Salary:           Area Commander B in line with NJC Grey Book pay scales plus 20% flexi duty allowance and 9.6% supplement for working a locally agreed Area Commander rota pattern

Location:      Based at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service HQ, Hindlip Park, Worcester, WR3 8SP

Contract:      Full time, permanent plus pension and benefits including company car

Closing date: 26^th September 2019 at 12:00 noon

 About Us

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) is pleased to invite applications for the role of Area Commander. HWFRS is a forward thinking and dynamic organisation looking for talented, positive and inspirational individuals to join our team across 30 locations stretching east to west from the Cotswolds to the mid-Wales border, and from the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve in the north, to the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the south – with the Malvern Hills AONB right at the heart of the two counties.

Our stations are crewed by a mix of Wholetime and On-Call Firefighters, supported by Fire Control staff and Support Staff. We attend just over 6,500 incidents each year – more than 125 incidents every week – including property and countryside fires, RTCs and water and animal rescues, sometimes assisted by our USAR colleagues.

Our Mission is that ‘as one professional team, we will work hard every day to deliver a high-quality, sustainable service to our communities’ and that together we will make a difference by improving lives, helping to secure resilient communities and ultimately, ‘Saving More Lives’. We value integrity, trust, honesty, openness and respect to deliver our mission.

We are seeking to appoint an Area Commander who has the drive, enthusiasm and passion required of a strategic leader in a modern fire and rescue service. 

 About the role

The role will form part of our Strategic Management Board (SMB), providing strategic leadership and support to the Principal Officers in overall coordination of the Service; including change management, development of best practice, organisational strategy and transformation, effective industrial relations and exploring opportunities for collaboration with partners in order to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

As this role forms part of a locally agreed Area Commander operational rota, when rostered as ‘duty AC’ you must be available for immediate operational response within the Service Area. At other times Area Commanders will work as required by their role within the Service. You will also be required to hold a valid full UK driving licence.

Eligibility to apply

In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria at the point of application:

 - Be a competent UK Local Authority Group Commander or role above

- Be eligible to live and work in the UK without restrictions

- Have had an appraisal in the last 12 months

- Not have any live formal disciplinary sanctions

- Not be in a formal capability process

- Be medically fit to undertake the role

 The selection process

Applicants will complete an online application form against the person specification and provide evidence against the Strategic Manager Personal Qualities and Attributes. This will be used for shortlisting. 

Shortlisted applicants will attend an incident command assessment at Level 4 and if successful at this assessment, a selection day comprising of strategic level roleplay exercises, a briefing exercise and interview. Candidates will be required to attend a selection day on either 8^th or 11^th November 2019. 

Candidates will also be required to undergo a fitness test, medical assessment and pre-employment checks including security clearance vetting (Non Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level 2 Abbreviated). Successful candidates will be provided with a conversion course training programme.

Full details of the role and selection process can be found in the job description and person specification, and candidate guidance document.

Further information

An open day for prospective candidates is being held on 16^th September at Service HQ, Worcester.  This will provide an opportunity to find out more information about the role and HWFRS, meet members of the Senior Management Board and have a tour of the site.  Please email jbray@hwfire.org.uk to book a place.  For informal, in confidence discussions in relation to the vacancy, please contact ACFO Keith Chance (via Julie Bray Tel: 01905 368 213 or email: JBray@hwfire.org.uk ).

If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact the HR Support team via recruitment@hwfire.org.uk before the closing date.

HWFRS values equality of opportunity and developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage everyone who has the necessary skills and experience to apply.