Assistant Director Response – Kent Fire and Rescue Service

Being the Assistant Director Response

The Assistant Director Response at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is a pivotal leadership role where your strategic vision will directly impact the safety of over 1.8 million residents across Kent and Medway. As the Assistant Director Response, you will be at the heart of our operational mission, driving excellence and innovation within our frontline services while championing a culture of inclusivity and support. You will be an inspirational leader who can navigate complex challenges with composure and compassion, ensuring our response capabilities not only meet today’s demands but are future-proofed for tomorrow’s challenges.

What you’ll do

As the Assistant Director of Response, you will provide visible leadership to our operational response structure, ensuring our frontline teams are effective, productive, and centred on the needs of our customers. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Leadership: You will take an active leadership role as a member of the Corporate Management Board, shaping strategic decisions and setting organisational direction. You will ensure service wide priorities are understood and delivered consistently across the service.
• Leading Operations & Culture: You will lead the efficient operation of all fire stations across the county, ensuring response standards are met while embedding a culture of absolute integrity, inclusivity, and safety.
• Driving Change & Innovation: You will act as a sponsor for major projects and change initiatives, ensuring our response activities are modern, integrated, and aligned with national best practices and fire standards.
• Resource Management: You will oversee the procurement of operational equipment and the renewal planning for our vehicle fleet, ensuring our teams have fit-for-purpose resources.
• Performance & Governance: You will translate the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) into measurable outcomes at the station level, monitoring performance and operational risk to ensure service excellence.
• Collaboration: You will negotiate with trade unions, build collaborative relationships with partner organisations, and work closely with the Director of Response & Resilience, and the Director of Prevention, Protection & Customer Engagement to integrate response activities across the service.
• Strategic Command: You will undertake Strategic Command Fire and Rescue duties as part of the Duty Strategic Command Rota, covering a seven-day period every four weeks.

For more information and how to apply, please click ‘Apply now’.