At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives and ensure operational excellence in fire and rescue services.
- Company: Join Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, committed to community safety and organisational transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy enhanced annual leave, a generous pension scheme, and access to gyms.
- Other info: Relocation allowance available; must reside within operational coverage area.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public safety while driving cultural change and high performance.
- Qualifications: Must have strategic leadership experience and relevant incident command qualifications.
The predicted salary is between 128449 - 128449 € per year.
Location: Staffordshire
Contract Type: Full-time Permanent
Salary: £128,449
About The Role: As ACFO you will support the Strategic Leadership team in delivering the Service’s vision and strategic objectives. You will provide strategic leadership at the highest level, ensuring the successful delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), driving organisational transformation, fulfilling statutory requirements, and adhering to national guidance, while also serving as one of the organisation’s Strategic Incident Commanders. The role is a uniformed operational role and conditioned to The National Joint Council for brigade managers of Fire and Rescue Services constitution and scheme of conditions of service (Gold book) - sixth edition and the firefighters pension scheme.
In this role, you will set and drive high performance across all aspects of service delivery, ensuring clear accountability, strong assurance and a culture where excellence is the standard. You will lead by example, consistently demonstrating and embedding the Core Code of Ethics in every aspect of your leadership, decision‑making and organisational influence. You will operate confidently within a politically accountable environment, building constructive, trust‑based relationships with representative bodies, partners and stakeholders. Your leadership will be visible, credible and grounded in integrity, enabling you to inspire cultural change and strengthen organisational performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership across all Service functions, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long‑term objectives.
- Ensure operational effectiveness and compliance with all relevant legislative and sector requirements.
- Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
- Build strong and effective relationships with partners, stakeholders, and elected members to support public safety, enable collaborative working, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
- Represent the Service nationally, regionally, and locally, influencing policy and outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and welfare obligations.
- Provide senior strategic command at major and critical incidents, ensuring authoritative leadership and sound decision‑making.
- Oversee effective multi‑agency coordination to maintain operational assurance, public safety, and organisational resilience.
- Act as a role model for the Core Code of Ethics, ensuring ethical behaviours, fairness, integrity, and accountability across the organisation.
- Support the development of leaders at all levels, championing inclusion, wellbeing, and high performance.
Essential Behaviours – Living The Core Code Of Ethics:
- Understands diverse community needs and champions equitable, accessible, and effective fire and rescue services.
- Makes decisions rooted in public safety, safeguarding, and community wellbeing.
- Acts with openness, honesty, and professionalism at all times.
- Upholds high ethical standards and fosters a culture where staff feel safe to challenge inappropriate behaviour.
- Promotes an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
- Models positive behaviours, valuing differences and encouraging diverse perspectives.
- Demonstrates visible, authentic leadership that inspires confidence and trust.
- Takes ownership, provides clarity during uncertainty, and leads through a period of transformation with empathy and resilience.
- Ensures EDI principles are embedded in all decision‑making, workforce practices, and community engagement.
- Challenges discrimination and champions positive cultural change.
What We’re Looking For:
We welcome applications from high‑performing and competent Area Managers with the ICL level 4 in Strategic Incident Command and the Multi‑Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) qualification, or those of a more senior rank who can demonstrate substantial experience operating effectively at a strategic leadership level.
Conditions of Service:
Successful candidate must reside within the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service boundary or within a reasonable distance to ensure operational cover. A relocation allowance is available subject to service procedures.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Annual Leave Entitlement
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Access to Gyms
Assistant Chief Fire Officer employer: Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
As an employer, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service offers a unique opportunity for strategic leaders to make a significant impact on community safety and organisational excellence. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, professional development, and a culture of inclusivity, staff are empowered to drive transformation and uphold the highest ethical standards. The role of Assistant Chief Fire Officer not only provides competitive benefits such as enhanced annual leave and a generous pension scheme but also fosters a supportive environment where leadership is visible and grounded in integrity.
Contact Detail:
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Chief Fire Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fire and rescue sector. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your experience in strategic leadership and community engagement. Share specific examples of how you've driven change and improved service delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding the organisation's values and objectives. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their Community Risk Management Plan and how you can contribute to their goals. This shows you're not just interested in the role, but in making a real impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to submit your application directly, ensuring it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our culture right there!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer role. Highlight your strategic leadership experience and how it aligns with our vision and objectives.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements in previous roles. Use concrete examples that demonstrate your ability to drive organisational transformation and ensure operational effectiveness.
Emphasise Core Values:We’re big on ethics and integrity, so make sure to weave these values into your application. Share instances where you’ve modelled ethical behaviour and promoted a culture of safety and accountability.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is seen by the right people and helps us get to know you better from the start!
How to prepare for a job interview at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and the strategic objectives of the service. Brush up on relevant legislation and national guidance, as these will likely come up during your interview. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in high-pressure situations. Think about times when you’ve inspired change or built strong relationships with stakeholders. This is your chance to demonstrate how you embody the Core Code of Ethics and lead by example.
✨Understand the Culture
Familiarise yourself with the organisational culture and values of the fire service. Be ready to discuss how you would promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. Showing that you understand and can contribute to their culture will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about their approach to community engagement or how they measure success in operational effectiveness. Asking thoughtful questions shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
