Director of Public Certification Unit

About the role

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States and universally 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.

The Bureau of Fire Prevention cultivates a safer city for its citizens, visitors and first responders by preventing loss of life and property damage from fire and other emergencies. This is accomplished 24/7 by identifying fire and life safety hazards; creating, revising, and enforcing the New York City Fire Code; reviewing plans for critical systems designed to protect and alert building occupants; licensing qualified companies to install and service fire protection equipment and systems; certifying individuals to monitor fire safety conditions; and educating individuals and businesses about fire safety. In addition, the Bureau of Fire Prevention is a critical partner with the Bureau of Fire Operations (Firefighters) and Bureau of Fire Investigations (Fire Marshals), providing assistance and guidance during post-fire incidents and investigations; and coordinating with other City agencies on matters concerning fire and life safety.

The Department seeks a Director of the Public Certification Unit to lead one of the Department’s most critical public-facing operations, overseeing the administration and continuous improvement of certification, testing, licensing, and compliance functions. This role ensures that individuals and businesses meet regulatory standards essential to public safety. The incumbent's retirement creates a significant operational and managerial gap, requiring a strong, experienced leader capable of maintaining continuity while advancing modernization, efficiency, and service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee the daily operations of the Public Certification Unit, ensuring the efficient administration of certification, testing, licensing, and compliance functions.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance operational performance, streamline processes, and improve customer service delivery.
• Analyze certification workflows, staffing models, and performance metrics to identify inefficiencies and drive data-informed improvements.
• Lead modernization and digitization efforts, including advancing certification systems, records management, and public-facing service platforms.
• Coordinate and maintain strong working relationships with internal FDNY units, other City agencies, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and recommend policies, procedures, and operational standards to strengthen certification practices and promote consistency, transparency, and accountability.
• Supervise managerial and administrative staff, providing leadership, mentorship, and performance management to support a high-performing team environment.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing certification and licensing activities, and represent the Bureau in meetings, audits, and public engagements related to certification and compliance matters.

Requirements

APPLICANTS MUST EITHER BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR A COMPARABLE TITLE.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following:
  • working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research;
  • in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation;
  • in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management;
  • or in a related area.

  18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above;

• OR a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with certification, licensing, or testing programs in a regulatory or enforcement context.
• Experience working within or alongside New York City government agencies.
• Knowledge of records management systems and compliance tracking tools.

Pay

$118,873.00 – $190,015.00