Chief Fire Officer

About The Role

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority is seeking an exceptional individual to take on the role of Chief Fire Officer, leading our dedicated team in delivering a truly outstanding service to our communities.

As Chief Fire Officer, you will play a pivotal role in realising the strategic vision outlined in our leadership message: protecting and serving the people of Merseyside with Courage, Compassion and Integrity. This high-profile role requires a leader who can inspire confidence, foster resilience, and drive continuous improvement across all aspects of our service.

In addition to leading the Service, you will also represent us on a national scale with responsibility for National Resilience via MFRA’s role as Lead Authority. This role will require you to collaborate with both Government and Fire and Rescue services nationwide, sharing best practices and ensuring readiness to respond to major incidents wherever they may occur. Your leadership in this arena will be essential for enhancing our collective capacity to manage complex and large-scale emergencies, providing safety and security for communities far beyond our borders.

As Chief Fire Officer:

• You will demonstrate exceptional leadership skills developed from experience of operating at the Brigade Manager/Principal Officer level.
  
• You will have a strong strategic vision and a track record of achieving ambitious goals.
• You will have excellent communication skills and an ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and represent MFRS at local and national levels.
• You will possess extensive political skills and proven ability to lead and professionally advise elected members and other politicians.
• You will model our values and behaviours; promoting a culture which embraces collaboration, inclusivity, high performance and wellbeing, and you will strive to make a real difference to the communities we serve.
• You will be required to assume the role of commanding Principal Officer within a Multi-Agency ‘Gold Command’ setting as Incident Commander.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is an excellent place to work, and we encourage you to spend some time with us to learn more about us, what’s important to us, and how we do things.

The candidate pack, available as a supporting document, should provide you with a good foundation, with lots of information and links to pertinent documents to help you get to know us much better.

We set high standards at Merseyside, and we’re not embarrassed to say so; our selection process will be challenging for all the right reasons and will reward the best candidate with a career with excellent opportunities and an ability to make a real difference.

Key Dates:

• Closing Date: Midnight Monday 2nd December
• Shortlisting: 3rd & 4th December
• Selection: 12th & 13th December 2024
  

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to undertake a number of activities as part of the selection process. These include Network Engagement, Presentation, Interview and the completion of a Clarity 4D Profile.

We are Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service - be part of our future.

About Us

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) is at the forefront of public safety and emergency response, serving the vibrant communities of Merseyside with dedication and professionalism. Our mission is to protect, prevent, and respond—ensuring the safety and well-being of the public, both in times of crisis and through proactive community engagement.

With a proud history and a strong sense of purpose, we operate across a diverse region that includes bustling urban centers, industrial hubs, and serene rural areas. Our highly skilled and committed teams work tirelessly to provide fire and rescue services, enforce fire safety regulations, and deliver critical prevention and education programs.

Pension Considerations

Please note that it is your personal responsibility to check whether by applying/accepting this position it would result in any Annual or Lifetime Allowance implications. A breach in these thresholds could result in a Tax charge. Further information on Annual and Lifetime Allowance can be obtained from our Pensions team or the Pension Administrator website (Local Pensions Partnership Administration Ltd – website - lppapensions.co.uk).

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People, and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.