FIRE CODE ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE 1
Career Family: FIRE CODE ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE
Fire Code Assistance Representative 1 is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
On pay it sits at the foot of the Fire Code Assistance Representative ladder. One promotion up is Fire Code Assistance Representative 2, whose band tops out about $14,761 higher. Candidates need a bachelor's degree, 6 years of relevant experience, and a professional license. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $67,312 to $98,503, and state payroll currently lists 4 people in the title, most of them at Community Affairs.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Fire Code Assistance Representative 1 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.
Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.
Pay ladder: Fire Code Assistance Representative series
- Fire Code Assistance Representative 1 — $67,312 – $98,503 (this title)
- Fire Code Assistance Representative 2 — $77,144 – $113,264
Promoting to Fire Code Assistance Representative 2 raises the top of the band by about $14,761. Its top salary lands around the 42nd percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2026 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 $82,920. 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.
Definition
Under the supervision of the Supervisor of Local Assistance, Fire Safety, or other supervisory official in the Department of Community Affairs, provides technical assistance to officials and inspectors involved in the enforcement of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Regulations and conducts related investigations; does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Negotiates or mediates between owners, contractors, fire departments and fire inspectors regarding enforcement and implementation of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Regulations and Code.
- Prepares analytical reports on the performance of local fire safety enforcing agencies in administering and enforcing the Uniform Fire Safety Act, Regulations and Code.
- Provides technical and enforcement information to local fire safety inspectors, and other municipal officials to alleviate problems involved in administering and enforcing the Uniform Fire Safety Act, Regulations and Code.
- Provides information and assistance to local fire safety agencies in establishing enforcement procedures, fee schedules and administrative procedures to implement the Uniform Fire Safety Act, Regulations and Codes.
- Speaks before public and private groups regarding fire safety.
- Investigates complaints from owners, builders, local officials and others concerning fire safety enforcement.
- Explains and interprets legal and technical fire safety code regulations to fire safety officials, municipal officials, contractors and the public.
- Represents the Department at hearings, conferences and meetings concerning fire safety.
- Provides training to local fire safety official on new fire safety regulations and requirements.
- Prepares correspondence.
- Prepares reports on the status of local fire safety programs.
- 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.
Experience
Six (6) years of experience enforcing a national model fire safety consensus code such as the International Code Council International Fire Code or the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code.
License
Applicants must possess a Fire Official Certification, issued by the Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs.
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 duties of the position.
<b>KNOWLEDES AND ABILITIES</b>
Knowledge of the investigative techniques used in fire code enforcement.
Knowledge of fire prevention and fire safety enforcement problems and procedures.
Knowledge of firefighting techniques, tools, and equipment.
Knowledge of the procedures used to inspect and evaluate buildings and structures for fire hazards and fire safety.
Knowledge of portable fire extinguishers.
Knowledge of means of egress requirements for various occupancies.
Knowledge of the methods used to conduct and evaluate fire drills in various occupancies.
Knowledge of sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems and related devices.
Knowledge of the types of standpipe and hose systems.
Knowledge of heat, smoke and flame detection systems.
Ability to interpret and apply rules and regulations.
Ability to conduct field investigations.
Ability to conduct inspections and identify hazardous conditions within individual buildings and structures.
Ability to negotiate and/or mediate disputes between owners, contractors, fire inspectors and municipal officials.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others involved in fire safety enforcement.
Ability to explain technical and legal requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety and Regulations to builders, owners, municipal officials and others.
Ability to recognize, analyze and offer solutions to problems encountered by officials enforcing the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Regulations.
Ability to analyze data and prepare recommendations. Ability to provide policy guidance to various fire departments and municipal officials regarding fire safety act implementation.
Ability to speak before varied groups about Division of Fire Safety programs.
Ability 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 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 after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. 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 in fire science technology, fire protection engineering or related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.