Deputy Chief Fire Officer Fire and Rescue Service

Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

Terms and

Conditions:

Gold Book

Contract:

Permanent
Interview Date (fixed): 11 March 2026

Are you an experienced strategic leader ready to make a significant impact in public service? Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) to join the Strategic Leadership Board and provide exceptional leadership and drive organisational excellence.

As DCFO, you will support the Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive in delivering the Service’s vision and strategic objectives. You will lead at the highest level, ensuring the effective implementation of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), statutory obligations, and national guidance, as well as acting as one of the organisations most senior operational commanders. As DCFO, you should also have the ambition to progress into a Chief Fire Officer role in the future.

This is a pivotal role requiring strong leadership, innovation, and collaboration to deliver outstanding services to our communities.

This role is a uniformed operational role and conditioned to the firefighters pensions scheme. The Fire Authority are seeking a motivated, driven individual with the ability to build on an already high performing and successful organisation. A focus on leadership and management in the public sector with a clear ‘business’ based ethos is key to delivering efficient and effective public services.

Driving performance based on our core strategies, embracing change and innovating are key skills the successful candidate will need to demonstrate.

• Act as Deputy for the Chief Fire Officer, lead the strategic board, and assume full leadership responsibilities in their absence.
• Lead your Directorate, driving performance, continuous improvement, and cultural excellence.
• Provide strategic advice to elected Members and foster strong stakeholder relationships.
• Champion inclusion and positive employee relations across the Service.
• Represent the Service nationally, regionally, and locally, influencing policy and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and welfare obligations.
• Deliver operational leadership during major incidents as Duty Principal Officer as part of the Brigade Manager Rota and Gold Command cover.

We are seeking applications from high-performing, high potential qualified competent senior managers who can demonstrate experience of operating effectively at Strategic Manager level. The successful candidate should also have the potential and ambition to progress into a Chief Fire Officer role in the future. The full job description is available in the Information for Applicants pack, which is available on

For an informal, confidential conversation about this role with the Chief Fire Officer, Jon Pryce KFSM, please contact Lisa Colenutt at