CHIEF, BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Definition

Under administrative direction of the Assistant Director, Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection, directs the work programs and staff of the Bureau of Law Enforcement; manages staff and work activities. Prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes, and directs the programs and activities of the Bureau of Law Enforcement relative to the protection and management of fish and wildlife resources, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and various types of pollution detection and investigation.
• Enforces laws relating to the state's nongame and endangered species, and the control of exotic wildlife species possessed illegally within the state.
• Plans, organizes, and directs a statewide law enforcement including civilian volunteer law enforcement, designed to protect and regulate the effective utilization of the wildlife, fisheries, and fur-bearing resources of the state.
• Directs and organizes a staff required to maintain an around the clock surveillance of the state's fish and wildlife resources and the apprehension and prosecution of violators.
• Develops and implements the necessary technical and legal procedures and policies enabling Conservation Police Officers to comply with statutes and constitutional requirements.
• Initiates the necessary plans and procedures for coordinating bureau activities with other state, federal, and interstate agencies concerning law enforcement activities and recent court decisions affecting programs within the bureau.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of proposed legislation, and reviews existing laws with recommendations for changes.
• Represents the director and the bureau by attending meetings, conferences, and seminars concerned with enforcement activities pertaining to fish and wildlife resources and pollution investigations.
• Initiates and prepares applications for securing federal grants and monies for law enforcement activities, and the protection of fish and wildlife resources; performs the analysis and follow-up necessary for the completion of same.
• Prepares extensive correspondence during official duties. Coordinates bureau activities with the Attorney General's office, and acts as expert witness in preparation of technical, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Provides appropriate assignments, instructions, directions, and supervision of staff.
• Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Plans, organizes, and manages the preparation of the annual budget for the Bureau of Law Enforcement; develops budgetary contingency plans and alternatives to meet enforcement goals.
• Upon being deputized, serves as a Deputy Game Warden of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure compliance with federal regulations of the Department of Interior, 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.
• Directs the establishment and maintenance of essential records 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

Five (5) years of experience in law enforcement, wildlife science, fisheries science, or environmental science, two (2) years 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 environmental law enforcement and regulatory compliance programs for the protection and management of fish and wildlife and their habitat.
• Knowledge of the application and practices of the fish and wildlife laws and regulations and their role in a statewide program of fish and wildlife conservation and management.
• Knowledge of law enforcement techniques and procedures concerning hunting, fishing, trapping, shellfisheries, and pollution detection.
• Knowledge of the rights of citizens concerning the arrest and prosecution of violators, including search and seizure, and confiscation of evidence.
• Knowledge of law enforcement techniques and investigations.
• Knowledge of federal laws and statutes pertaining to migratory wildlife and their habitats.
• Knowledge of budget and purchasing procedures, contract requirements, developing equipment specifications, and other activities in the purchase of equipment and allocation of funds.
• Ability to handle firearms.
• Ability to apply personnel management techniques.
• Ability to manage assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on federal and state law enforcement programs and policies concerned with regulating the harvest and effects of wildlife, fisheries, shellfisheries, and fur-bearing animals of the state.
• Ability to keep current with bureau priorities, programs, objectives, standards, internal organization and development, and maintenance needs.
• Ability to organize assigned supervisory and technical law enforcement work, analyze law enforcement problems, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to prepare and manage the preparation of reports pertaining to programs and problems containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to recognize the potential impact upon the state's wildlife resource resulting from various types of public and private development projects.
• Ability to prepare and present accurate evidence for use in legal actions taken on behalf of the Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife, and act as an expert witness when needed in court.
• Ability to work with other natural resource professionals to conduct and plan programs for fish and wildlife management.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and revise rules and regulations for law enforcement purposes within the Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife.
• Ability to develop and manage a budget.
• Ability to act quickly and decisively during emergency situations.
• Ability to prepare extensive correspondence during official duties.
• Ability to manage the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
• Ability to learn how to and 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.