Area Manager Promotional Pathway and Inter Service Transfer

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is an organisation with its sights set on the future, firmly set on a new course for a better future. Our improvement journey is well underway. We are building at pace, with serious intent and enormous drive, defining a new era for our Service, the communities we serve, and our workforce. We are the most improved Fire and Rescue Service in England and one of the best performing. We are proud of our most recent HMICFRS report awarded ‘Good’ in 10 of the 11 areas whilst also being recognised in four areas for Positive Practice and two areas for Innovative Practice. It’s an exciting time to join GMFRS as we finalise our Fire Plan which will serve as the next chapter in our improvement journey to become an outstanding Fire and Rescue Service.

We are one of the largest Fire and Rescue Services outside London, covering an area of approximately 500 square miles and a culturally diverse population of 2.8 million people. Greater Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and growing city-region and an incredibly exciting and rewarding place to work. Improving organisational culture remains a top priority for us; we have taken a ‘culture first’ approach and under the leadership of our CFO, GMFRS has an unrelenting commitment to fostering cultural change. We have been recognised by Stonewall as the 34th LGBTQ+ inclusive employer in their Top 100 list. Our Rainbow Staff Network also won Stonewall’s Network Group of the Year.

We are now looking for our next Area Managers to join our team and support us on our journey to become an outstanding Fire and Rescue Service. As Area Manager, you will be integral to our Service Leadership Team and will form part of the Service’s operational and managerial strategic capability. You will also be central to driving forward a shared vision to make “Greater Manchester one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old”. The foundations have been laid for the future of our Service, which is now building at pace, delivering a new era and capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

As an Area Manager, you will bring outstanding leadership to our organisation - leadership that promotes innovative thinking, collaborative working, and an inclusive approach to everything we do. You will play a vital role in leading multiple teams to deliver plans that align with our strategic ambitions. Our organisation is evolving, and you will be a major contributor to this cultural transformation and the adoption of new methods. This role is crucial in creating a positive, safe, and supportive organisational climate, ensuring that the values of GMFRS are deeply embedded and evident in all our actions. You will influence performance, future plans, and the direction of the organisation, ensuring the continued growth and development of GMFRS.

We are looking for inspiring, confident, talented, and high-performing individuals to operate successfully within the Area Manager role and bring diverse ideas into an evolving and improving UK Fire and Rescue Service. Candidates should be politically aware and able to engage with a wide range of partners, as you will be accountable for delivering against the priorities set out in the Fire Plan, developing and implementing departmental strategies, and Annual Delivery Plans. As part of our Service Leadership Team, excellent communication, negotiating, and influencing skills are essential and you must demonstrate an ability to embrace change and provide inclusive leadership.

As an Area Manager, you will oversee and be accountable for the functioning, performance, improvement, and implementation of work across your directorates, working with a range of key stakeholders within the Service, the community, and partner organisations. Candidates should role model our core values and champion a positive organisational culture, actively promoting and embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion within teams and services. We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates who have a proven track record of success as a competent Wholetime Area or Group Manager within their current service.

Salary: AM Dev (£70,368.00) - AM Comp B (£77,186.00) per annum 20% Flexi Duty, CPD, Skills and 10% Continuous duty allowance.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Demonstrable competence as a permanent Wholetime Group or Area Manager within a UK Fire and Rescue Service, specifically a proven track record in planning, managing high performing teams, cultural change and development of yourself and others.
• Operational awareness (or competence) at current rank.
• Currently not under any live sanctions, capability, performance, or disciplinary procedures.
• Hold a Leadership and Management qualification minimum Level 5.
• Your line manager is aware you are applying for promotion.
• External Only: Proof of UK Fire and Rescue Service contract and up to date training records.
• willingness and ability to be posted to and work from any location within the Greater Manchester boundary.
• UK driving licence with access to own vehicle.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Service Operations, Incident Command, Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Science.
• Leadership and Management qualification Level 7.
• Started a development portfolio / can evidence development for promotion.
• Already accessed a coach or mentor to support you throughout your promotional process.
• Suitable H&S qualification (NEBOSH).
• Holds an Incident Command Level 4 qualification (also known as SFJ 7).
• Completed a MAGIC Course.