INVESTIGATOR 2 CHILD PROTECTION
Career Family: INVESTIGATOR
In New Jersey, Investigator 2 Child Protection is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY 2027 range lands between $78,381 and $115,078, and state payroll currently lists about 45 people in the title, most of them at Children and Families.
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
Investigator 2 Child Protection appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Children and Families.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Children and Families | 45 |
Where this title is used
Investigator 2 Child Protection is a common title, so it is used in both State and local service. The local side is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, which set their own pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Investigator series
- Investigator 1 — $62,499 – $91,249
- Investigator 2 — $71,562 – $104,839
- Investigator 3 — $83,582 – $122,832
- Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety — $83,582 – $122,832
Its top salary lands around the 62nd 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 45 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $111,187. The agencies employing the most are:
- Children and Families (45)
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 limited supervision of an Investigator 3 or other supervisory official, in the Department of Children and Families, independently conducts complex investigations, involving on site, out of home civil child abuse/neglect allegations; does other related duties.
Examples of work
Investigates cases involving alleged institutional abuse/neglect of children by employees. Arranges or conducts, individually or as head of a team, investigations and surveillance relevant to allegations of fraud, negligence, incompetency, misconduct, or institutional abuse/neglect by public employees, industry representatives, licensed/certified professionals, or authorized vendors or out-of-home caretakers. Acts as a witness and testifies for the state before grand juries, courts of law, administrative hearings, or other judicial bodies. Participates in complex and major phases of investigations and directs the course of an investigation. Conducts research, analysis, and data gathering in connection with complaints, violations, and any other data relevant to alleged noncompliance. Prepares reports of investigational activities containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Prepares correspondence. Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal documents. Participates in the execution or serving of legal documents such as warrants, subpoenas, orders and notices. Coordinates investigative activities to secure, preserve, and record evidence. Conducts formal and informal conferences on regulatory matters with public officials, industry employees, and representatives, and the public to resolve and eliminate the cause of valid complaints. Reviews reports and supporting documentation of violations of rules and relations and provides testimony at contested case hearings. May take the lead of a team monitoring compliance of joint agency controlled ctivities and instituting enforcement action on any violations noted. Acts as principal liaison with state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, local authorities, and other state departments in matters of mutual interest. Coordinates investigations with the Deputy Attorney General assigned to present cases in court. May conduct surveillance at all hours to establish patterns of conduct and detect violations of law. May be required to use cameras, radios and other investigative equipment and analyze the information gathered through their use. Instructs investigative team members in interviewing witness to obtain highly confidential, accurate, and comprehensive supporting documentation relative to alleged violations by individual(s) or organization(s). Will 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. REQUIREMENTS:
License
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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of procedures and techniques used to conduct investigations. Knowledge of the types of conduct that would legally constitute abuse/neglect under the regulatory enforcement of the Department of Children and Families. Knowledge of methods to research and obtain background data. Knowledge of legal documents such as subpoenas, affidavits and search warrants and the procedures for requesting, obtaining and executing them. Knowledge of the forms of affidavits and procedures that must be followed to properly execute an affidavit. Knowledge of procedures for requesting/obtaining subpoenas and search warrants. Knowledge of interviewing techniques. Knowledge of techniques used to review contracts, deeds, sales agreements, and advertising materials to determine rights of complaints and seek evidence of misrepresentation. Knowledge of legal terminology used in investigative work. Ability to interpret and apply regulations, policies, statutes, laws, standards of regulatory control and compliance, and civil, administrative, criminal and institutional abuse/neglect. Ability to interview witnesses and take proper statements from them to introduce in court proceedings. Ability to apply state and federal laws and regulations relating to regulated activities. Ability to provide testimony under oath in administrative hearings, state and federal courts or other judicial bodies. Ability to gather and preserve evidence to introduce in court proceedings. Ability to obtain and review reports of police and other law enforcement agencies. Ability to determine and evaluate situations which require photographs and/or radios. Ability to testify to the accuracy, time, place, and direction of photographs to lay a foundation for their introduction as evidence. Ability to conduct, or participate as a member of a team in assigned office and/or field investigative duties. Ability to investigate and analyze facts and data. Ability to prepare reports of investigative activities. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. 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 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. CODES: 25/I25 - MER 9/01/07
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 must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional office and/or field experience conducting investigations, collecting evidence, and preparing investigative reports involving high risk child abuse and/or neglect or other problematic situations involving services to clients with social, emotional, psychological or other behavioral problems, or as a police officer performing criminal follow-up investigations (not preliminary investigations). OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Guidance and Counseling, Divinity or other related behavioral science area; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.