National Operational Guidance; NOG Strategic Gap Analysis Officer

National Operational Guidance (NOG) Strategic Gap Analysis Officer

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service invites applicants for a 12‑month fixed‑term contract (potential to extend) in this role. The position requires 24 hours per week over three days and will support the Service’s National Operational Guidance Implementation project.

This role provides critical support in ensuring the Service’s strategic alignment with the National Operational Guidance through research, analysis, coordination and effective communication across departments.

• Conduct research on operational procedures and guidance as directed by the Group Commander Strategic Support, and assist in the development, publication and review of strategic and operational guidance.
• Support the Group Commander Strategic Support in reviewing National Operational Guidance strategic gap analyses to identify actions that ensure service compliance.
• Liaise with all Service departments on progress and alignment of tasks to ensure compliance with the NOG and provide support where necessary.
• Review and analyse National Operational Guidance strategic requirements against the Service’s current governance framework to identify any gaps and report these to the relevant stakeholder for review and action, recording outcomes and providing recommendations for appropriate solutions that meet alignment to national standards.
• Create, amend and maintain business process models around the implementation of NOG within the Service, showing process flows and lines of authority.
• Identify service policies that require review against the appropriate strategic National Operational Guidance and provide reports to the Watch Manager, National Operational Policy Officer and relevant parties, ensuring policies are aligned and updated.
• Attend NOG implementation and project board meetings as directed, provide advice and guidance updates on National Operational Guidance service implementation matters, and chair meetings in the absence of the Group Commander Strategic Support when required.

• In‑depth experience of working in a Fire and Rescue Service strategic support environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of National Fire Chiefs Council National Operational Guidance and operational Service policy.
• Experience of analysing operational risk and guidance information.
• Experience of writing or formatting the business process model.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills, able to prioritise competing deadlines and manage multiple tasks proactively.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate across all service levels.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

If this role is of interest, visit our website  for further information and to make a formal application. Include your full career history and align your skills with the job description and person specification in your application and supporting statement.

Thursday 15 January 2026

The selection process will take place week commencing 19 January 2026.

This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions that for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.

The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre‑employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role security clearance.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.