SUPERVISOR OF INVESTIGATIONS
Career Family: SUPERVISOR
To land Supervisor of Investigations in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2027 range lands between $91,628 and $134,900, and state payroll currently lists about 25 people in the title, most of them at Banking and Insurance.
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
Department of Banking & Insurance'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Children and Families posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Corrections'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.
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Agency posting
Department of Transportation posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Health posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. 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 25 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $126,158. The agencies employing the most are:
- Banking and Insurance (17)
- Labor (2)
- Children and Families (2)
- Corrections (1)
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 Chief of Investigations or other supervisory official in a State department or agency, or local government agency, plans, organizes, assigns and supervises the investigations involving alleged non-compliance with State statutes and regulatory requirements; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Plans and organizes the work activities of the investigative unit, assigns and reviews work of a staff of subordinate investigators. Supervises the investigation of highly sensitive and specialized complex cases involving alleged fraud, negligence, incompetency misrepresentation, misconduct, or institutional abuse/neglect by public employees, on clients, clients by other clients, industry representatives, licensed/certified professionals, authorized vendors, out-of-home caretakers, or other reportable incidents. Develops and implements procedural formats ensuring the effective, thorough investigation of the most serious alleged violations identifying unbiased methodology and performance expectations. Identifies operational, administrative, and enforcement needs of the staff. Monitors the coordination of investigative efforts of staff with those of other State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. Assigns and supervises the interviewing of witnesses to obtain highly confidential, accurate, and comprehensive supporting documentation relative to the alleged violations by individual(s) or organization(s). Acts as a witness for the State before Grand Juries, courts of law, administrative hearings or other judicial bodies as required. Maintains the confidentiality of investigations. Reviews reports submitted by investigative staff. Supervises the review and analysis of information contained in records and documents maintained by individuals, business, financial or government agencies to determine departure from acceptable practices. Coordinates investigative activities to secure, preserve and record evidence which may include the use of cameras, radios or other investigative equipment. Confers with a Deputy Attorney General regarding the issuance of an administrative search warrant or subpoena. Assigns and supervises the personal delivery of legal notices to effect proper service of process. Supervises the training of staff personnel. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Reviews drafts of Notices of Prosecution and Orders to Show Cause for completeness of supporting documentation and accuracy of alleged violations and processes them for management staff and agency approval. Prepares and supervises the preparation of detailed correspondence. Supervises the maintenance of a case management system to monitor the status of cases and hearings. Represents the department or agency in conferences with officials, employees and representatives of regulated organizations and the public to resolve complaints. Participates in settlement conferences and Notices of Prosecution and Orders to Show Cause; prepares staff position for managerial review and approval. Makes final determinations on the transmittal to appropriate units/agencies of comprehensive investigative reports and evidence prepared as a result of alleged violations or abuse/neglect. Maintains liaison and cooperative working relationships with others who are involved in the work of the unit. Supervises the preparation of necessary documents and scheduling of court workload to ensure assessed penalties are reduced to judgment. Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of investigational activities containing facts, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, and notifies appropriate agencies. Maintains and/or 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.
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 the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of legal terminology used in investigative work. Knowledge of the types of information needed to prepare cases for hearing or trial. Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used to conduct investigations and interviews. Knowledge of the techniques used to review contracts, deeds, sales agreements, guarantees, warranties, and advertising material to determine rights of complainants and seek evidence of misrepresentation. Knowledge of investigative methods and interview techniques. Knowledge of the types of conduct that would legally constitute negligence, abuse/neglect, or willful misconduct under the regulatory enforcement of the assigned department. Knowledge of the methods used 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 legal standards for what constitutes bribery including knowledge of relevant statutes. Knowledge of supervisory techniques. Ability to gather and analyze information from investigations. Ability to review and evaluate reports. Ability to provide testimony as a witness for the State, under oath, at administrative hearings or in court. Ability to understand and apply the New Jersey statutes, laws, regulations, standards and policies governing the procedures for regulatory control and compliance with civil, administrative, criminal, and institutional abuse/neglect. Ability to maintain and/or supervise the maintenance of records, reports, and files. Ability to conduct and supervise the conduct of interviews and investigations. Ability to provide assignments and instructions to investigative staff and supervise their work performance. Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of investigational activities containing facts, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 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 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. Eight (8) years of profesional office and/or professional field experience conducting investigations, collecting evidence and preparing investigative reports related to criminal, civil or regulatory matters involving fraud, misrepresentation or other acts of criminal or civil misconduct; one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. Experience as a police officer performing criminal follow-up investigations (not preliminary investigations) may be substituted for the above non-supervisory experience on a year for year basis. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a master's degree in public administration, business administration, social work, or criminal justice; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "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
- Supervisory Test Battery (STB) National Learning Corporation · $56.99
- General Supervisor National Learning Corporation · $49.90 · 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.