Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue (LFR) is committed to supporting the development and progression of all staff and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to performance and promotion. At LFR we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. We believe that diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and ideas drives innovation and strengthens our ability to work together for safer communities. 

We are welcoming applications from anyone who meets the criteria as detailed below, including both internal and external candidates. It is for Watch Managers wishing to transfer and Crew Managers looking for promotion.

All candidates must be accepting and willing to work from any station across the county of Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue (LFR) is committed to supporting the development and progression of all staff and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to performance and promotion. At LFR we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. We believe that diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and ideas drives innovation and strengthens our ability to work together for safer communities. 

We are welcoming applications from anyone who meets the criteria as detailed below, including both internal and external candidates. It is for Crew Managers wishing to transfer and Fire Fighters looking for promotion.

All candidates must be accepting and willing to work from any station across the county of Lincolnshire.

Location: Home based with UK-wide travel, as required/on occasion

Contract details: Fixed term contract – 12 Months

Salary: £32,300 – £38,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time

Directorate:​ Strategy, Insight & Portfolio

Reporting to: Head of Portfolio and Planning

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented individual to join our Portfolio and Planning team as a Project Manager. As a Project Manager, you are responsible for managing projects from initiation to competition, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required acceptance and quality criteria. This role involves planning, executing and overseeing one or more projects while effectively communicating and managing stakeholder expectations. 

This role will sit within the Portfolio and Planning Team and therefore there will be some PMO and Planning activities to be undertaken on an ad hoc basis. 

Key responsibilities: 

You are responsible for scoping and completing all associated project documentation (i.e. Business Cases, Scoping Definition Documents, Project Initiation Documents, RAID Logs, Benefit Profiles etc.) 

You will develop detailed project plans for the full project lifecycle. 

You will maintain clear and effective communication with stakeholders and develop robust stakeholder management plans. 

You will identify project risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies and develop mitigations which will be captured within the RAID log that will be regularly reviewed and updated. 

You will ensure all project deliverables follow the Quality Assurance Process. 

You will manage changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs by completing change management requests and following change management protocols. 

You are responsible for all project closure activities and will conduct post-project evaluations and document lessons learned. 

You ensure accuracy of administration with clear audit processing.

You will maintain records of responses and actions taken against recommendations from meetings.

The successful candidate will have: 

Significant experience of successful project and change management. 

Proven project management experience, in particular projects with an element of complex procurement activities. 

Experience of planning and organising a broad range of multi-stranded and complex projects, plans and strategies, formulating and adjusting as required. 

Specialist knowledge through experience of project management, cost management, procurement management, quality assurance, and risk management. 

Experience of working within a PMO environment. 

Effective analytical skills, able to review and interpret highly complex and sometimes conflicting information and data and translate into reports, scenarios, schedules of accommodation and specifications, presenting options and recommendations. 

Effective communication and presentation skills (both verbally and non-verbally), dealing with highly complex or sensitive information communicated to a wide range of individuals and groups at all levels internally and externally. 

Experience of supporting and coordinating business plans across a number of teams. 

Experience of drafting a wide range of reports with an ability to summarise a complex set of facts, clearly, accurately, and succinctly to a wide audience. 

Negotiation, persuasion, and motivational skills, able to gain co-operation at all levels. To include an ability to calmly resolve sensitive issues in a professional manner . 

Computer literate with advanced keyboard skills and experience in the use of Microsoft and other software packages for data analysis and report-writing.

An ability to plan and think strategically.

An ability to identify and understand risks to a project(s).

An ability to work with a high degree of accuracy. 

Experience in minute taking and maintain accurate records of responses and actions taken against recommendations from meetings. 

If this sounds like the kind of opportunity that you would be interested in; please have a look at the Job Description and apply via the NFCC website. 

How to apply: 

Please complete the application form linked from the ‘apply now’ button on the NFCC Website. CV’s will NOT be accepted for this position. 

If you experience any difficulty completing our application form, or have any queries regarding the role, please contact recruitment@nfcc.org.uk. 

Closing Date – 4th September 2024 with interviews being conducted week commencing 16th September 2024. 

PLEASE NOTE – THIS VACANCY WILL CLOSE BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS. 

NFCC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and will require a DBS check to be completed prior to commencing in post. 

NFCC is committed to being an inclusive employer. We comply with the Equality Act 2010, and we believe that everyone deserves to work in safe environments that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, abuse, and harm, where they feel supported, welcome, and able to thrive. 

NFCC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice, all staff are expected to share this commitment.

Job Title: Watch Manager – Breathing Apparatus Instructor

Contract: Temporary (initially until 31.03.2025 but could be extended)

Working Hours: 42 hours (Day-Duty working pattern)

Salary: WM B (£46,707 per annum)

Closing Date: 25th August 2024

This process may also identify candidates to be offered future Watch Manager opportunities within BAi that arise within a reasonable timeframe (up to 18 months). These maybe permanent or fixed term opportunities and additional assessments in line with the Operational Promotional Policy will be required.

As an operational employee, you will be required to maintain operational competency, and support availability and work from various stations across the county, in line with our Day-Duty Officers Riding (DDOR) principles. This is a requirement of the role and an essential condition to maintaining Grey Book terms and conditions.

The role

We are looking for people with skills and evidence in leading others who are looking to progress their careers and develop and assess others, who share our values and ethics, and are looking to be part of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service becoming one of the best in the country.

About us

To help us deliver our mission and to help us on our journey, we are looking for highly motivated individuals with an enthusiasm and aptitude for developing others as a Watch Manager in our Operational Training department as a Breathing Apparatus instructor.

