Permanent position
Remuneration: £179,676 salary with a provided car or taxable car allowance up to the value of £9,810.00.
Relocation support is available to a maximum of £17,374 (depending on personal circumstances), of which, the first £8,000 is exempt from tax and NI contributions.
Based at our Service Headquarters near Exeter
Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive Officer at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
We are seeking an innovative and influential leader who shares our values and ethics and can lead our organisation forward.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of sectors who can bring expertise and experience to drive us forward and help shape the future of our organisation.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan fire and rescue service in England. We have a proud history of keeping people safe and providing prevention, protection, and response services across the local government areas of Devon County, Plymouth City, Somerset, and Torbay Councils. We have 83 fire stations and over 1,900 highly skilled and motivated staff who work tirelessly to protect the 1.8 million people who live in our two counties, plus the 1.1 million people who come to Devon and Somerset on holiday each year.
Find out more
Reporting directly to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, you will have a central role in ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the service, supporting us to deliver on our statutory duties in line with the National Fire and Rescue Framework.
You will support us in delivering on our commitment to prevent and mitigate fire and other incidents outlined in our Community Risk Management Plan and improvement plans and you will be given the autonomy needed to build on our successes and transform the Service to ‘outstanding’ under the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection process.
You will be used to acting with authority under pressure to carry out operational command duties in the event of a major incident.
You will demonstrate a strong track record of innovation, transformation, and modernisation in a large organisation.
Fire service experience would be helpful but is not essential. We are more interested in your ability to inclusively lead change as you remain focused on outcomes.
More information on the role, full job description/person specification, and benefits package can be found in the attached Application pack.
Benefits
Here are some of the benefits you can expect:
- leading the largest fire service outside of London
- relocation package (see page 12 of the application pack)
- vehicle allowance
- competitive holiday entitlement
- pension scheme
- employee assistance programme provided in-house (wellbeing, counselling and physiotherapy provision)
- comprehensive rewards and benefits programme
lifestyle benefits – a vast range of national and local discounts and offers from retailers, as well as savings on travel, leisure, and entertainment
- three yearly medical
- various salary sacrifice schemes.
How to apply
Please use the 'Personal Impact Statement and Essential Criteria' template attached below and upload this when requested in the application form.
You will be required to complete an application form via the link below, which will include a personal impact statement. The personal impact statement relates to each of the four quadrants of the NFCC Leadership Framework as well as professional expertise. Your impact statement should focus on demonstrating your impact at ‘Leading the Service’ level.
You will also be required to detail how you meet the following essential criteria from the Job Description and Person Specification.
1. Ability to interpret and analyse complex financial and budgetary information.
2. A performance focus with the drive to deliver agreed outcomes and raise standards of performance.
3. The ability to deploy appropriate tactics and language to engage, influence, and persuade others including stakeholders and partners, both internally and externally.
4. Extensive senior management experience including the effective management of people, budgets, and resources.
5. Experience in contributing to or leading innovation and significant change to improve organisational effectiveness.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 14 April at 23:59. Shortlisting will take place from 22 April and the selection and interview process will take place on Thursday 9 May, Friday 10 May, and Monday 13 May 2024.
If, having read the application pack you would like additional information or an informal discussion, please contact Chris Howes, Head of People Services, by emailing chowes@dsfire.gov.uk or calling 01392 872200 (Mon-Thurs), 9am-3pm
Please note the appointment is subject to successful Baseline Personnel Security Standard check (BPSS), Medical Screening, National Security Vetting to Developed Vetting (DV) and an Enhanced DBS check.
Our values
As a Service and as individuals:
We are proud to help.
We are honest.
We are respectful.
We are working together.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience, and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.
