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
• Leading Operations & Culture
• Driving Change & Innovation
• Resource Management
• Performance & Governance
• Collaboration
• Strategic Command

What you’ll bring:

We are looking for a leader who acts with unquestionable integrity and personal resilience. To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Inclusive Leadership: A profound understanding of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles, with a track record of fostering high-performing, inclusive workplace cultures.

• Transformational Experience: Extensive experience in driving and managing complex transformational change projects from conception to completion, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency.

• Strategic Vision: The ability to think strategically and develop customer-focused strategies that address both corporate and operational risks.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to consult and negotiate effectively with unions, board members, and external partners.

• Sector Knowledge: A thorough understanding of the Fire Sector context, including the Fire & Rescue Services Act, Health & Safety legislation, and community risk analysis.
You are eligible to apply if you:

To be considered for this position, you must meet the essential knowledge and experience criteria in the job description / personal specification. You will also be required to have the following:

• Command Qualification: You hold a Strategic Incident Command qualification (ICS L4, SFJ Level 7) and a Multi-Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) qualification.

• Management Qualification: You possess a professional management qualification or have equivalent management experience at a senior level.

• Professional Membership: You are a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) or are willing to obtain membership within 12 months of appointment.