INSPECTOR 3 FIRE SAFETY
Career Family: INSPECTOR
To land Inspector 3 Fire Safety 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.
It is the top of the Inspector ladder, a grade above Inspector 2 Fire Safety. The one gate is a bachelor's degree. The FY 2027 range lands between $76,287 and $111,856, and state payroll currently lists 4 people in the title, most of them at Community Affairs.
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
Inspector 3 Fire Safety appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Community Affairs.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Community Affairs | 4 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Inspector series
- Inspector 1 Fire Safety — $59,763 – $87,117
- Inspector 2 Fire Safety — $65,374 – $95,570
- Inspector 3 Fire Safety — $76,287 – $111,856 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 59th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 4 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $102,919. The agencies employing the most are:
- Community Affairs (4)
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 the direction of the Supervisor of Fire Safety, Code Inspections in the Department of Community Affairs, supervises teams, inspectors, and work activities involved in the enforcement of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, Code and Regulations; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related work.
Examples of work
- Supervises the work of inspectors and senior inspectors in an assigned jurisdiction to ensure compliance with the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, Code and Regulations.
- Ensures life hazard uses are inspected according to the schedule established by the New Jersey Fire Codes.
- Supervises the issuance of permit applications where required.
- Assigns inspectors to conduct surveys in municipalities under State jurisdiction to identify the existence of unregistered high rise and life hazard use buildings, structures and premises.
- Reviews requests for variances from the New Jersey Fire Codes and recommends alternatives to fire safety code requirements sufficient to meet the code standards.
- Trains and/or supervises the training of inspectors and senior inspectors regarding the New Jersey Fire Safety Act, Code and Regulations.
- Explains and interprets legal and technical regulations, and provides advice and assistance to municipal officials, owners, agents, tenants and others on matters and questions regarding the New Jersey Fire Codes.
- Reviews inspection and other reports prepared by assigned teams.
- Recommends administrative penalties when violations have not been eliminated.
- Provides recommendations for the extension of deadlines when requested by owners requiring additional time for compliance.
- Recommends the immediate evacuation of buildings, structures or premises where actual danger to the occupants or those in proximity has been identified.
- Assigns inspection teams to obtain information for preparation of documents.
- Assigns inspection teams to conduct special field investigations to verify the presence of imminent hazards.
- Speaks before public and private groups of owners, tenants, landlords, and others interested in or involved with fire safe code enforcement.
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
- Conducts performance audits of assigned inspectors.
- Prepares and supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports of inspections and other matters containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Supervises the maintenance of inspection records, reports and files.
- Prepares correspondence.
- 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.
Education
Six (6) years experience in a field associated with the fire service or fire protection industry, such as fire inspector, fire protection system installations, fire protection subcode official or fire protection official.
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 principles and practices of fire safety and protection systems, including limitations, types, operation, maintenance and installation.
- Knowledge of basic fire protection requirements for residential, commercial, institutional and recreational buildings, structures and facilities.
- Knowledge of the proper methods for handling and storing hazardous materials.
- Knowledge of means of egress requirements including exit access, exit discharge and exit signs.
- Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of smoke detectors and the types of smoke detectors and alarms available.
- Knowledge of the procedures used to inspect and evaluate buildings and structures for fire hazards and fire safety.
- Knowledge of the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, Code and Regulations.
- Knowledge of the methods used to conduct inspections.
- Knowledge of the administrative and operational procedures used to ensure the timely inspection and reinspection of life hazard uses and highrise buildings required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, Code and Regulations.
- Knowledge of requirements for entry and inspection.
- Knowledge of zoning requirements and terminology.
- Knowledge of basic plumbing, electrical and heating systems and related terminology.
- Ability to conduct inspections to determine hazardous conditions.
- Ability to identify and report existing and potential fire safety hazards.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret basic laws, standards and policies and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with tenants, owners, municipal officials and others interested in or concerned with the enforcement of laws relating to fire safety.
- Ability to explain existing and potential fire safety hazards to owners, tenants and others.
- Ability to estimate the time required to abate violations and establish deadlines by which owners must complete the abatement of violations.
- Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
- Ability to act as a witness in hearings and at court proceedings and provide testimony under oath.
- Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to maintain records, reports and files.
- Ability to prepare correspondence.
- Ability 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 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.
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the field of fire science or related area may be substituted for four (4) years of the indicated experience.
An Associate's degree from an accredited college in the field of fire science or related area may be substituted for two (2) years of the indicated experience.
Applicants who possess the next level of certification as a Fire Official, are considered to have met the above certification requirement.
CERTIFICATION
Applicants must possess a valid Fire Inspector certification issued by the Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs, to engage in the enforcement of the New Jersey Fire Codes.