Contract: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week *
Salary: £28,142 – £30,518 (annual pay award pending)
Location: Billericay Fire Station
Closing Date: 12th June 2026
* The number of your normal hours per week and days and times of your attendance will be based on a 9 Day-Fortnight: Week One: Monday – Friday 08:00-16:45, Week Two: Monday – Wednesday 08:00-16:45, Thursday 08:00-16:30, Friday off.
The Role
Within our Water Section we are currently recruiting for a Fire Hydrant and Dry Riser Technician to join our team of five other technicians and our administration team.
Based at Billericay Fire Station, the role involves the inspection and maintenance of statutory and private fire hydrants, predominately across the South of the County. Working on your own initiative in roadside and rural areas to identify fire hydrants, test and refurbish them using equipment from a workshop van.
The role is predominately lone working and of a physically demanding nature, working outside in varying weather conditions. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate manual handling capability, dexterity and the ability to access areas that are in overgrown locations using strimmer’s and hedge cutters and be able to pass the Authority’s in house driving assessment. The role will also periodically involve the testing of dry-rising fire mains at various locations across the County as part of a team. Experience of engaging with members of the public and the ability to interpret technical drawings and maps would also be advantageous.
Training is available for the successful candidate, which would include fire hydrant repair techniques, NRSWA Highways working training (New Roads and Street Works Act) and tool and equipment use etc.
What You Will Be Working On
– Routine testing and maintenance of statutory and private fire hydrants
– Conducting minor fire hydrant repairs and associated defect reporting
– Acceptance testing of fire hydrants following third party repairs / replacements
– Accessing new housing development sites to locate and acceptance test new fire hydrant installations
– Wet testing of dry-rising fire mains as part of a team
What Are We Looking For?
– Level 2 standard of education (e.g. GCSE) or equivalent experience demonstrating basic numeracy and literacy.
– Full driving licence (also have category B+E).
The successful candidate will be required to complete the following courses once in post:
– (NRSWA) Operative level qualification.
– First Aid Qualification
– Qualification in the use of Strimmer’s / Brush cutter & Hedge cutter
– Angle Grinder Qualification
If you are an internal candidate, you must have discussed your application with your line manager and confirmed with them there are no outstanding issues of conduct or performance. This will be verified prior to shortlisting.
How to apply
You will be required to submit a CV detailing a minimum of five years employment and / or education history, along with a supporting statement of no more than 750 words that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the Person Specification.
You may submit this either as a word document, pdf, or an mp3 (voice note) or mp4 (video), however the word count of your supporting statement should not exceed 750 words no matter which format you choose to present your application.
You may attach separate documents (such as qualifications) should you wish. Your CV and additional documents will be referred to in shortlisting to confirm eligibility (e.g., your current role and any existing qualifications).
Assessment and selection:
The assessment and selection approach will be:
Stage 1
Application & shortlisting (assessment of your supporting statement will be made against the essential & desirable criteria)
Stage 2
Role specific panel interview
Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact Terry Hone on terry.hone@essex-fire.gov.uk
Our Culture and Benefits
Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees.
You can find out more about our benefits at https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/recruitment/benefits
Important Information for Firefighter Pension Scheme Pensioners
If you are currently in receipt of a pension from the Firefighter Pension Scheme, please note that taking up this role may affect your pension. Under pension abatement rules, if your earnings in this role, when combined with your pension, exceed your pre-retirement salary (adjusted for inflation), your pension may be reduced.
For further guidance, please contact our Pensions team on 01376 576799 or email mailbox.pensions@essex-fire.gov.uk
Safeguarding
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service.
You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying.
This role will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Disability Confident
We are an equal opportunity, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We value diversity and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Applications are considered solely on merit.
Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact Equality.Diversity@essex-fire.gov.uk
You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies and application processes via www.essex-fire.gov.uk/join-essex-fire