SENIOR TITLE EXAMINER
Senior Title Examiner 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 FY2027 schedule runs $69,668 to $101,951, and state payroll currently lists 6 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
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 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.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 6 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $75,110. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (6)
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 general supervision of a Principal Title Examiner, Division of Right of Way and Access Management, or other supervisory official in the, Department of Transportation, performs complex and varied work duties involving real property acquisition; examines and analyzes searches; determine the legal effect of instruments set forth in the title report associated with the purchase and disposition of real property; and prepares title memoranda; acts as a lead worker to other Title Examiners and Trainees; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Gathers, interprets, and correlates various assignments, projects and reports relating to real property acquisitions. Examines the more complex documentation including deeds, mortgages and all instruments affecting such mortgages, contracts of sale and assignments and leases and releases, postponements, subordination, discharges, releases and satisfactions; wills, probate and intestacy proceedings; letters testamentary and of administration; certificates of tax sale; secured transactions, power of attorney, mechanics liens, judgments, bonds to Sheriff, attachments and Federal Liens, in order to verify factors such as properties' legal description, ownership and restrictions. Prepares abstracts of the recorded documents. Coordinates diversified title searches required for larger property acquisition efforts. Completes the complex searching of railroad acquisitions involving miles of railroad right of way, including the researching of heirs at law of the holders of reversionary interests. May be required to testify in a Court of Law regarding the investigation of title examination. Examines and analyzes the title search and prepares the Title Report indicating the name of the record owners, and sets forth all liens and encumbrances, and exceptions affecting title. Advises the owners and attorneys of the condition of and/or defects in title and assists in removing exceptions and defects of title. Prepares deeds, related instruments incidental to the acquisition or disposition of real property. Refers legal instruments to the Deputy Attorney General for approval; provides for the necessary recording of legal instruments in the office of the Clerk or the Register of Deeds of the proper county. Prepares certifications of title for the signature of the Title Officer and the Attorney General showing the conveyance to the State of the land under examination, the recording of the instrument evidencing such conveyance, and such exception to the title that needs to be removed at the time of the final settlement. Performs more complex title searches in the field as directed, including the research of ancient deeds and proprietary records. Provides guidance to Title Examiners in researching and abstracting the more complex title related activities. Verifies accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for recording. Investigates and clarifies the more complex problem areas with respect to determination of real property ownership, title searches, and Department jurisdiction and property boundaries. May assist in the facilitation of activities between mortgagee and title holder as necessary for the execution of partial release of mortgage or subordination agreements by the mortgagee. May assist in completing on-site inspections of real property to obtain helpful information by using tax maps and records. Requests recording fees in proper form to accompany instruments to specified counties according to their procedures. May assist in the training of lower grade Title Examiners and in the review of their work. Responds to special requests regarding state real property matters. Processes Agreement Cases and/or Judgment Cases as assigned. Finds and locates unknown owners of property. If required, prepares a Certification of Inquiry, to be filed with the legal proceedings, showing 'due diligence'. Collects necessary data in order to calculate reimbursements and other payments; assesses the Department's liability to remit tax reimbursements and/or municipal payments; and orders final payments in accordance with New Jersey Statutes. Completes necessary title work to transfer donated real property to State ownership. Performs and oversees investigations in response to Tort claims as assigned to determine State interest and prepares reports to support findings. Makes appropriate entries to the Right of Way databases. Makes final settlements and arranges, where necessary for such settlements at any designated place for the purpose of distributing the purchase price among the owner of record, the mortgagee, the tax collector, and other proper claimants in exchange for the receipt of the proper instruments of cancellation, satisfaction, discharge, or release. Prepares clear, accurate, and technically complex reports and correspondence. Maintain records and files. Assists a Principal Title Examiner in work involving the examination and analysis of reports of titles, to determine the legality of titles, the review and examination of titles and the preparation of title data required in connection with condemnation proceedings, and liaison with title companies and supervision of title work allocated to such companies. 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 the form, content, purpose and interpretation of legal documents including deeds, agreements, easements, restrictions, mortgages, mortgage cancellations and other documents of cancellation, discharge and/or release. Knowledge of the types of title and related documents used in the sale of real estate. Knowledge of the Right of Way Acquisition Procedural manuals including Title Closing and Legal Processing. Knowledge of the responsibilities, functions, policies and procedures of the New Jersey Department of Transportation concerned with the acquisition of real estate required for highway right of way and of the laws of New Jersey pertaining thereto. Knowledge of the organization, of county records, and of the methods used in locating and abstracting information. Ability to acquire knowledge of New Jersey real property, corporate and partnership statutes. Ability to acquire knowledge of the creation of titles emanating from the Board of Proprietors of either East Jersey or West Jersey. Ability to acquire knowledge of the concept of Eminent Domain and the agreement regulations as specified in the policies of the Department pertaining to the acquisition of property for right of way purposes. Ability to research and determine title to lands back to the Board of Proprietors and to research colonial conveyances. Ability to reconstruct property ownership lines using ancient deed descriptions. Ability to comprehend the nature of ancient railroad acquisition. Ability to interpret reversionary interests. Ability to organize assigned legal and related work involved in the examination and analysis of title to real property and develop effective work methods. Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret basic law, legal documents, Department regulations, legal terms, language, and laws related to real estate. Ability to give appropriate assignments, instructions and oversight to lower grade Title Examiners. Ability to correlate data from a wide variety of sources and utilize such information in determinations of titles of real property and other related basic information having an effect upon property acquisition. Ability to comprehend the meaning and final effect of documents and actions upon the legal ownership and status of real property. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to work effectively with others. Ability to prepare technically complex, clear, legally sound, accurate, factual and informative reports on title matters for the Title Officer and the Attorney General containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Ability to maintain the required records and files. Ability to learn 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, or 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. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
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 professional experience in title searching and other work incidental to the conveyance of real estate. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) 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. SCNE21N/AP21- SC4021N/AP22- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 8/5/2017