Deputy Chief Fire Officer – County Fire and Rescue Service

Deputy Chief Fire Officer – County Durham & Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

Are you an ambitious, visionary leader ready to shape the future of fire and rescue services? County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority is seeking an exceptional individual to join our leadership team as Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

We are looking for someone who can deliver a professional, innovative, and high‑performing service, ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities while meeting all statutory and legal responsibilities. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of a service that is proud to be recognised as high performing, forward‑thinking, and trusted by the communities we serve.

Our vision is clear: “Safest People, Safest Places.” To achieve this, we need a leader who can drive transformation, embrace innovation, and work collaboratively with partners during a period of financial challenge for public services. Your ability to lead change, inspire confidence, and maintain excellence will help us stand out and continue delivering outstanding services.

We are looking for an individual with a proven track record of senior leadership and delivering organisational change in complex, political, and unionised environments. Someone with strong skills in strategic planning, resource management, and decision‑making, with the resilience and creativity to navigate competing priorities. Has a leadership style that is inclusive, engaging, and committed to diversity, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Applicants must have experience at a senior executive level, have a relevant degree (postgraduate) appropriate to the post and have completed a MAGIC course. You should be qualified to and operating at Fire Service Incident Command Level 4 to take an active role in the Executive rota.

If you have the vision, resilience, and leadership skills to shape the future of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to make a real difference, driving innovation, delivering excellence, and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

For informal discussions only, prior to the Final date to receive applications, please contact Chief Fire Officer, Steve Helps, on

The Final date to receive applications is 0900 hours on 6 February 2026

Assessment Centre: 13 February 2026
Final Interview: 19 February 2026