Job Title: Research & Development Officer
Contract: Permanent
Working Hours: 42
Salary: £42,772
Location: Service HQ, Kelvedon
Technical Services have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Watch Manager and are seeking expressions of interest from current substantive Watch Managers with ECFRS or another UK Fire and Rescue Service or ECFRS Crew Managers who have progressed into the LRS Development Pool, who would like the opportunity to be part of a dynamic positive team at the forefront of providing operational firefighting equipment, PPE & RPE to the Service.
The Role
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a positive enthusiastic attitude to help the Team achieve its organisational objectives.
This is an excellent opportunity to drive the research and innovation of new operational firefighting equipment and to develop this into the operational environment.
What You Will Be Working On
As a Watch Manager you will undertake an important role of research and development for the Organisation. This will involve interacting with manufacturers and suppliers together with other Fire and Rescue Services to identify the latest technologies and innovation in relation to Fire Appliances, Equipment, PPE, RPE and Uniform. You will also act on directives issued by the NFCC as required.
In addition, you will be responsible for the management of the relevant documentation that supports operational equipment, PPE & RPE held by Technical Services as well as producing operational information in the form of Technical Bulletins and Technical Briefing Notes.
What Are We Looking For
Technical Services has an excellent ethos of working together and supporting each other, exemplifying the professionalism of the team. You will work with other Departments within ECFRS and external partners to achieve its objectives. The right person for the role will be able to contribute in a positive manner to this ethos. You will have an enthusiasm for research and development and a desire to innovate and develop the equipment we provide. You will have operational experience of attending incidents where you have used our current equipment. You will be committed to the development of yourself and others and will be prepared to support the development and wellbeing of all personnel within the team, alongside the responsibilities of a Watch Manager.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this role you must:
Either be a current substantive Watch Manager with a UK Fire & Rescue Service or have been a current Crew Manager within ECFRS who has progressed into the LRS Development Pool.
Have no current live disciplinary or performance warnings or be subject to any informal management or reasons of conduct or performance.
The Application Process
This will be a three-part application process.
Application – Initially you will apply via our website by attaching supporting statement. Your supporting statement should be a maximum of 750 words showing us how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification for the role. We love it when our applicants write thorough supporting statements so don’t be afraid to go into detail! This will give us a great understanding of your skills and experience and how well you fit the role.
Additional assessment that is not an interview – If successfully shortlisted you will be invited to give a 10-minute presentation.
Interview – The final part of the recruitment process will be a 30 minute role specific based interview.
How to apply
Internal candidates
Candidates in either the development or resource pool –
If you meet the essential criteria listed above, you should express an interest for the role by clicking Apply in Civica self-service.
Candidates who are not in either the development or resource pool –
You are required to submit a supporting statement of no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential criteria for the role via Civica. It is important that you provide as much evidence as possible as to how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification as this statement will be used to shortlist your application. Please ensure you have uploaded the supporting statement before clicking Apply.
External candidates
You are required to submit a supporting statement of no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential criteria for the role via Civica. It is important that you provide as much evidence as possible as to how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification as this statement will be used to shortlist your application. Please ensure you have uploaded the supporting statement before clicking Apply.
We are an equal opportunities, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from everyone and values diversity in our workplace. A commitment to promoting diversity and developing a work environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
As part of our offer to support all our candidates to perform to the best of their abilities during our recruitment and selection processes and we would like to let you know about a couple of support options you can access, should you wish to, including our employee forums, who are keen and willing to support all of our potential colleagues.
Our employee forums and partners include:
Asian Fire Services Association (AFSA), BEING (our LGBTQ+ employee support network), Christian Fellowship, Ethnic Minority Forum, Men’s Forum, and our Women’s Forum. In addition, we also have a female firefighters operational group.
Further to the above, the Service has a Digital Accessibility Inclusion Group (DAIG) that supports all colleagues to improve their digital skills and provides additional support and guidance to colleagues with neurodivergent strengths and struggles as a result of dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, dyspraxia etc. We want everyone to thrive at work, and so we encourage and enable people to access digital tools to help them perform at your best. The DAIG is a group of colleagues from across the Service that unite to support others as a result of their lived experience and desire to make a difference. They support people with a range of visible and invisible disabilities to identify and access digital workplace adjustments and solutions and may be able to assist with your application too.
Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact equalitydiversity@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, application processes and benefits via https://join.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. Some of our benefits include:
Flexible working hours
Remote working opportunities
Wellbeing and counselling services
Physiotherapy services
Affiliation with the Blue Light Card scheme
Generous annual leave
Competitive pension scheme
Career development opportunities
You can find out more about our benefits via www.essex-fire.gov.uk
Closing Date – 14th June 2023
Interview Date – TBC
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 may be subject to a standard/enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.