CHIEF BUREAU OF CODE ENFORCEMENT
Career Family: CHIEF
To land Chief Bureau of Code Enforcement 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.
A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2026 range lands between $106,547 and $157,363, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Community Affairs.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Community Affairs posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $152,281. The agencies employing the most are:
- Community Affairs (1)
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.
Definition
Under the direction of a division director or other higher level supervisory officer in the Department of Community Affairs, is responsible for the administration and enforcement of housing codes; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Prepares the annual budget for the bureau and administers that budget throughout the year. Maintains a continuing review of the laws administered by the bureau and the regulations promulgated thereunder, prepares or supervises the preparation of suggested changes in law, and initiates required changes to the regulations. Supervises the development and revision of management systems including data processing systems, forms, procedures, records, and other management tools to accomplish the mandated functions of the bureau including the administration and enforcement of the state's housing code standards. Supervises the preparation of all reports for submission to the division director and the commissioner. Develops and controls the administrative procedures required by the bureau to alleviate particularly difficult problems within its jurisdiction. Recruits and selects the supervisory staff for the bureau, and monitors and coordinates their work. Coordinates and monitors new work assigned to the bureau and new methods established within the bureau. Directs the establishment of penalty assessment procedures and the administration of this function. Conducts hearings concerning established and proposed standards. Supervises 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. Enforces the standards established under housing and code enforcement laws through procedures which include assessments of fines, stop work orders, vacates, and revocations of licenses. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with federal, state, and local agencies interested in or concerned with the work of the bureau. Represents the director and/or commissioner to the public and the Legislature in the bureau's matters. Reviews and evaluates information derived from the bureau's EDP Assisted Reporting Processing and Management Information System; takes corrective action. Establishes, reviews, and amends, as necessary, the standards of performance incorporated in agreements for services to be provided by municipalities. Coordinates the work of advisory bodies to allow their collective experience to focus on proposed changes in the regulations promulgated by the department. Prepares extensive correspondence in the course of official duties. Supervises the preparation of clear, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Supervises the maintenance of essential records and files. May 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.
License
Appointee 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 modern, governmental budgetary practices. Knowledge of modern management concepts and practices. Knowledge of procedures to promulgate and adopt regulations pursuant to a legislative mandate. Knowledge of the appropriate methods and procedures for investigating complaints and of the laws relating to such investigations. Knowledge of the provisions of New Jersey Housing Legislation. Knowledge of housing code enforcement standards and procedures. Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and regulations concerning assessment and collection of administrative penalties and execution of judgments. Knowledge of housing code standards and their purpose. Ability to organize assigned supervisory and technical work, analyze the problems arising thereon, and develop appropriate work methods. Ability to develop and revise filing systems, forms, and procedures. Ability to prepare and administer budgets. Ability to provide technical assistance to local municipalities in code enforcement. Ability to assign, instruct, coordinate, and monitor the supervisory staff in the functions of their duties. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with state and local agencies involved in housing code enforcement. Ability to draft correspondence in the performance of official duties. Ability to supervise the preparation of clear, accurate statistical information, financial information, and periodic reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 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 the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodations cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
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. ten (10) years of professional experience as an administrator of a program of regulatory enforcement or housing code enforcement. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a valid license as a Registered Architect issued by the New Jersey State Board of Architecture or a valid Professional Engineer's License issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; and six (6) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a Master's degree in Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Business Administration, or Public Administration from an accredited college; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "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 judgement and make accurate and informed decisions.
Study guides for this exam
- Management Test Battery (MTB) National Learning Corporation · $52.95
- Manager/Administrator Test National Learning Corporation · $49.95 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.