Fire Control Operator – 3 year Fixed Term Contract – Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Thames Valley Fire Control Service (TVFCS) is a collaboration between Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, Oxfordshire County Council and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority. We are inviting applicants for the role of a Fire Control Operator to join the team. This is a vital position within TVFCS.

You will be supporting callers with a wide range of incidents as calls to fires are only a small part of our job. As a Fire Control Operator, you will:

• Receive and handle 999 emergency calls
• Gather and process critical information from callers
• Support callers during a wide range of incidents, including fires, road traffic collisions, chemical spills, flooding, and rescues

You will evaluate the situation, decide on the best course of action and mobilise resources in line with the incident using our command-and-control system to communicate to the fire appliances, stations and officers passing on the information gathered from members of the public or other agencies.

Ask yourself the following:
• Are you genuinely interested in people?
• Are you someone that others see as dependable?
• Can you get on with people from different cultures and backgrounds?
• Can you work as part of a close-knit team, and be able to react quickly when given direction from other team members?
• Are you able to work calmly, respond positively and work effectively when under pressure?
• Can you think on your feet and solve problems, multi- task and communicate quickly and clearly?
• Are you someone who can cope with routine, as well as changing demands?
• Do you have the sensitivity to deal with members of the public when they are distressed, confused and unsure of where they are?
• Are you committed to maintaining and developing your skills?
• Can you take responsibility for representing the Service when you are at work and when you are not?
• Are you prepared to work days, nights, evenings, weekends, and public holidays, including Christmas Day?
• Do you have a confident telephone manner and good IT skills?

Closing date for applications is 17 February 2026 at 17:00 hours

Initial selection assessments for accuracy and speed in typing will be on-line during week commencing 23 February 2026.

Successful candidates will then be invited to complete further typing tests / teamwork assessment on-site and to visit the Control room at 09:30hrs on 2 March 2026.

If successful after full completion of all the above, interviews will take place between 13 to 20 March 2026.

Medicals will be carried out after successful interview – dates TBC.

Anticipated first start date: End of April 2026 (dates to be confirmed).