Director of Public Certification Unit

City of New York • New York City, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is seeking a Director of the Public Certification Unit to lead one of the Department’s most critical public-facing operations. This role oversees the administration and continuous improvement of certification, testing, licensing, and compliance functions, ensuring 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. 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. We accomplish this 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 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 Bureau consists of Fire Protection Inspectors, lawyers, engineers, explosives experts, and Fire Officers work together to save lives in New York City.

Requirements

• APPLICANTS MUST EITHER BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR A COMPARABLE TITLE.
• 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.
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager