CHIEF INVESTIGATOR PUBLIC DEFENDER
Career Family: CHIEF
Chief Investigator Public Defender sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
It lists a bachelor's degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $101,708 to $150,105, and state payroll currently lists about 11 people in the title, most of them at Office of the Public Defender.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Office of the Public Defender's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 11 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $140,426. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (11)
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.
Definition
Under direction of a Deputy Administrator of Investigations and Field Operations in the Office of the Public Defender, has charge of work programs and staff of divisions or programs with multiple geographic locations statewide or the largest regional offices responsible for preparation of cases involving the representation of clients; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Supervises investigators in the performance of all phases of field and office work and is accountable to the Deputy Administrator of Investigations and Field Operations for the performance of assigned staff. Provides assignments and gives instructions to investigators. Directs preparation and maintenance of records covering all phases and activities of each case or investigation. Reviews recommendations from investigators concerning need for legislation or administrative regulations or procedures; recommends new and proposed legislation or administrative procedures to alleviate the situation. Testifies in court concerning the findings of investigations and gives testimony on technical matters. Supervises and participates in conduct of training for investigators. Administers and maintains an adequate and proper inter-government relationship between the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies. Organizes assigned supervisory work and develops effective work methods/procedures. Analyzes, reviews, and interprets reports, studies, charts, graphs, and other reference materials compiled by investigative staff. Manages work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Develops methods, procedures, and protocol to be used in the compilation, organization, and presentation of data. Reviews laws, rules, regulations, and procedures of involved agencies. Supervises preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and concise reports, summaries, and compilations containing findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations. Supervises establishment/maintenance of records and files. 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.
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 investigative methods and interview techniques. Knowledge of methods and procedures for gathering, assembling, and arranging extensive data for developing cases. Knowledge of procedures and precautions used in the investigation of matters of a criminal nature. Knowledge of procedures involved in collecting, correlating, compiling, and tabulating extensive statistical data. Knowledge of methods and procedures involved in preparing legal proof of facts for trial purposes. Knowledge of research sources, methods, techniques. Ability to organize assigned supervisory work and to develop effective work methods. Ability to supervise the performance of office and field work of a complex nature involving criminal defendants, victims of abuse and neglect, clients with a variety of disabilities, and others with a variety of physical, emotional and/or social disorders. Ability to testify in administrative hearings and in court proceedings. Ability to organize complex field and office work. Ability to write clearly and concisely. Ability to use necessary technical vocabularies. Ability to organize information in an understandable/efficient manner. Ability to conduct training seminars. Ability to prepare official correspondence. Ability to provide assignments and give instructions to investigative staff. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the unit. Ability to develop methods, procedures, and protocol to be used in the compilation, organization, and presentation of data. Ability to train and instruct field representative staff. Ability to prepare instruction manuals. Ability to analyze, review, and interpret reports, studies, charts, graphs, and other reference materials. Ability to supervise establishment/maintenance of records and files. Ability to supervise the use of investigative equipment and analysis of the findings. Ability to prepare and supervise preparation of technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 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
Positions in the Office of the Public Defender, Division of Mental Health Advocacy are assigned caseloads involving individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Due to the nature of this work, the duties of positions in this division may vary slightly from those listed below to include heavy caseloads, limited preparation time, and investigations of and communication with individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. These positions are subject to Selective Certification. 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. Nine (9) years of professional experience in conducting field investigations, analyzing information, and preparing reports in a law enforcement, criminal defense, or social service agency, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. For appointments to positions in the Division of Mental Health Advocacy, selective certification appointments are permitted by the Appointing Authority. Appointments of this nature will be based on the following additional requirements: 1. Education: Thirty credits (undergraduate or graduate) in the following areas: a. Psychology courses (at least half of which are beyond survey level) in clinic practice or therapy, intelligence or projective testing, or abnormal psychology; and, b. Sociology/social work courses (at least half of which are beyond survey level) in social work theory skills and methods, or clinical practicum. OR 2. Experience: At least one year of experience in a setting which requires substantial interviewing experience of individuals with major psychiatric disorders such as, but not limited to, schizophrenia and bi-polar, as well as relevant Axis II diagnoses, for developmentally disabled individuals and sex offenders; and/or therapeutic interaction with special populations such as institutionalized children or adults, to include those individuals with the diagnoses stated above. Specialized education and experience may be combined to satisfy the prerequisite. Fifteen credits of course work (beyond the survey level) in psychology, sociology, or social work may be substituted for six months of specialized practice. "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.
Study guides for this exam
- Management Test Battery (MTB) National Learning Corporation · $52.95
- Manager/Administrator Test National Learning Corporation · $49.95 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.