Deputy Chief Fire Officer

We are excited to announce an opportunity for an inspiring inclusive leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO). 

Governed by Fire Authority members, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service employs over 550 dedicated staff operating across 23 Fire Stations covering over 1,346 square miles, serving a diverse population of over 490,000 people. The county of Shropshire has a varied risk profile covering an area of 1,346 square miles, with the busy towns of Shrewsbury and Telford at its centre.  This sparsity, combined with the heritage sites such as the Ironbridge Gorge, Wroxeter Roman City and Wenlock Edge and the challenges of two growing vibrant towns creates a challenging and interesting risk profile.  This requires both established and innovative ways of working.  We are seeking a DCFO who will provide strategic leadership, will encourage fresh thinking, create collaborative opportunities and champion inclusivity in all aspects of our work.

In 2025, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will launch our 2025-2028 Community Risk Management plan. The postholder will be critical in shaping our plan, ensuring it reflects our commitment to delivering the best possible service to Shropshire through defined strategic priorities.

We are seeking applications from high-performing and high-potential competent Senior Managers who are able to demonstrate experience of operating effectively at a strategic level, have a successful track record of achievement and the ability to provide strategic leadership. Ideal candidates will be able to evidence a range of skills and experiences that are key to the core responsibilities in strategic leadership of functions and operational command.

The successful candidate will be an effective leader with extensive experience across a range of strategic disciplines. This role requires sound knowledge and experience of fire and rescue service delivery, operational command at all levels, integrated risk management planning, business, financial and succession planning, performance and people management and partnership working. This will require highly effective interpersonal skills with the ability to lead and motivate others, adopting a clear project management approach, and building positive relationships both within and outside of the organisation, including at a national level.  A key part of the role is engagement with elected councillors, working together to shape the direction of the Service.  This requires political awareness and a detailed understanding of community issues.

Our staff are our greatest asset, together with the Executive Leadership Team and the Senior Management Team you will play a key role in advancing our service, enhancing our organisational culture, and embedding positive change. Listening to, and valuing, our staff is at the core of our leadership approach. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is proud of its strong community links and high on-call availability, showcasing our staff’s daily commitment. Our full-time firefighters are always ready to respond to a wide range of incidents and engage with the community at every opportunity.

The essential criteria is detailed in the job description and includes:

• L7 Leadership and Management Apprenticeship (Senior Leaders Apprenticeship Masters) or equivalent:
  • ILM/CMI L7 in Leadership and Management
  • Executive Leadership Programme (ELP) (Post Graduate Certificate in Senior Leadership)
  • MBA/L7 equivalent
• Strategic Incident Command Level 7 or equivalent.
• Advanced Incident Command (L6) Tactical
• Clear evidence of continuous professional development.

For more information, please view the candidate pack below.

Download candidate pack

To apply:

To apply for this job please click on the Apply button below and fill out the requested information. When prompted, please submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than four sides of A4 each).

With your CV, please also provide the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be contacted if you reach the final stages, and we will not contact referees without your permission.

Your supporting statement should express why you are interested in this role and what experience you can bring to the organisation. The statement should tackle the specific requirements of the role; outlining examples and outcomes showing how you meet those requirements.