About you

The right person for the role will be a role model to others, demonstrating professionalism, an inclusive approach to leading others, and maintaining high standards. You will be committed to the development of yourself and others, and will be prepared to support your colleagues, alongside the operational responsibilities of a Watch Manager.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with an enthusiasm for the operational training and development of others to demonstrate their expertise, experience and knowledge to effectively develop individuals within the service. This position will focus on the Breathing Apparatus (BA) and associated training elements of the department’s activities.

The successful applicant will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to develop constructive working relationships. They will be proficient in assessing problems and determining the most appropriate action and will be able to demonstrate that they support changes in service provision in a positive and constructive manner.

You will be posted to a nominated location (for example Orsett, Chelmsford, Wethersfield or Harlow training centres), but will also deliver training at any location within the County of Essex in line with Grey Book terms and conditions.

You will be required to achieve the following within 6 months of appointment. Should you not successfully achieve these qualifications, the services Performance Improvement policy would apply. which may result in redeployment:

·         Breathing Apparatus Instructor

·         Compartment Fire Behaviour Instructor

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for these opportunities, you must:

Be a substantive Watch Manager (wholetime / day-duty) within a UK Fire & Rescue Service (you must be competent in role and been in your substantive role for a minimum of 12 months)
Be a substantive Crew Manager (wholetime / day-duty) within a UK Fire & Rescue Service (you must be competent in role and been in your substantive role for a minimum of 12 months)
Be a substantive Firefighter (wholetime / day-duty) within a UK Fire & Rescue Service in ECFRS’ LRS resource or development pools (you must have been competent in role for a minimum of 12 months)
Substantive Firefighters (you must have been competent in role for a minimum of 12 months)
have successfully completed all relevant operation assessments and compulsory courses, and are competent in your current role
all applicants must hold Incident Command Level 1
be able to travel around the county as required, to visit all ECFRS fire stations and sites
not be subject to any current live disciplinary or performance warnings, nor be subject to any informal management for reasons of conduct or performance
have a valid and current FiTech of 42 VO2 max

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 with your Station Manager prior to shortlisting.

In order, we will review applications from Watch Managers and Crew Managers first, then Firefighters in LRS resource pool, and then applications from competent Firefighters. If people who are currently substantive Firefighters are successful in achieving the role, they will be temporarily promoted to Watch Manager.

How to apply

Internal candidates who are Watch Managers, or in either the Watch Manager development or resource pool –

If you meet the essential criteria listed above, you should express an interest for the role by uploading a word document confirming your LRS status instead of a supporting statement. You do not need to confirm any other information.

All other candidates (External candidates and Internal 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 evidencing how you meet the essential criteria for the role as detailed in the person specification. It is important you provide as much evidence as possible, as this statement will be used to shortlist your application. Please ensure you have uploaded the supporting statement before clicking Apply.

You may attach separate documents (such as qualifications, or a CV) should you wish, though your additional document will only be referred to in shortlisting to confirm eligibility (e.g., your current role and any existing qualifications).

Closing date for applications is Sunday 22nd August 2024

Assessment and selection

The assessment activity will take place in line with the Service’s Recruitment Policy and promotion approach and will involve the following activities:

Stage 1

Shortlisting (w/c 23rd August 2024)

Stage 2

Role specific interview and presentation will take place on the 30th August  or 2nd September 2024

This will include a 15-minute presentation on BA entry control procedures (BA standard note 3 -found in Learn Pro-BA page). You will not be required to cover the whole subject but an area of your choice. Standard presentation facilities will be supplied – as well as role specific interview which will incorporate Quality Assurance, Code of Ethics and management and leadership questions as required in the role.

Quality Assurance Framework V1.6 Sep 23.docx

Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact your line manager or Station Manager Jeremy Tuckwell (jeremy.tuckwell@essex-fire.gov.uk) in the first instance.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk

You can see the NFCC Leadership Framework here: NFCC_Leadership_Framework_Final.pdf (nationalfirechiefs.org.uk)

And guidance around the Code of Ethics here:

Core Code of Ethics England Guidance May 21 V0.pdf (ukfrs.com)

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

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 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 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 https://join.essex-fire.gov.uk

Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service provides emergency response services to safeguard almost one million people every day, across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The safety and well-being of our diverse communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose is steadfast in ensuring that residents feel safe and confident in accessing the quality service we provide, and equality is assured in the way in which we deliver it to them.

As we move the organisation forward, we are now seeking a Head of Corporate Financial Services (S112 Officer/Treasurer). Reporting to our Assistant Chief Officer, you will be a dynamic leader ensuring that our finance portfolio aligns with, and advances, our organisational objectives. Not your average finance role, you will also lead our Procurement, Information Communications Technology and Fleet, Equipment and Estates services, in turn developing a strategy for your portfolio that continually evolves in pursuit of delivering best practice.

Forming a part of our Strategic Leadership Team, your leadership will drive the improvement and transformation of current processes and services, with a clear focus on driving value for money and efficiencies. We are therefore looking for a suitably qualified professional, who brings with them a robust understanding of financial management alongside a strong grasp of empowering their teams to deliver the best service for those we ultimately serve on a daily basis.

Building relationships will be critical in this role, as you will work closely with our Chief and Assistant Chief Fire and Rescue Officers, the Combined Fire Authority and its Elected Members, and Leicestershire County Council colleagues. We work collaboratively and supportively, therefore someone who enjoys a fast paced but supportive environment, in a critical service such as ours, will do well here.