Deputy Fire Chief, ARFF, Aviation Department, JFK Airport

ABOUT THE ROLE The Deputy Fire Chief, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), is a senior fire service officer responsible for the command and control of emergency operations and the maintenance of continuous operational readiness within a 24/7 aviation environment at JFK Airport. This dual-function role combines primary operational emergency command responsibilities with administrative oversight to sustain firefighting readiness, regulatory compliance, and life safety operations. The position reports directly to the ARFF Chief of Department within the Department of Aviation. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Serve as Commanding Officer of an assigned ARFF Command, exercising full-scope operational authority over personnel, apparatus, and emergency response activities. - Respond to and assume Incident Command or Unified Command leadership for aircraft emergencies, structural fires, hazardous materials, mass-casualty incidents, and airfield emergencies. - Maintain continuous 24/7/365 operational readiness of ARFF personnel, equipment, and apparatus to meet FAA Part 139 performance requirements. - Supervise and direct ARFF personnel, including Fire Officers, Crew Chiefs, ARFF Police Officers, and support staff, managing staffing, training compliance, and fitness for duty. - Oversee and participate in emergency drills, timed response exercises, FAA compliance training, and multi-agency exercises. - Ensure compliance with FAA Part 139 Airport Certification standards, Airport Emergency Plan requirements, hazardous materials regulations, and applicable NFPA standards. - Develop and implement policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines to ensure operational readiness. - Manage budget and resource planning to support operational readiness and deployment efficiency. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Minimum of 10 years of full-time experience in ARFF operations. - Fire service command experience. - Minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience as a Fire Officer. - Demonstrated experience in incident command and emergency operations leadership. - Comprehensive knowledge and experience of FAA ARFF regulations 14CFR (Part 139). - Knowledge of fire suppression and rescue techniques, hazardous materials response, and emergency management systems (NIMS/ICS 300, 400). SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Must possess a valid United States driver's license. - Required to maintain active firefighting and incident command certifications as a condition of employment and operational necessity. - Must be available for nights, weekends, holidays, off-hour emergency activations, severe weather operations, and high-profile events. - Desired qualifications include ProBoard/IFSAC fire certifications (Fire Officer IV, Fire Instructor III, Firefighter I/II, ARFF, HAZ MAT Incident Commander), knowledge of FAA records management, and extensive ARFF experience. SELECTION PROCESS 1. Initial phone interview for qualified candidates. 2. In-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). 3. Conditional job offer followed by a mandatory background check. HOW TO APPLY - Submit a resume by clicking the "Apply Now" button on the job posting. - Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. - Requests for reasonable accommodations during the interview process or to perform essential job functions can be directed to the recruiter or emailed to ADA_Accommodations@panynj.gov. EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Job ID: 64534 - Department: Aviation - Location: Jamaica, NY (JFK Airport) - Remote Type: Hybrid (maximum of one day per week remotely, subject to operational needs) - Employer: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey