Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatcher

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

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. At Assignment Level I: Supervising Fire Alarm Dispatchers, under general supervision, serve as Tour 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; 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. Must have a minimum of five years at time of appointment as Fire Alarm Dispatcher.

Requirements

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.
Must have a minimum of five years at time of appointment as Fire Alarm Dispatcher.

Responsibilities

Direct 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
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
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
Implement and oversee manual dispatch mode when computer system is down