Director of People – Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

This is a rare opportunity to join Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service as Director of People and help shape the future of our workforce, culture and organisational capability.

As a member of the Executive Team, you will play a pivotal role in providing visible strategic leadership, across People Services, Organisational Development, Equality and Inclusion, and Training and Assurance.

You will be central to enabling the Service to deliver its purpose, vision, Community Risk Management Plan and wider strategic priorities.

You will be responsible for

Leading the strategic direction and performance of the People Directorate, including HR, employee relations, wellbeing, payroll, organisational development, and operational training and assurance.

You will be the principal advisor to the Fire Authority and Senior Executive Team on all people matters, ensuring that people strategy, culture, inclusion, workforce planning and organisational development are fully aligned to corporate priorities and operational delivery.

You will provide visible, values-led leadership across the Service, champion equality, diversity and inclusion, embed lessons from national reviews, strengthen leadership and career pathways, and ensure the organisation has the right people, skills and capability for the future.

You will also lead the development of high-performing people services that are efficient, effective, trusted and focused on continuous improvement.

Qualifications required

• CIPD qualified to Level 7
• Relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification and experience

Experience and skills required

• Significant experience of leading and developing People and OD strategies within a complex organisation
• Thorough understanding of UK employment law, statutory requirements and current employment practice
• Strong understanding of how proactive HR and OD support organisational and operational delivery in the public sector
• Knowledge of the strategic issues and challenges facing public services and fire and rescue services, including operating within a unionised environment
• Evidence of embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in strategy, policy, practice and culture
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare strategic reports, briefings and recommendations

We are an equal opportunity employer. Applications from people of any colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability are welcome. If there are any adaptions or adjustments, we can make to help you in your application, or with our recruitment process, please contact us via e-mail or telephone.

Everyone who works with us is required to have a DBS check. If you have any queries or concerns regarding this, please contact HR@bucksfire.gov.uk.

For further information about the role please review the job description.