Watch Manager Substantive Wholetime Promotion-External Candidates in Stafford

Salary – NJC National Pay scale Watch Manager: £44,038 per annum (Development) to £45,260 per annum (Competent)

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service prides itself on the high standard of service it provides and every role has an important part to play in helping keep Staffordshire safe. Every role in Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, including those in the shared service, exists to support the overall aim of achieving a safer and more sustainable community. This can take many forms, including conducting Home Fire Risk Checks, marketing the service to the community, coordinating training, or taking calls in our contact centre. As you can imagine, achieving our overall aim depends on a variety of people with a range of skills, backgrounds, and experiences.

We are seeking dedicated Managers to lead and support operational teams within Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This is a pivotal leadership role, ensuring the effective delivery of services, maintaining safety standards, and driving continuous improvement.

As a Watch Manager, you will play a vital role in leading your team and ensuring operational excellence. Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and Manage Teams: Plan, assess, and provide feedback to ensure objectives are met.
• Operational Leadership: Take responsibility for performance, resolve incidents, and conduct debriefs.
• Resource Management: Acquire, store, and issue resources efficiently to support service delivery.
• Information Management: Gather, advise, and communicate effectively through meetings and reports.
• Development & Assessment: Support team and individual growth, identify training needs, and contribute to quality assurance.
• Investigation & Reporting: Investigate events and report findings to inform future practice.
• Performance Management: Address poor performance and implement disciplinary procedures where necessary.

To be successful in this role, you must uphold the Core Code of Ethics while demonstrating strong leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as the flexibility to adapt effectively in challenging situations. Specifically, we are looking for:

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and involve others.
• Confidence and resilience in challenging situations.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Commitment to personal and team development.
• Ability to apply problem-solving skills and maintain situational awareness.
• A proactive approach to change and diversity, ensuring fairness and ethical standards.
• Strong planning and organisational skills aligned with strategic objectives.

This process is open to wholetime substantive competent Crew Managers only. Applicants must be able to demonstrate relevant operational experience and leadership capability. Successful candidates will be required to undertake any necessary training for the role.

Our selection process is designed to assess your individual strengths, behaviours, and the skills and the knowledge you will bring to the role. The process may include:

• Completion of the application form before closing date on 20th April 2026 Midnight 12:00
• Written assessment
• Assessment Centre (including interview, presentation)
• Practical assessment (Incident Command)

Closing date for applications: 20th April 2026 Midnight 12:00

To apply please submit your application including a CV and a Cover Letter outlining your operational experience and leadership capability.

• Written assessment: 24th April 2026 to 1st May 2026
• Interview dates: 18th May to 22nd May 2026

You must be available for all stages of the process. Further information: While the recruitment process is taking place at present, the role is not expected to be available until later in the year.

Communication During the Recruitment Processes: All communications regarding vacancies are issued via email. We ask that once you have applied that you check your email account regularly. When uploading your details, they will be retained for 12 months, and you may be contacted with relevant information. If you do not wish this to happen, please inform the recruitment team when applying.

Please note: Successful candidates will be either offered a role or placed on a Reserve List for future vacancies. Candidates on the Reserve List will remain eligible for placement for up to 12 months. If a suitable role is not available within this timeframe, you will be required to reapply for a future position.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children, and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment, and as part of the process, appropriate checks and relevant safeguarding questions will be carried out.

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Staffordshire. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability. We use positive action to encourage candidates from these groups through targeted support and advice sessions.

If you have the skills, experience, and values that Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service prides itself on, we would love to hear from you.

It is important that you consider at an early stage of the process if you would like to request arrangements that will assist you in completing the selection process. For example, in relation to disability; a neurodiverse condition such as dyslexia; pregnancy; religion or belief; or injury etc. Any requests for workplace adjustments will be treated with the utmost confidence.

Appointment to this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check appropriate to the role. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is committed to keeping vulnerable adults, children, and young people safe from harm in all the work that SFRS undertakes. SFRS recognises that it has a legal and moral obligation to safeguard these groups of people. Furthermore, it acknowledges that the protection of vulnerable adults, children and young people from harm is the responsibility of everybody within the organisation.