Investigator 3 Public Defender

OPEN TO: State Office of Public Defender (OPD) employees who are permanent in an Investigator 2 Public Defender title and who meet the requirements of the job specification below.

Under the direction of a Chief Investigator/and or Assistant Director of Investigations in the Office of the Public Defender, or other supervisory official, has charge of work programs and staff of a division, program, or regional office responsible for the preparation of cases involving the representation of clients; does other related duties as required.

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.NOTE: 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 conducting field investigations, analyzing information, and preparing reports in a law enforcement, criminal defense, or social service agency, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
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.

NOTE: 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.

NOTE: 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.

NOTE: "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.

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 essential duties of the position.

NOTE: This position is regionalized, with the expectation of travel and coverage extending from Middlesex to Cape May County. Investigators are based in four regional offices located in Middlesex, Mercer, Camden, and Atlantic Counties.

If you are applying under the NJ "SAME" program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above. For more information on the SAME Program, visit their Website at: https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, email: [email protected], or call CSC at (833) 691-0404.