Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive

Avon Fire & Rescue Service is responsible for the provision of prevention, protection and emergency response services to the communities of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We have a variety of fire stations, community safety centres, and administrative buildings across the area, and are committed to providing a safer place for all who live, work, and visit an area of over 500 square miles, across a population of over 1.1m.

Our aim is to achieve excellence in the delivery of our services, from responding to emergency incidents to delivering an impressive range of preventative initiatives. We are committed to making our communities the safest places to live, work, and visit by focusing on delivering exceptional services, attracting and developing a talented and committed workforce, and making effective use of our resources, whilst achieving continuous organisational improvement.

We are seeking an outstanding individual for the position of Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive to lead the organisation. You will demonstrate an enthusiastic and innovative approach to the leadership of this essential public service, with a diversity of risk factors. A clear understanding of, and commitment to, diversity, inclusion, cohesion, and equality matters, both within the organisation and across the communities we serve, is essential.

A clear understanding of the issues facing the Fire and Rescue Service, both in Avon and across the UK, would be beneficial, but we welcome applications from anyone with comparable staff and budgetary experience. Candidates with skills from currently under-represented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Candidates selected to progress will be asked to participate in a Stakeholder Engagement Forum and Business Continuity Exercise during the week commencing 6 January. Following an assessment of performance, successful candidates will then be invited to a final interview during the week commencing 27 January 2025. The aim is for the successful candidate to be offered the role from 1 April 2025.