Summary
Location: Service Training Academy, Exeter Airport.
Contract: Permanent, Part Time (22.2 hours / 3 days per week).
Salary:
This role is available at two levels, depending on your qualifications and experience.
Grade 6: £38,220 rising annually to £40,777 per annum (pro-rata)
Grade 8: £48,226 rising annually to £51,356 per annum (pro-rata) + 12% training allowance (pro-rata).
Make a Difference Behind the Wheel
We’re looking for motivated and professional Driver Trainers to help ensure our Firefighters and staff have the skills, confidence and qualifications to operate a diverse fleet of emergency and specialist vehicles safely and effectively.
This is a rewarding opportunity to play a vital role in public safety while working within the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England.
About the role:
Grade 8 Driver Trainers will deliver learner, standard and emergency response driver training in line with National Occupational Standards and Fire Sector Authorised Professional Practice. You will be registered to deliver emergency response driver training and assessment, supporting operational readiness across the Service.
Grade 6 Driver Trainers will deliver non-response driver training and assessments, including LGV licence acquisition, specialist vehicle familiarisation and driver development programmes. Successful candidates will be supported to progress through response driving and instructor qualifications, with salary progression to Grade 8 upon successful completion.
Find out more:
Key responsibilities:
You will:
Deliver high-quality driver training, coaching and assessments across a range of Fire Service vehicles.
Support LGV licence acquisition and driver development programmes.
Assess driver competence and maintain accurate training records and evidence portfolios.
Promote safe driving practices and support driver risk management initiatives.
Provide familiarisation training for new and specialist vehicles.
Work closely with Fleet, Health and Safety, Risk and Insurance teams on vehicle incident reviews and investigations.
Support the evaluation, testing and introduction of new vehicles and equipment.
Ensure training vehicles remain safe, compliant and roadworthy.
Maintain professional standards through continuous professional development and national best practice.
Champion the Service’s values, including equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.
Additional Grade 8 responsibilities:
Delivering emergency response driver training and assessment.
Maintaining National Emergency Response Register accreditation and associated CPD requirements.
Conducting emergency response driving assessments and maintaining compliance with national quality assurance standards.
Supporting operational response activities when required.
What we are looking for:
You’ll be an experienced Driver Trainer with excellent communication and coaching skills, capable of building confidence and competence in learners while maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism.
You will be comfortable with working independently, making informed decisions, and adapting your approach to meet a range of learner needs and operational requirements.
What we offer:
In return you’ll receive a rewarding career and an excellent benefits package including:
Flexible working arrangements.
Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
More than five weeks of annual leave (pro-rata)
Family-friendly policies.
Free gym access and fitness support.
Learning and development opportunities.
Blue Light Membership and associated discounts.
Benenden Health membership options
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Access to Firefighters Charity
Cycle to Work Scheme
If you are passionate about developing others and wat to help keep our communities safe, we would love to hear from you.
Apply now!
Closing Date: 2359hrs Sunday 23 August 2026
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tony Hodge – Training Delivery Manager (Driver Training), on 01392 872293 or via ahodge@dsfire.gov.uk
The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK before commencing employment.
How to apply:
You will be required to complete an application form and submit a document detailing how you meet the following essential criteria taken from the Job Description and Person Specification.
If applying for the Grade 8 position, please provide evidence of how you meet the following criteria:
DVSA ADI Registered
LGV Licence held for a minimum of 3 years
A Member of the National Register for response driving within the fire sector.
A Flexible approach to working hours
The Ability to work as a member of a team, and on an individual basis.
Proven ability to recognise, develop and apply best practice in delivery of driver training.
If applying for the Grade 6 position, please provide evidence of how you meet the criteria below:
LGV Category C Licence held for a minimum of 3 years
The ability to demonstrate effective presentation skills for both internal and external customers.
The ability to work as a member of a team, and on an individual basis.
The ability to work with, and demonstrate, patience and enthusiasm.
A flexible approach to working hours.
To help you complete this part of the application form you will find attached at the bottom of this advert two word documents:
Grade 8 Essential Criteria for Driver Trainer Application
Grade 6 Essential Criteria for Driver Trainer Application
Please download the document that refers to the level of the Driver Trainer role you are applying for. You can then complete the document with your evidence in respect of the relevant essential criteria detailed above. Once this has been done, you can upload your evidence document at the relevant point when completing your application form.
Please note the evidence that you upload to your application should not exceed 2000 worlds in total (excluding titles).
Evidence submitted in relation to the essential criteria above will be used to shortlist any applications received.
Please note: The Service will be processing applications received for the Grade 8 role in the first instance. Should we be successful in filling both vacancies with Grade 8 applications we will not be progressing the applications in relation to the Grade 6 role. Should this be the case, we will contact you to advise of the outcome.