About the Role

Key Accountabilities of the Post

• As a member of the Corporate Management Team, make a significant contribution to developing and implementing the vision, strategies, policies and plans of the Service that deliver an effective and efficient fire and rescue service that meets current and future public need.
• Provide highly visible leadership, communicating a clear direction aligned to Service Values, priorities and objectives in order to build an inclusive culture of trust, high performance and continuous improvement.
• Ensure robust arrangements are in place to provide assurance of effective operational preparedness and business continuity resilience for all aspects of service provision.
• Deliver effective management arrangements and processes by leading, inspiring and engaging the Corporate Management Team to ensure targets and objectives are met in a timely and professional manner. Facilitating effective decision-making and robust performance management and quality assurance systems, driving a culture of development, change and innovation in support of the Service mission, aims and objectives.
• To be available outside normal working hours to provide the effective operational and organisational leadership and management of a 24/7 emergency service; fulfilling the functions of a Brigade Manager within the National Incident Command System, representing the Fire Authority as a fire and multi-agency strategic/ gold commander at local, regional and national emergencies and as a strategic member of local, regional and national resilience frameworks to ensure the effective support to the management and resolution of such incidents. Acquisition and maintenance of the necessary competence and national security requirements is required to fulfil this aspect of the role.
• Promote the Service Values in everything you do and champion the benefits of equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring the Service operates and promotes fair and open practices relating to employment and service provision, ensuring compliance with agreed standards of behaviour.
• Support the Chief Fire Officer in leading the Service approach to inclusive internal and external communication, consultation and engagement to promote and protect the reputation of the Service and the wide range of services we provide in line with our Service Values.
• Ensure allocated budgets and resources are utilised to optimum effect to deliver efficient and effective services.
• Ensure there is a proactive safety culture throughout the Service to ensure compliance with Health and Safety requirements and best practice.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local, regional and national partners and key stakeholders, effectively influencing and collaborating.
• Maintain and promote an effective industrial relations climate with staff and trade unions that facilitates change, innovation and continuous improvement.
• To undertake any such work as may be determined by the Chief Fire Officer from time to time, up to or at a level consistent with the principal responsibilities of the job and in any location within the Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Other

• You will be required to work the Principal Officers’ Continuous Duty System.
• This is a Politically Restricted post.
• This position is subject to a criminal records disclosure check and an additional national level Security Check.

Note: The contents of this job description will be subject to regular review and amendment over time to ensure they continue to accurately describe the job requirements. The postholders are also subject to the Fire & Rescue Service Brigade Manager Rolemap.

Person Specification

Experience

All of the below are essential criteria, identified by applications as well as assessment centre interviews.

Qualifications and Training

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

All of the below are essential criteria, identified by applications as well as assessment centre interviews.

• A high level of competence in pro-active safety and risk management, including integrated risk management.
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of fire and rescue operations necessary to undertake the role of strategic incident commander in critical and ambiguous situations of potentially regional, national and international significance.
• Substantial knowledge of the Government’s Fire Reform programme, the national, regional and local political operating climate of the FRS and the strategic implications of this.
• Highly developed inclusive leadership skills with an ability to translate the Service vision and values in a way that is clearly understood by others and can motivate and develop others to reach their full potential.
• Strategic, professional and managerial competence to plan, direct and comprehensively evaluate performance across the Service, in the context of the HMICFRS independent inspection regime.
• Knowledge of corporate governance, financial, strategic planning and programme management principles and practice.
• Excellent political skills and a proven ability to provide advice and support to the Fire Authority on a range of operational and strategic issues in an open and constructive way.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, both oral and in writing, focusing on communicating clearly and effectively in interpersonal relations, industrial relations, and with the media.
• Ability to critically and objectively analyse complex data, information and legislation and able to present to a range of audiences within a FRS that is increasingly data driven and evidence based in its decision making.
• High levels of self-awareness, emotional intelligence & personal resilience.
• Personal and professional credibility that engages and commands the confidence of elected Members, staff, local communities, partners and other external stakeholders.
• A self-motivated and inclusive working style, who proactively seeks to ‘fill the void’, and the ability to inspire this attitude in others.