Assistant to the Deputy Director

Assistant to the Deputy Director

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) is seeking a highly organized and dedicated Principal Administrative Associate to join the Bureau of Health Services within the Counseling Service Unit (CSU). Reporting directly to the Deputy Director, the Principal Administrative Associate will serve as a key operational resource for the CSU, ensuring the seamless coordination of peer counseling services, mental health initiatives, and administrative functions across the department. This is a full-time position based at our Manhattan office. The selected candidate will play a critical role in supporting the mental health and wellness programs that serve FDNY uniformed and civilian personnel, including World Trade Center (WTC) responders and retirees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Peer Counselor Coordination: Oversee and coordinate the activities of a network of over 70 peer counselors, managing scheduling, ensuring adequate coverage, and tracking visits across more than 250 firehouses and EMS stations throughout New York City.
• Support Group Administration: Organize and coordinate recurring weekly and monthly WTC Retiree and Support Group meetings, including logistics, communications, and participant follow-up to ensure consistent and effective program delivery.
• Reporting & Documentation: Prepare clear, concise, and accurate summaries of peer counselor meetings and program activities for internal reporting, executive distribution, and presentation purposes.
• Mental Health Campaign Support: Collaborate closely with the Deputy Director and Peer Coordinator in the planning, implementation, and department-wide dissemination of mental health awareness campaigns and wellness initiatives.
• Consultant Timesheet Management: Assume full responsibility for the review, approval, and tracking of timesheets for all consultants operating through the agency's designated temporary staffing system, ensuring accuracy and compliance with established procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or 2. An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in "1" above; or 3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in "1" above; or 4. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in "1" above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3 year.

Preferred Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, great organizational skills.

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

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.