Assistant Chief Fire Officer recruitment
Staffordshire's Chief Fire Officer/Head of Paid Service is recruiting an Assistant Chief Fire Officer who can assist in leading Staffordshire Fire and Rescue over the next few years, developing and transforming the Service in the face of significant national challenges that need to be responded to, whilst ensuring the continued delivery of a first-class emergency response to fires, other emergencies and strengthening our community safety provision across Staffordshire.
The successful candidate will have a significant role in contributing to the strategic leadership and management of the Service. They must be able to bring forward thinking solutions that maintain the reputation that the Service has, whilst addressing challenges. They will assist in development and leadership of the senior officer team, oversee the activities of the Service’s directorates, actively contributing to the fire service integration and collaboration with partners and deliver against the Commissioner’s Fire and Rescue Plan and the Service’s Safety Plan.
If you can bring that approach alongside a collective focus and leadership style that embeds the right culture to help achieve sustainable and modern ways of delivering fire and rescue services, then we would welcome your interest.
A message from CFO Rob Barber
Dear Candidate
Thank you for your interest in our forthcoming selection process for the Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
We have an excellent reputation and have consistently demonstrated the ability to be capable of adapting to the changing needs of our communities, both in meeting our statutory requirements and in working in partnership with other organisations around the wider landscape.
I am now looking to strengthen our approach to both service delivery and community safety. The role of Assistant Chief Fire Officer is a key role within the strategic team that will deliver the aspiration of making Staffordshire the safest place to live, work, or visit.
The need for an exceptional senior leadership team is vital as we face the future challenges locally, regionally, and Nationally. Therefore, I am looking for a high performing candidate that can build from the strong position that we have achieved over recent years.
I am looking for an energetic, self-motivated individual who is not afraid of moving away from traditional approaches in order to achieve improved outcomes for our communities. The ability to communicate at all levels throughout the Organisation is vitally important to me and I will be looking for an individual who is a credible leader that people want to follow.
Our people are our greatest asset and as such I need to recruit a leader with high levels of emotional intelligence and one that is comfortable feeling uncomfortable in order to have conversations that get beneath the issues at all levels, and this help us to improve.
If you think you are ready for this challenge, then we would welcome an application from you and wish you every success in the selection process.
Robert Barber
Chief Fire Officer / Head of Paid Services
About the role
The Assistant Chief Fire Officer has responsibility for overseeing the activities of the organisational Directorates to ensure that a coordinated, cohesive delivery of agreed outcomes. They will have a strong focus on delivering positive outcomes considering performance, driving efficiencies and transforming the service delivery operations to provide best value for money for the community of Staffordshire.
The post holder will be required to deputise for the Deputy Chief Fire Officer and provide information and advice to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and key stakeholders on all matters related to the responsibilities of the Service.
The Chief Fire Officer will also be looking for an individual who is genuinely committed to staff engagement, diversity and inclusion and who will be able to act as a role model for the Leadership Message and Cultural Framework. With the ability to influence others whilst ensuring the Service has strong leadership to shape and direct service provision and uphold the existing high standards of performance that exist.
Key responsibilities of the role include Service delivery of Response, Prevent and Protect, Collaboration and Shared Services, HR Management, People and Insights Management, Health and Safety.
The Assistant Chief Fire Officer will need to ensure regular environmental scanning to ensure that the organisation is aware and prepared for the impact of social, technological, political, economic and industry developments ensuring that the organisation meets all health and safety responsibilities. They will be influential in the development of regional and national policy and may be accountable for national operations or standard setting.
The Assistant Chief Fire Officer will be required to undertake operational duties and be available on call as agreed. Consequently, you will need to have a suitable base within the County or bordering the County in order to respond to operational incidents in a timely fashion.
The successful candidate will possess a detailed understanding of the issues relating to the fire and rescue service at national and local levels, have excellent political awareness and be an inspiring and outstanding leader. Candidates will also need to demonstrate resilience and excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to execute ambitious programmes of change.
Our Safety Plan 2020-2024
Our Safety Plan 2020-2024 outlines the priorities we will adopt over the next four years and the approach we will take to ensure we do not compromise on our commitment to protecting our local communities, reducing risk and maintaining firefighter safety.
The successful candidate will be expected to deliver against the Commissioner’s Fire and Rescue Plan (currently under review) and the Service’s Safety Plan 2020 - 2024.
