Station Manager - Firefighter Development & Competency

The Opportunity

Salary: Station Manager B development £52,040 - competent £57,402

Working Pattern: Full time, average of 42 hours per week.

Location: Your primary office location will be our Training Centre in Horsham, and you will also have the flexibility to work from other stations throughout West Sussex. Additionally, there will be opportunities for you to work remotely from home, as deemed appropriate for your work responsibilities.

At West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, we're committed to protecting and supporting the communities we serve. As part of West Sussex County Council, we deliver vital response, prevention and protection services to more than 850,000 residents and visitors across the county.

We're looking for an exceptional and motivated leader to join us as Station Manager - Firefighter Development & Competency, a pivotal role within our Operational Training, Safety & Preparedness Department.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the team responsible for ensuring our operational workforce remains competent, compliant and prepared to meet the challenges of a modern Fire and Rescue Service.

Based at Horsham Training Centre, you will manage the Operational Development & Competency team, overseeing the assessment and quality assurance of operational training delivered across the Service.

You will have oversight of key areas including:

• Breathing Apparatus competency
• Emergency Response Driving
• Operational Fitness
• Recruit firefighter training, development and competence assurance

Working closely with colleagues across the Service, you will ensure training and development activities align with National Operational Guidance, national standards and legislative requirements, while delivering innovative learning solutions that support operational excellence.

This role will be conditioned to the Day Duty system. A Flexi-Duty line may be offered later subject to business needs and statutory duty requirements but is not immediately applicable to this post. If the successful applicant is internal and already holds a substantive Flexi Duty line this would be maintained.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced operational leader who is passionate about developing people and improving organisational performance.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong and inclusive leadership skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Extensive knowledge of operational competence, learning and development, and assessment processes.
• Understanding of National Operational Guidance and its application within Fire and Rescue Services.
• Experience of designing and implementing effective training and development solutions.
• Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating positive and supportive working environments.
• The ability to drive improvement, embrace change and solve complex problems effectively.

We are committed to fair, inclusive and merit based recruitment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to removing barriers that may prevent people from progressing. Our processes are transparent, consistent and designed to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to demonstrate their strengths. We value the diversity of our workforce and believe it enhances our Service, our culture and our performance.

Safeguarding Statement

WSFRS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.

Fire & Rescue Service roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent held in the UK or overseas) including driving offences, cautions and/or reprimands. As part of the application process, you will be required to list the dates and details of any sentences if applicable. The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying. Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 - GOV.UK for more information.

Legislation enables Fire & Rescue Services to be eligible for a Standard level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for employees of their Service, including volunteers. You are also required to inform us of any pending or incomplete investigations of a safeguarding nature that are ongoing, or that arise during this period of application and pre-employment. A table of rehabilitation periods for the most common sentences and disposals, and example scenarios can be found here - GOV.UK.