National Firearms Instructor

Overview

Location: Follingsby Park, Gateshead

Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2028 – part-time (22.5 hours per week)

Salary: Band 7 £22,695 – £24,386 pro rata including Market Supplement

Working for #TeamNP
Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that\’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in. As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted. As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued. Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best. Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

The role

Ever wondered what it’s like working behind the scenes for one of the UK’s largest Police Forces? Here at Northumbria Police, we are excited to offer a rare opportunity to join as a Police Staff Firearms Instructor to work alongside our experienced firearms training team at our state-of-the-art training centre based at Follingsby Park. You will be delivering firearms courses on behalf of the Metropolitan Police; when not on MetPol courses you will assist in delivering firearms training to Northumbria Police FSU.

What you’ll do

• Prepare and deliver theoretical and practical lessons to cover all aspects of the NPFTC to Police officers to ensure that they are suitably trained and assessed to deploy on armed operations.
• Undertake formative and summative assessments of shooting and tactics to determine the competency of individuals to the required national standard and ensure all supporting records are correctly completed and submitted (paper and electronic).
• Manage and supervise Police officers involved in live firing practices as a Range Conducting Officer (RCO) and Range Safety Officer (RSO) to ensure safety and adherence to range SOPs.
• Perform the role of weapons issue officer to ensure firearms issued to or returned from students are handled safely and recorded through the chronicle armoury system.
• Provide and maintain a safe working environment ensuring Health & Safety procedures, relevant policies, guidelines, regulations and risk assessments are adhered to so the force meets its obligations.

What you’ll bring

• Must have attended and passed an accredited Police National Firearms Instructors course – please indicate this in your application form.
• Formerly served as a Police Officer and have been confirmed as a constable, provided the police service ceased less than three years prior to being employed as a police staff firearms instructor (College of Policing stipulation).
• Must have been an Authorised Firearms officer within the last three years (College of Policing stipulation).
• Level 3 Award in Education and Training, including mandatory unit – Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment, or Level 3 – Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (including mandatory unit Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment).
• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage a busy workload, prioritising shifting time restraints.
• Ability to identify current or potential problems and deal with them with minimal supervision.
• Ability to deliver training to large groups of adults in a clear and concise manner, often in challenging environments.

Additional information

• We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will discuss this at interview stage.
• Flexi time and flexible working arrangements are available; Agile working options include remote, team zones and spaces across the force.
• Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution.
• Corporate travel schemes, private healthcare and eye test vouchers.
• Discounts on shopping and eating out with Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets.
• Paid sick leave, mental health support on-site, and employee advice services.
• Cycle to work scheme and opportunities to volunteer in local communities.

Terms of appointment

This is a fixed-term role subject to a six-month probationary period. If successful, you will have a six-month probation period and may be unable to apply for other posts during that time. If you are applying as a secondment, please discuss with your Line Manager before applying. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

Other information

Use of AI in Applications: Northumbria Police embraces innovative technologies to enhance recruitment. Applicants are encouraged to ensure submissions reflect their personal qualifications and experiences. The recruitment process includes verification of applications.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum and are a Disability Confident Employer. If you meet the minimum criteria, we will progress your application and offer an interview. We can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. For support, contact careers@northumbria.police.uk with ample notice.