Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Remuneration: £149,130.00 salary with a provided car or taxable car allowance up to the value of £7,350.00.

Relocation support is available to a maximum of £17,374.00 (depending on personal circumstances), of which the first £8,000.00 is exempt from Tax and NI contributions.

Based at our Service Headquarters near Exeter.

Are you an ambitious and forward-thinking strategic leader Would you like to live and work in one of the most stunning places in the UK?

We are seeking an innovative and influential leader who shares our values and ethics, to lead our organisation forward as our new Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO).

This is an exciting time to join Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, as our Deputy Chief Fire Officer. We are in the process of delivering a change programme, transforming the Service to ensure future sustainability as well as providing resilient services for the future challenges.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan fire and rescue service in England. We have a proud history of keeping people safe and providing prevention, protection, and response services across the local government areas of Devon County, Plymouth City, Somerset and Torbay Councils. We have 83 fire stations and over 1,900 highly skilled and motivated staff who work tirelessly to protect the 1.8 million people who live in our two counties, plus the 1.1 million people who come to Devon and Somerset on holiday each year.

Find out more:
Our Deputy Chief Fire Officer will report to, and support the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) in leading the Service. As part of the Executive Board, you will assist the CFO in creating a vision, direction and culture of the Service which builds public trust and confidence through the delivery of effective services.

As the DCFO you will be directly responsible for day-to-day management of the Service, ensuring that agreed policies are implemented effectively and performance managed. The DCFO will have responsibility for the Service directorate encompassing Response and Resilience and People.

You will be used to acting with authority under pressure to carry out operational command duties in the event of a major incident.

You will demonstrate a strong track record of innovation, transformation, and modernisation in a large organisation.

More information on the role, full job description / person specification, and benefits package can be found in the attached Application pack.

Benefits:

Here are the benefits you can expect:

Leading the largest fire service outside of London
Relocation package (see page 13 of the application pack)
Service provided vehicle or allowance.
Competitive holiday entitlement
Pension scheme
Employee assistance programme provided in-house (wellbeing, counselling and physiotherapy provision)
Comprehensive rewards and benefits programme.
Lifestyle benefits – a vast range of national and local discounts and offers from retailers, as well as savings on travel, leisure and entertainment.
Three yearly medical
Various salary sacrifice schemes

How to apply:
You will be required to complete an application form via the apply link below, which will include the requirement for you to provide a Personal Impact Statement. Please use the ‘DCFO Personal Impact Statement and Essential Criteria’ template attached below and upload this when requested in the application form.

The personal impact statement relates to each of the four quadrants of the NFCC Leadership Framework as well as professional expertise. Your impact statement should focus on demonstrating your impact at ‘Leading the Service’ level.

The ‘DCFO Personal Impact Statement and Essential Criteria’ template attached also has a section for you to detail how you meet the following essential criteria from the Job Description and Person Specification.

Strategic thinking and analysis, including formulating and implementing strategic issues across a large organisation.

A performance focus with the drive to deliver agreed outcomes and raise standards of performance.

Significant experience as a substantive Area / Brigade Manager leading significant change within a fire and rescue service with a track record in improving organisational effectiveness.

A comprehensive knowledge of the financial and budgetary context in which a modern fire and rescue service operates.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 29 September at 23:59.

Shortlisting will take place from 30 September and the selection and interview process will take place during the weeks starting 21 October and 4 November 2024.

If having read the application pack you would like additional information, or an informal discussion, please contact Dave Etheridge OBE, FIFireE, Director of Fire Knowledge by emailing Dave.Etheridge@fireknowledge.co.uk or calling 07775 827265.

Please note that the appointment is subject to successful Baseline Personnel Security Standard check (BPSS), Medical Screening, National Security Vetting to Developed Vetting (DV) and an Enhanced DBS Check.

Our values
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment and adhere to the Services Safeguarding Policy.

Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and/or reprimands.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority are committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.

As a Service and as individuals:

We are proud to help
We are honest
We are respectful
We are working together
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities we serve and aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce, We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to join our team.