Fire Safety in Birmingham

Description

Fire Safety – Team leader

Watch Commander B/Technical 1A

Publish date: Thursday 13 November 2025

Closing date: Thursday 27 November 2025 at 12noon

Salary: WCB – £48,202. Tech1A – £46,142

Hours: WCB – 42hrs. Tech1A – 37hrs.

Overview

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) is the second largest fire and rescue service in England, serving an area of 902km square and a population of more than 2.9 million people.

Our vision is \’Making the West Midlands safer, stronger and healthier\’.

This vision and the strategic goals outlined in \’Our Strategy\’ are what drives the people, professionalism and pride with which we serve our communities.

We are currently recruiting for several exciting roles within our Fire Safety team.

To be considered, candidates must be competent Fire Safety Inspectors (FSIs), meeting the standards outlined in the Competency Framework for Fire Safety Regulators.

As a Team Leader, the successful applicant will demonstrate a strong track record in leadership, collaborative problem solving, sound decision making, and personal accountability. The role requires the ability to engage, support, inspire, and motivate a diverse range of stakeholders – both internally and externally – to help deliver our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and achieve our Protection objectives. This is a vital contribution to safeguarding the communities of the West Midlands.

You must have the vision, drive, and passion to be a key member of the fire safety leadership team and to seek continual improvement in the teams\’ delivery of Protection services. This should include the evolution of new delivery concepts and technological innovation to deliver our objectives. The drive for closer integration of Protection, Prevention and Response forms part of this evolutionary journey.

Responsibilities

You will need to work collaboratively, maximising opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of services to reduce risk and vulnerability and strengthening the economy through collaborative and inclusive approaches.

As well as delivering Protection activity and managing teams, you will report on activity and performance within your team including PIM returns and 3PT as required internally and externally for the Home Office, NFCC, Fire Standards and HMICFRS.

As a team leader you will encourage and develop your teams in all aspects of their role, maintaining existing competencies and developing new skills. As a team leader you will have:

excellent communication skills

management experience

experience of driving a culture of change with the ability to provide effective performance management

experience of project management.

Essential experience and skills

Level 4 Diploma (Fire Safety Inspector, Qualification)

be a competent Fire Safety Inspector

hold a full driving licence and have use of your own car

ability to innovate and effectively manage change, to ensure the continual improvement of your team

ability to reduce risk in areas identified by the RBIP and the Operations Commanders\’ risk reduction strategies

ability to quality assure and scrutinise the work undertaken by your team members and, as needed, provide reports or feedback on performance.

Benefits

We offer a friendly working environment and benefits including:

flexible and agile working arrangements

free, on-site gym facilities

free, on-site parking.

We also offer access to an in-house occupational health (OH) facility, including OH health and fitness advisors, sports therapists, physiotherapists, cognitive behavioural therapy practitioners and counsellors.

In addition, employees have access to:

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

wellbeing programmes

\’blue light\’ discounts across many retailers, through partner schemes

Sports and Welfare scheme (for a small fee), with access to discounted products and services.

Diversity

We welcome applications from all eligible candidates. However, as women and Black and minority ethnic employees are currently under-represented in our service, we particularly encourage applications from these groups.

WMFS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect the same of every staff member.

Successful candidates will be subject to necessary pre-employment checks, including – where applicable – relevant level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, qualifications, medical clearance, identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references.

Who can apply?

Applications are invited from competent Crew Commanders / Watch Commanders, and non-uniformed equivalent.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application questions outlining your skills and experiences in line with the job description (linked below).)

Questions

If you have any questions about the role, or would like an informal discussion, please contact Station Commander Ian Jones, or Fire Safety Manager Penny Watkins,

Job Summary