Chief Executive / Chief Fire Officer – Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Chief Executive / Chief Fire Officer

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Competitive Salary
Based in Reading, Berkshire

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) provides a vital public safety service for communities across Berkshire. We serve over 900,000 residents across diverse urban and rural settings, including major transport routes such as the M4 and key rail infrastructure. This demands the expertise of over 400 highly skilled and well-equipped firefighters and nearly 200 support teams to deliver on our vision.

There is much to be proud of at RBFRS. In its latest HMICFRS inspection, RBFRS was rated “Good” in eight of the eleven areas, reflecting strong performance in prevention, protection, and emergency response, as well as a positive and inclusive culture. Inspectors praised our commitment to community safety, effective collaboration, and investment in technology and workforce development. We are determined to build on this success and continually improve.

We are now seeking a new Chief Executive / Chief Fire Officer (CFO) who will bring a relentless focus on inspiring our people and driving innovation. These are challenging times for all Fire and Rescue Services nationally, and we have set clear expectations to ensure everyone in our team feels safe, supported, and included.

To succeed as our next CFO, you will be a trusted, inspirational role model, capable of delivering the very best climate and culture for all our people. We are ambitious and want to be at the forefront as a modern Fire and Rescue Service. Keeping our teams at the leading edge of best practice requires constant attention and planning. Transforming our back-office, leveraging technology, seeking collaboration, and developing our people and leaders to face an ever-changing world all require the relentless focus on leadership and innovation we seek.

To find out more about this exciting opportunity, the required experience and how to apply, please visit our recruitment partner’s website at:
www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe126948

For an informal, confidential discussion, please contact Duncan Collins at GatenbySanderson on 07586 705475.

Closing date for applications: noon, Thursday 8 January 2026
Final panel interviews and assessments: Fire Headquarters, Reading, Berkshire – Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 January 2026