Title Examiner (Hourly)

Open to: General Public
Work Week: 35 Hours Per Week (up to 900 hours maximum per fiscal year)
Salary: $26 per hour
Opening Date: 5/18/2026
Closing Date: 6/8/2026
Existing Vacancies: 1

Program/Location
Department of Environmental Protection
Legal Regulatory & Enforcement Policy
Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration
401 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625

Scope of Eligibility
Open to applicants who meet the requirements below.

Description
Under limited supervision of a title examiner, attorney, or other supervisory official in the Department, performs varied work incidental to the acquisition of real estate or interests therein, including title searches, the determination of the legal effect of recorded instruments and the preparation of abstracts, memoranda and other required documents; does related work as required.

Specific to the Position
Reviews title commitments/reports/searches describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching and analyzing activities and eliminating those that do not affect the parcel(s) in question. Investigates and clarifies problem areas of a routine nature with respect to determination of real property ownership, title searches, Department jurisdiction, and property boundaries. Evaluates, analyzes, and examines records relating to documents found in a chain of title to determine the accuracy and legal effect of such instruments on the title in question; examines the records of proceedings affecting the title; and secures tax and assessment searches from the proper municipal officers. Examines documentation such as 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 an 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. Advises the owners and attorneys of the condition of and/or defects in title, and assists, insofar as it is possible, in removing exceptions and defects of title so it will be acceptable to the State. Prepares deeds, release of mortgage, satisfactions of judgments, affidavits, and other instruments of conveyance, as needed, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement for acquisition of property by the State. Obtains all necessary data for the adjustment and reimbursement of property taxes at closing, as needed. Reviews title insurance policies to ensure appropriate endorsements have been issued and that only exceptions acceptable to the State remain; works with the State's title agent(s) to resolve any issues/exceptions outstanding at the time of policy issuance

Preferred Skill Set
Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience working on or handling real estate transactions involving public entities. Excellent analytical skills; professional written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently, as well as in a group/team atmosphere.

Requirements
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.

Five (5) 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 one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience.

NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.

NOTE: All U.S. degrees and transcripts must be from an accredited college or university. All foreign degrees and transcripts must be evaluated for accreditation by a recognized evaluation service by the closing date of this posting. Failure to provide documentation may result in ineligibility.

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.

SAME Applicants
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, please visit SAME Program, email [email protected], or call CSC at View phone number on click.appcast.io and select Option #3.

Employee Benefits
TES / Hourly employee benefits include:

• Earned Sick Time*
• Enrollment in Defined Contribution Retirement Plan upon meeting minimum earnings threshold

*Earn one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours you work

Veteran's Preference
To qualify for New Jersey Veteran's Preference/status, you must establish Veteran's Preference through the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs. Please submit proof of your Veteran's Preference along with your resume as indicated. For more information, please visit

Residency
All persons newly hired on or after September 1, 2011, have one year from the date of employment to establish, and then maintain principal residence in the State of New Jersey subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L.2011, Chapter 70), also known as the "New Jersey First Act".

Authorization to Work
Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services regulations. NOTE: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

Equal Opportunity Employment
The State of New Jersey seeks to increase the richness and diversity of its workforce, and in doing so, become the employer of choice for all people seeking to work in State Government. To evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts to attract and employ a diverse workforce, applicants are asked to voluntarily answer a few brief questions on the NJ Affirmative Action Information Form. All information is considered confidential and will be filed separately with the agency's affirmative action officer. This information will not be part of your application for employment and will not be considered in any hiring decision.
DEP Notices of Vacancy have a 4:00 p.m. deadline on the closing date. When filing for these opportunities, please be sure to have your letter of interest and credentials sent electronically before 4 p.m. on the closing date.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to inclusive hiring and a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Accommodations under ADA will be provided upon request.