Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service

About the Role

As DCFO you will support the Chief Fire Officer in delivering the Service’s vision and strategic objectives. You will provide strategic leadership at the highest level, ensuring the successful delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), driving organisational transformation, fulfilling statutory requirements, and adhering to national guidance, while also serving as one of the organisation’s Strategic Incident Commanders. This is a pivotal role requiring strong leadership, innovation, and collaboration in order to deliver outstanding services to our communities.

The role is a uniformed operational role and conditioned to the National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Fire and Rescue Services Constitution and scheme of Conditions of service (gold book) – Sixth Edition and the Firefighters Pension Scheme.

The Service is 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 innovation are key skills that the successful candidate will need to demonstrate.

• Provide full organisational leadership in the Chief Fire Officer’s absence, ensuring continuity of strategic direction and critical decision‑making at the highest level.
• Provide strategic leadership across all Service functions, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long‑term objectives.
• Lead major transformation programmes designed to strengthen efficiency, culture, and service delivery.
• Ensure operational effectiveness and compliance with all relevant legislative and sector requirements.
• Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Build strong and effective relationships with partners, stakeholders, and elected members to support public safety, enable collaborative working, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
• Represent the Service nationally, regionally, and locally, influencing policy and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and welfare obligations.
• Provide senior strategic command at major and critical incidents, ensuring authoritative leadership and sound decision‑making. Oversee effective multi‑agency coordination to maintain operational assurance, public safety, and organisational resilience.
• Act as a role model for the Core Code of Ethics, ensuring ethical behaviours, fairness, integrity, and accountability across the organisation.
• Support the development of leaders at all levels, championing inclusion, wellbeing, and high performance.

• Understands diverse community needs and champions equitable, accessible, and effective fire and rescue services.
• Makes decisions rooted in public safety, safeguarding, and community wellbeing.

• Acts with openness, honesty, and professionalism at all times.
• Upholds high ethical standards and fosters a culture where staff feel safe to challenge inappropriate behaviour.

• Promotes an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
• Models positive behaviours, valuing differences and encouraging diverse perspectives.

• Demonstrates visible, authentic leadership that inspires confidence and trust.
• Takes ownership, provides clarity during uncertainty, and leads through a period of transformation with empathy and resilience.

• Ensures EDI principles are embedded in all decision‑making, workforce practices, and community engagement.
• Challenges discrimination and champion’s positive cultural change.

We are looking for a leader who can:

• Drive strategic change developing long‑term plans, navigating complexity, and ensuring effective implementation.
• Apply critical analysis and evidence‑based judgement to complex operational and organisational challenges.
• Demonstrate strong risk management,…