Chief Fire Officer – Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

Chief Fire Officer
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

Salary: £153,143 (Senior officer salaries are appointed to a specific spot point within the salary band, with no automatic incremental progression)

Northumberland County Council is seeking to appoint to the key leadership post of Chief Fire Officer within Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a service that goes “beyond emergencies”, delivering strategic and operational support to address inequalities, drive strategic change, and support levelling-up priorities across the county.

About the Role

As Chief Fire Officer, you will:
Lead the delivery of a revitalised approach to inspection and regulation, ensuring the highest standards of service for the County of Northumberland.
Operate and influence at a strategic level, working collaboratively with public and private partners.
Manage risk across a diverse and unique landscape, demonstrating innovation and attention to detail.
Drive a positive and inclusive organisational culture through genuine staff engagement.
Focus on delivering an ambitious improvement programme, which will be further informed by our next HMICFRS inspection programme (to start February 2026)
Lead the Principal Officer team of four and ensure the service remains ambitious, sustainable, and of the highest quality.
You will also join the NFRS Principal Officer rota and must provide a permanent base within Northumberland.

About You

We are looking for a candidate with:
Extensive senior leadership experience in a Fire and Rescue service.
A proven track record of strategic influence and operational excellence.
High-level interpersonal, innovative, and risk management skills.
Ideally, an operationally sector competent, experienced Deputy or Assistant Chief Fire Officer seeking to progress your career.

Application Process:

For a confidential discussion please contact our retained consultants at Penna: Nick Raper on 07715 690463, or Kelly Ridley on 07709 512415.
Candidates will be asked to send a CV and supporting information to Penna and more information on the recruitment process can be found here: penna.com/jobs