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- Tasks: Lead and innovate in fire and rescue services, ensuring community safety and wellbeing.
- Company: County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority, a trusted and high-performing service.
- Benefits: Opportunity to make a real difference and drive transformation in public services.
- Other info: Inclusive culture promoting diversity and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fire services while embracing innovation and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Proven senior leadership experience and relevant postgraduate degree required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 117800 ÂŁ per year.
Are you an ambitious, visionary leader ready to shape the future of fire and rescue services? County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority is seeking an exceptional individual to join our leadership team as a Director (Wholetime). We are looking for someone who can deliver a professional, innovative, and high‑performing service, ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities while meeting all statutory and legal responsibilities.
This is a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of a service that is proud to be recognised as high performing, forward‑thinking, and trusted by the communities we serve. Our vision is clear: “Safest People, Safest Places.” To achieve this, we need a leader who can drive transformation, embrace innovation, and work collaboratively with partners during a period of financial challenge for public services.
Your ability to lead change, inspire confidence, and maintain excellence will help us stand out and continue delivering outstanding services. We are looking for an individual with a proven track record of senior leadership and delivering organisational change in complex, political, and unionised environments. Someone with strong skills in strategic planning, resource management, and decision‑making, with the resilience and creativity to navigate competing priorities.
Has a leadership style that is inclusive, engaging, and committed to diversity, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Applicants should possess extensive experience as a Group Manager and hold a relevant postgraduate degree for the position. Ideally, candidates will be qualified and currently working at Fire Service Incident Command Level 4 to participate in the Executive rota; however, substantial command experience at Level 3 will also be taken into account.
If you have the vision, resilience, and leadership skills to shape the future of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to make a real difference, driving innovation, delivering excellence, and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our communities.
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a person without a disability, we have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to our processes. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made so that you can make your application, please let us know of your needs.
This job is open to applicants from anyone who has the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. The NFCC Code of Ethics sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all Fire Service employees. County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is a Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes and encourages applications from under‑represented groups. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.
Fire & Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants and employees to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and/or reprimands. Information provided will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying or in which you work.
Legislative change enables Fire and Rescue Services to be eligible for a Standard level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for employees of the Service, including volunteers. Applicants are required to inform us of any pending or incomplete investigations of a safeguarding nature that are ongoing, or that arise during periods of application and pre‑employment. Our Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such, any risk assessments used for positive disclosures will incorporate both a reasonable and proportionate response.
Director (wholetime) employer: Networking Women in the Fire Service
Contact Detail:
Networking Women in the Fire Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director (wholetime)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fire and rescue sector, attend industry events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent initiatives, and challenges they face. This will help us tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in shaping the future of the service.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you’ve led teams through change and innovation. We want to hear about your inclusive approach and how you’ve fostered collaboration in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our recruitment process.
We think you need these skills to ace Director (wholetime)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Vision: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your ambitious and visionary leadership style. We want to see how you plan to shape the future of fire and rescue services, so don’t hold back on sharing your innovative ideas!
Demonstrate Your Experience: We’re looking for someone with a proven track record in senior leadership roles. Be sure to detail your experience in delivering organisational change and managing resources effectively, especially in complex environments.
Emphasise Collaboration: Your ability to work collaboratively is key! In your application, mention how you’ve fostered a culture of teamwork and inclusivity in previous roles. We love leaders who can inspire confidence and engage with diverse teams.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to make a real difference in our communities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Networking Women in the Fire Service
✨Know Your Vision
Before the interview, take some time to really understand the vision of County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority. Think about how your leadership style aligns with their goal of 'Safest People, Safest Places' and be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've driven transformation in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to highlight your extensive experience as a Group Manager and any relevant postgraduate qualifications. Be specific about your achievements in senior leadership roles, especially in complex environments. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Given the importance of working collaboratively with partners, think of examples where you've successfully led teams or projects that required strong collaboration. Discuss how you foster an inclusive culture and how you’ve navigated challenges in unionised settings to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare for Tough Questions
Anticipate questions about navigating financial challenges and competing priorities. Reflect on past experiences where you've had to make tough decisions and how you managed stakeholder expectations. Being prepared with thoughtful responses will demonstrate your resilience and strategic planning skills.