How to hire a fire protection specialist

How to hire a fire protection specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step fire protection specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a fire protection specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fire protection specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The fire protection specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A fire protection specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, fire protection specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of fire protection specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Fire Protection Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Fire Protection Specialist	Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to prevent people from getting sick or injured and to keep property from being damaged. They combine knowledge of systems engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other consumer products will not cause harm to people or damage to buildings.	$17-38
   Fire Sprinkler Designer	A fire sprinkler designer is in charge of designing and developing sprinkler systems to prevent or aid fire. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, utilizing feedback from customers and other experts, producing prototypes or samples, and coordinating with engineers and technicians... Show more	$19-38
   Protection Engineer	Protection engineers supervise the maintenance of protection equipment of an electric power distribution system to reduce interruption to service. They coordinate the repair, tests, and installation of equipment... Show more	$33-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Fire Protection
   • NFPA
   • Fire Suppression
   • Emergency Services
   • Sprinkler Systems
   • Emergency Response
   • DOE
   • Fire Hazards
   • Fire Safety
   • CPR
   • EMT
   • OSHA
   • Fire Pumps
   • Hazardous Situations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve advance levels of Fire/EMS management certification.
   • Maintain company policies to ensure current compliance with all NFPA, OSHA, FAA code changes and or additions.
   • Conduct fire and life safety inspections according to NFPA standards.
   • Possess ability and certifications to perform instruction in all segments of crash and structural firefighting subject matter.
   • Search burning buildings to locate fire victims.Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injure persons.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your fire protection specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A fire protection specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, fire protection specialists' average salary in oklahoma is 49% less than in west virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level fire protection specialists earn 54% less than senior-level fire protection specialists.
   • Certifications. A fire protection specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a fire protection specialist's salary.

   Average fire protection specialist salary

   $55,269yearly

   $26.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level fire protection specialist salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing a fire protection specialist job description

   A job description for a fire protection specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a fire protection specialist job description:

   Fire protection specialist job description example

   Upon award of the UFC Inspection contract on or about July 2022, Versar will provide facility inspection teams that identify engineering deficiencies for new and existing construction in accordance with (IAW) various Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) standards. Targeted services include:

   • Perform evaluations IAW UFC 1-201-02 to establish compliance with minimum life safety and habitability requirements.
   • Perform inspections on in-progress construction efforts IAW applicable UFC standards.
   • Review plans for military construction projects, facility modernization, rehabilitation programs, or self-help projects for compliance with the appropriate UFC standards.

   The inspection teams will be primarily located in Kuwait or Jordan with inspection assignments anywhere within the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. All services will be performed at existing and future US Military and coalition occupied facilities.

   Position Requirements:

   • Shall be trained within the trades of fire protection
   • Possess at least two years of experience demonstrating the ability to apply the standards of UFC 1-200-01, UFC 1-201-02 and the UFC Series 3-600.
   • Have no less than two years of experience performing fire protection inspections, reviews, and/or assessments.
   • Shall be considered a qualified person in his/her respective field (i.e. the Fire Protection Specialist shall be qualified to test automatic sprinkler and fire suppression systems).
   • International experience and CENTCOM specific experience is preferred.

   Other Information:

   • The candidate must be a US citizen or a citizen from a NATO participating country that is able to obtain a US or NATO secret security clearance.
   • The candidate must have the ability to work under austere conditions in the CENTCOM AOR and must pass a medical screening physical to obtain a "fitness for duty" letter.
   • The candidate must pass a background check and be cleared by the US government.
   • The candidate must possess a valid Passport with a minimum of 18 months before expiration.
   • Candidates should expect to work six days a week, 12 hours a day
   • Lodging and transportation will be provided by Versar or the US Government. Meals will be provided by the US Government in Dining Facilities or by Versar through Per Diem reimbursement.
   • The candidate must commit to a one-year employment term. During this term, the candidate will receive two, two-week Rest and Relaxation periods outside of CENTCOM.
   • Standard US wages will be uplifted for remote working conditions, and an elevated workweek of up to 72 hours per week.

   
   

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find fire protection specialists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your fire protection specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit fire protection specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit fire protection specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fire protection specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect fire protection specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new fire protection specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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