CHIEF FIRE ALARM DISPATCHER

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States and universally is recognized as the world's busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. The Department's main goal is to provide fire protection, emergency medical care, and other critical public safety services to residents and visitors in the five boroughs. FDNY members are sworn to serve and protect life and property and the Department works to continually educate the public in fire, life safety and disaster preparedness, along with enforcing public safety codes. Since its inception in 1865, FDNY has helped lead efforts to make New York the safest big city in the nation. This accomplishment requires a steadfast and daily commitment to maintaining the Department's core values.

The Fire Department, City of New York, (FDNY) seeks a full-time Chief Dispatcher in the Office of Communications. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Dispatch Operations, the Chief Dispatcher, under general supervision, serves as Tour Supervisors oversight, directing dispatch and inside maintenance personnel during a tour of duty in a borough fire communications central office or in a Public Safety Answering Center (PSAC); supervise available Citywide Fire Department resources to maximize fire protection throughout multiple boroughs; direct and perform equipment maintenance; maintain appropriate central office/PSAC records. Oversee SFAD Level I that directly supervise fire alarm signals and special calls; test, operate and maintain various central office/PSAC equipment; confer with outside plant personnel regarding circuit problems and perform related equipment adjustments and tests; supervise, train and evaluate Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatchers; maintain/complete various logs, journals and other paperwork; make notifications in accordance with Bureau of Communications policy, including relaying information to superiors on escalating critical conditions or situations; approve and adjust subordinate time records in the CityTime System and related computerized administrative work; conduct scheduled and ad hoc drills; and implement and oversee manual dispatch mode when computer system is down.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and either:

a) three years of satisfactory experience as an airport or railroad traffic controller, as a fire alarm dispatcher in a Class ""A"" Fire Alarm System, in radio or in another communication activity involving emergency dispatching, including one year in a supervisory capacity; or b) five years of responsible, satisfactory experience in a public contact field of work requiring obtaining of information to provide immediate assistance to persons in emergency or critical situations in which lives and/or property are in jeopardy; including one year in a supervisory capacity; or

2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to ""1"" above. College education may be substituted on the basis of 30 credits for one year of experience, only for the experience described in ""1 b)"" above and only for a maximum of two years. However, all candidates must have a four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and at least three years of experience including one year of supervisory experience.

Preferred Skills

At Assignment Level II: Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatchers, under general supervision, serve as Borough Supervisors directing dispatch and inside maintenance personnel during a tour of duty in a borough fire communications central office or in a Public Safety Answering Center (PSAC) allocate available Fire Department resources to maximize fire protection throughout one or more boroughs direct and perform equipment maintenance maintain appropriate central office/PSAC records. They immediately oversee all transmitted fire alarm signals and special calls test, operate and maintain various central office/PSAC equipment confer with outside plant personnel regarding circuit problems and perform related equipment adjustments and tests supervise, train and evaluate Fire Alarm Dispatchers administers absence control stepping procedures as required schedules the borough work assignments of subordinate personnel for management review maintains staffing levels on a citywide basis through the use of detailing and authorization of overtime maintain/complete various logs, journals and other paperwork make notifications in accordance with Bureau of Communications policy, including relaying information to superiors on escalating critical conditions or situations approve and adjust subordinate time records in the CityTime System and related computerized administrative work conduct or oversees scheduled and ad hoc drills.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.