data and incorporate it into technical or scientific reports.
• Ability to prepare project or unit budget(s) and plan the use of funds, personnel, equipment, and supplies.
• Ability to provide testimony as an expert witness for the Attorney General's Office when litigation involves the application of scientific techniques.
• Ability to understand and interpret geological and geophysical data to locate and trace boundaries of geological formations and structures.
• Ability to plan, conduct, and participate in public information activities including public speaking, news media interviews, meetings, public hearings, conferences, press releases, and publications pertaining to program activities of the unit.
• Ability to deal with the public in a diplomatic manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with mineral producers within the State to understand their needs and provide effective assistance.
• Ability to understand and interpret geological and hydrogeological data to map sub-surface migration of toxic and hazardous substances and petroleum products.
• Ability to supervise the development of rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines pertaining to geology, groundwater, or related geologic disciplines.
• Ability to develop appropriate investigative and research projects to assess the potential or actual existence of ground water problems, water supplies, or mineral resources.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative geological, hydrogeological, geophysical, and other related reports on environmental problems containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
• 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 the 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 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 one of the above listed disciplines may be substituted for one (1) year of the required non-supervisory experience.