Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive – Avon Fire and Rescue Service

Avon Fire & Rescue Service is responsible for the provision of prevention, protection and emergency response services to the communities of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We have a variety of fire stations, community safety centres, administrative buildings across the area, and are committed to providing a safer place for all who live, work and visit an area of over 500 square miles, across a population of over 1.1m.

Our aim is to achieve excellence in the delivery of our services, from responding to emergency incidents, to delivering an impressive range of preventative initiatives. We are committed to making our communities the safest places to live, work and visit by focusing on delivering exceptional services, attracting and developing a talented and committed workforce, and making effective use of our resources, whilst achieving continuous organisational improvement.

We recognise that there is much to do, which is why we are being very open about where our next inspirational Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive will come from to lead the organisation. We are clear that we are seeking an outstanding individual, who will uphold our organisation’s core ethics and values, and achieve excellence in all areas. You will be able to demonstrate an enthusiastic and innovative approach to the leadership of such an essential public service, with a diversity of risk factors. You will also bring a clear understanding of, and commitment to, diversity, inclusion, cohesion and equality matters, both within the organisation and across the communities we serve.

A clear understanding of the issues facing the Fire and Rescue Service, both in Avon, and across the UK would be helpful, but we are not restricting our search. Applications are therefore invited from anyone with comparable staff and budgetary experience, who also possess the credibility to lead such an important public safety, or crisis management type organisation. Diversity is a critical factor for us, and as a truly open and inclusive employer, we also particularly welcome applications from those with these skills from currently under-represented groups.

Candidates selected to progress, will be asked to participate in a Stakeholder Engagement Forum and Business Continuity Exercise during the w/c 6 January. Following an assessment of performance, successful candidates will then be invited to a final interview w/c 27 January 2025. The aim is for the successful candidate to be offered the role from 1 April 2025.