PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, STUDENT LOANS

Code: 80216 State Competitive Range: S21 (FY 2027)

Salary: $66,592.01 - $97,353.91/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 direction of the Assistant Director, Student Loan Programs, or other supervisory official, assigns, supervises, and monitors the field and office work of Senior Investigators and Investigators involved in the collection of delinquent accounts; monitors performance of attorneys assigned to collections, garnishments, and judgements; monitors online activities of the automated computer system; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Assigns, supervises, and monitors the work of Senior Investigators, Student Loans; provides training and guidance to new employees; evaluates performance of staff according to standards.
• Is primary liaison to banking industry officials; travels to banks for consultation visits; develops training seminars for bank staff in the areas of defaults and collection of student loans.
• Is responsible for dissemination of information to bank officials and notifies them of changes in federal law as it applies to student loans.
• Makes recommendations to the Assistant Director relative to correction of irregularities discovered by staff in the procedures of various lenders and/or schools.
• Analyzes nonpaying defaults and sends them to the litigation section for assignment.
• Reviews attorneys record of assignment completions, i.e., collections, garnishments, and judgements.
• Monitors online activities of automated computer system as it relates to the preclaim and default areas.
• Analyzes the results of computer tapes exchanged with various credit organizations, agencies of the federal government, such as I.R.S., Federal Office of Education, and other state agencies.
• Assists in conferences with lending institutions and schools doing business pursuant to the statutes administered by the Office of Student Assistance.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• Interprets both state and federal regulations governing student loan program to appropriate lender, college, school authorities, parents, and student borrowers.
• Gives direction and assistance in the collection of defaulted accounts and the resolution of delinquent accounts of a sensitive nature.
• Trains personnel in procedures, and acquaints them with policies of the Office of Student Assistance, as required.
• Evaluates field reports submitted by the Senior Field Investigator concerning defaulted and delinquent accounts and recommends new procedures and policies to the Assistant Director of Student Loan delinquencies and defaults.
• Analyzes accounts which are delinquent to determine whether investigation is warranted and assigns such claims to an appropriate investigator.
• Communicates with the public in writing, in person, or by telephone regarding student accounts, as necessary.
• Takes into consideration the particular problems involved in complex cases, and determines the courses of action to be taken.
• Is responsible for the evaluation of the Senior Investigators, Investigators, and clerical staff under their supervision.
• Conducts seminars for lending institutions which explains and interprets the rules and regulations governing the Student Loan Program.
• Supervises the assignment of workload on a daily basis to Investigators and Collectors; monitors productivity and evaluates their work.
• Assumes responsibilities of supervision of office staff in the absence of Assistant Director.
• Maintains appropriate records denoting program strengths and weaknesses; gives special attention to problem areas, and reports on a regular basis the overall results to the Assistant Director.
• Supervises the collection of written data and other information needed to resolve questions concerning delinquent accounts.
• Prepares accurate, detailed, and informative reports of investigations and other related reports, outlining findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Counsels recipients of student loans regarding such loans and makes appropriate recommendations to resolve problems.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Seven (7) years of experience in work involving the collection of delinquent accounts for a business establishment or government agency, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the automated computer systems and individual programs as it relates to both input and output, as well as statistical reporting in both the pre-claim and collection areas.
• Knowledge of both federal and state rules and regulations dealing with Guaranteed Student Loan Program and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Program after a period of training.
• Knowledge and understanding of various consumer oriented and banking regulations (Regulation "Z", Regulation "B", Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act).
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the provisions of the Higher Education Assistance Authority Law with particular emphasis upon those provisions relating to the collection of delinquent accounts after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the possible sources of assistance in identifying the residence of an individual who has defaulted in paying his account.
• Knowledge of the factors useful and necessary to establish installment payments leading to the eventual settlement of delinquent accounts.
• Ability to assume supervisory responsibilities relating to day-to- day operations of the office.
• Ability to initiate new ideas to increase both the individual productivity and total office effectiveness in both the Guaranteed Student Loan Program and PLUS loans available to parents.
• Ability to deal with banking industry officials and provide sound advice.
• Ability to deal with sensitive cases in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to develop training programs for banking staff.
• Ability to analyze, comprehend, interpret, and apply the pertinent provisions of the laws of New Jersey in accordance with prescribed procedures.
• Ability to make sound recommendations to Assistant Director on relevant issues affecting the public.
• Ability to organize office work involved in the collection of student loans, analyze the problems arising in such investigative work, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to organize assigned field and office investigation work, analyze the various problems arising therein, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign, instruct, supervise, and evaluate the work performance of Senior Investigators, and as required, clerical employees.
• Ability to train employees in the performance of their work.
• Ability to discuss over the telephone or in person a delinquent account with an official of a financial or educational institution.
• Ability to make the necessary trips for field investigations.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates and with members of the public.
• Ability to make accurate arithmetical calculations and tabulations.
• Ability to use correct English, orally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Ability to prepare technically sound, accurate, and detailed reports of student loan matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain essential 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.
• CODES: 21/S21- JMR 7/26/95

Note

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.