Group Manager B Assessment & Development Centre – County Durham & Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

CDDFRS are seeking to assess ambitious and forward-thinking individuals for the Service’s Wholetime Group Manager (GMB) talent pool.

Applications are invited from wholetime, competent, Station Managers and above.

The role of a Group Manager is rewarding and challenging and will require you to be able to demonstrate a proven track record in managing high performing teams, cultural change, experience of policy development and implementation, budgetary control and planning and development of self and teams.

You will need to think strategically and be focused on achievement, with strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills. The role requires the ability to lead transformational change during a period of significant financial pressure and wider change across the fire and rescue service.
An open and engaging style of management and a commitment to all aspects of diversity will be essential as well as being a role model for our Service values and behaviours.
In what are challenging times for all public sector organisations, CDDFRS wants to stand out from the crowd and continue to collaborate with partner organisations to ensure that local people continue to receive the best possible services.
Note: This opportunity is open only to employees of UK public sector Fire and Rescue Services and does not extend to industrial, airport, military, private, or overseas fire services.

For informal discussions only, prior to the application deadline, please contact Ben Cairns, Director of Emergency Response on 07484 030324 or Justin Parry, Director of Community Risk Management on 07711 856684.

Application packs are available by emailing humanresources@ddfire.gov.uk and should be returned electronically to the same place.

The deadline for applications is 09:00 hours on Friday 9 October 2026

The Assessment Centre is a two stage process:

Stage 1 Assessment Centre: 20 – 22 October 2026
– Management Dilemma
– Behavioural Interview
– Media Assessment
– Staffing Panel

Only candidates who successfully pass the stage 1 will progress to stage 2.

Stage 2 Assessment Centre: 3 – 5 November 2026
– Incident Command

Further details of this role can be found in the job description which is included in the application pack.

CDDFRS welcomes applications from all eligible candidates, however as women and black and minority ethnic employees are currently under-represented in our management roles, we encourage applications from these groups.
CDDFRS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.