INSTITUTION FIRE CHIEF
To land Institution Fire Chief 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.
To be eligible you bring 2 years of relevant experience and a valid NJ driver's license. The FY 2027 range lands between $63,663 and $92,953, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Institution Fire Chief appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 2 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $85,565. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (2)
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. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory officer in one of the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services, has charge of the fire fighting operation, fire training and fire prevention activities and equipment at an institution, does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Has charge of the fire fighting, fire training and fire prevention program at an institution.
- Develops the rules, regulations and operational plans and procedures to be followed in fire prevention and control work for the institution.
- Organizes institutional employees into a volunteer fire fighting force.
- Develops the training program for institutional fire fighting volunteers.
- Trains the firefighting force, and supervises the appropriate use and maintenance of firefighting equipment, materials and supplies.
- Responds to fire alarms, evaluates the nature and severity of the fire.
- Directs the work of Institution Firefighters engaged in extinguishing fires, and determines the most appropriate method of fire attack and extinguishment.
- Provides training in appropriate fire evacuation and prevention procedures.
- Supervises the inspection of buildings and institutional grounds to identify and dispose of fire hazards, and to ensure compliance with fire codes and standards.
- Supervises the cleaning, maintenance and minor repair of buildings and equipment.
- Supervises the installation of fire detection, prevention and extinguishment equipment.
- Inspects the central fire alarm control station.
- Conducts investigations to determine the cause of fires.
- Conducts inspections of the company and its equipment.
- Drives and operates the fire truck when a driver is unavailable.
- Obtains, stores, safeguards and distributes supplies, materials and equipment.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with surrounding community paid and volunteer fire fighting companies. Prepares clear, sound, and accurate reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Maintains records and files.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office and related units.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in fire fighting or fire prevention work, or, six (6) years of active experience in a volunteer fire fighting unit.
CERTIFICATION
In accordance with NJSA 5:731.6 (b), 8 & (d), effective February 17, 2000, applicants for this position must possess a valid Incident Management Level 1 Certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a valid New Jersey driver's license.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the precautions to be taken in driving fire apparatus during fire emergencies.
- Knowledge of the operation of the water pumping and other equipment used in extinguishing fires.
- Knowledge of the methods used to organize and train a volunteer fire fighting force in the proper use of fire fighting equipment and procedures, and to assign them to fire prevention and fire fighting duties.
- Knowledge of the procedures used to conduct physical inspections of fire protection equipment, buildings and grounds, and to ensure compliance with existing fire codes and standards.
- Knowledge of the factors and situations which cause fire hazards.
- Knowledge of the formulation and application of plans and procedures to be followed in institutional safety and fire prevention work.
- Knowledge of the methods likely to be effective in fighting various types of fires.
- Knowledge of the types of fire alarm communications.
- Knowledge of the methods used to conduct investigations to determine the cause of fires.
- Ability to read and interpret laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, relating to fire, fire safety and fire hazards and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to supervise the extinguishment of fires.
- Ability to conduct inspections for fire hazards and investigations to determine the cause of fires.
- Ability to organize the work of an assigned company of firefighters.
- Ability to supervise the cleaning, maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment.
- Ability to provide assignments and instructions to firefighters.
- Ability to provide training.
- Ability to take immediate action when a fire alarm is sounded, and to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations.
- Ability to drive a fire truck and to operate a fire apparatus and related equipment.
- Ability to plan and conduct fire drills and fire control demonstrations.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, and accurate reports.
- Ability to establish and maintain 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 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 as long as they can perform 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.
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.