Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support leaders and employees in a dynamic, values-driven environment.
- Company: Join Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, a trusted community presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and a focus on wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by developing inclusive, high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: CIPD qualification and experience in employee relations required.
- Other info: Embrace a diverse workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 40114 - 41134 £ per year.
Contract: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
Salary: from £46,142 to £49,282
Location: Service HQ, Kelvedon Park (near Witham)
Closing Date: 5pm, Monday 26 January 2026
We are open to discuss working arrangements including flexibility over hours and location. However, as a customer-focused hybrid role, your work will be balanced between home and Service facilities, and you will be expected to attend the Service premises for at least 3 days of a 5-day working week.
The Role
As a credible, personable People Partner who builds trust quickly, brings sound judgement to complex people issues, and thrives in a values-driven environment, you will play a pivotal role in supporting our leaders to bring our Community Risk Management Plan to fruition and deliver outstanding services to the communities of Essex. Essex County Fire & Rescue Service is a trusted presence in the community, and you will take the role of a “critical advisor” to our managers, and as a trusted point of contact for our employees, providing pragmatic advice across the full employee lifecycle. You will help us build inclusive high-performing teams, balancing insight and organisational development knowledge, influencing at all levels, whilst ensuring our people, and our people practices, live up to the Service values, mission, and objectives.
- Partnering with a full range of business areas, including all employment groups, to ensure an inclusive and high-performing culture
- Coaching and developing the next generation of leaders within Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
- Providing pragmatic, risk-based advice relating to people issues
- Developing policy and practice, ensuring innovation, productivity and efficiency, inclusion, and high-performance is at the heart of how we do things
What Are We Looking For?
- Essential qualifications and background
- Associate CIPD, or equivalent professional qualification
- Evidence of CPD and practice in line with CIPD profession map
- Experience of developing others to become better leaders
- Full range of employee relations experience
If you are an internal candidate, you must have discussed your application with your line manager and confirmed there are no outstanding issues of conduct or performance. This will be verified prior to shortlisting.
How to apply
You will be required to submit a CV detailing a minimum of five years employment and/or education history, along with a supporting statement of no more than 750 words that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the Person Specification. You may submit this either as a Word document, PDF, or an MP3 (voice note) or MP4 (video). The word count of your supporting statement should not exceed 750 words, regardless of format. You may attach separate documents (such as qualifications) should you wish. Your CV and additional documents will be referred to in shortlisting to confirm eligibility (e.g., your current role and any existing qualifications).
Assessment and Selection
The assessment and selection approach will be as follows:
- Stage 1: Application and shortlisting (assessment of your supporting statement will be made against the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification).
- Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview, deliver a short presentation, and complete a short role-related exercise. We expect the selection to take place across Thursday 5th and Monday 9th February (candidates will only need to attend on one of those dates). Assessments will be made against positive indicators taken from the Code of Ethics and the NFCC Leadership Framework.
Should you wish to have an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Kim Jennings, Lead People Partner, on 07710 100118 or email kim.jennings@essex-fire.gov.uk.
Our Culture and Benefits
Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees. You can find out more about our benefits at the following: the benefits page on the Essex Fire site.
Important Information for Firefighter Pension Scheme Pensioners: If you are currently in receipt of a pension from the Firefighter Pension Scheme, taking up this role may affect your pension. Under pension abatement rules, if your earnings in this role, when combined with your pension, exceed your pre-retirement salary (adjusted for inflation), your pension may be reduced. For further guidance, contact our Pensions team on 01376 576799 or email mailbox.pensions@essex-fire.gov.uk.
Safeguarding
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service. You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults. The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying. This role will be subject to a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Disability Confident
We are an equal opportunities, Disability Confident employer who welcomes applications from everyone and values diversity in our workplace. A commitment to promoting diversity and developing a work environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process and all applications will be considered solely on merit. You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process, by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk. You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies and application processes via www.essex-fire.gov.uk/join-essex-fire.
People Partner in Essex 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 People Partner in Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Essex County Fire & Rescue Service on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for that panel interview! Research common questions and practice your responses. Remember, they want to see how you handle pressure, so keep it cool and show off your people skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for community service! In your discussions, highlight any relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to making a difference. This role is all about supporting the community, so let that shine through.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and the application process right there.
We think you need these skills to ace People Partner in Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the People Partner role. Highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria. Keep it concise, engaging, and focused on your achievements that relate to the role.
Be Authentic: We love authenticity! Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your application. Show us who you are and why you’re passionate about joining Essex County Fire & Rescue Service.
Check Your Formats: Remember, you can submit your application in various formats like Word, PDF, or even as a voice note or video. Just make sure everything is clear and professional. And don’t forget to apply through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Networking Women in the Fire Service
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a People Partner and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with Essex County Fire & Rescue Service's values and mission, as this will help you align your answers with what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your experience in developing others into leaders and handling employee relations. Use specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your ability to provide pragmatic advice and support high-performing teams. This will show that you can bring valuable insights to the table.
✨Practice Makes Perfect
Since the interview includes a panel format and a presentation, practice your delivery beforehand. Rehearse common interview questions and prepare a short presentation that highlights your approach to fostering an inclusive culture. This will help you feel more confident and articulate during the actual interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, the Community Risk Management Plan, or how they measure success in this role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
