Location: StaffordshireContract Type: Full-time PermanentSalary: £128,449
Job Overview
Are you an accomplished strategic leader seeking the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within public service? Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) to join its Strategic Leadership Team to provide exceptional leadership and drive organisational excellence.
As ACFO you will support the Strategic Leadership team in delivering the Service’s vision and strategic objectives. You will provide strategic leadership at the highest level, ensuring the successful delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), driving organisational transformation, fulfilling statutory requirements, and adhering to national guidance, while also serving as one of the organisation’s Strategic Incident Commanders.
The role is a uniformed operational role and is subject to the National Joint Council for brigade managers of Fire and Rescue Services constitution and scheme of conditions of service (Gold book) – sixth edition and the firefighters pension scheme.
In this role, you will set and drive high performance across all aspects of service delivery, ensuring clear accountability, strong assurance and a culture where excellence is the standard. You will lead by example, consistently demonstrating and embedding the Core Code of Ethics in every aspect of your leadership, decision‑making, and organisational influence.
You will operate confidently within a politically accountable environment, building constructive, trust‑based relationships with representative bodies, partners and stakeholders. Your leadership will be visible, credible and grounded in integrity, enabling you to inspire cultural change and strengthen organisational performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership across all Service functions, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long‑term objectives.
- Ensure operational effectiveness and compliance with all relevant legislative and sector requirements.
- Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
- Build strong and effective relationships with partners, stakeholders, and elected members to support public safety, enable collaborative working, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
- Represent the Service nationally, regionally, and locally, influencing policy and outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and welfare obligations.
- Provide senior strategic command at major and critical incidents, ensuring authoritative leadership and sound decision‑making. Oversee effective multi‑agency coordination to maintain operational assurance, public safety, and organisational resilience.
- Act as a role model for the Core Code of Ethics, ensuring ethical behaviours, fairness, integrity, and accountability across the organisation.
- Support the development of leaders at all levels, championing inclusion, wellbeing, and high performance.
Essential Behaviours – Living The Core Code Of Ethics
Putting Our Communities First
- Understands diverse community needs and champions equitable, accessible, and effective fire and rescue services.
- Makes decisions rooted in public safety, safeguarding, and community wellbeing.
Integrity
- Acts with openness, honesty, and professionalism at all times.
- Upholds high ethical standards and fosters a culture where staff feel safe to challenge inappropriate behaviour.
Dignity & Respect
- Promotes an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
- Models positive behaviours, valuing differences and encouraging diverse perspectives.
Leadership
- Demonstrates visible, authentic leadership that inspires confidence and trust.
- Takes ownership, provides clarity during uncertainty, and leads through a period of transformation with empathy and resilience.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
- Ensures EDI principles are embedded in all decision‑making, workforce practices, and community engagement.
- Challenges discrimination and champions positive cultural change.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from high‑performing and competent Area Managers with the ICL level 4 in Strategic Incident Command and the Multi‑Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) qualification, or those of a more senior rank who can demonstrate substantial experience operating effectively at a strategic leadership level.
Conditions of Service
Successful candidate must reside within the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service boundary or within a reasonable distance to ensure operational cover. A relocation allowance is available subject to service procedures.
Benefits
- Enhanced Annual Leave Entitlement
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Access to Gyms & Fitness Advisor
- Free Parking at Most Sites
- Enhanced Maternity Package
- Occupational Health
- Well‑being Champions
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Eye Tests
- Flexible Working Scheme
- The Firefighter Charity
- Cycle Scheme
- Blue Light Card
- Flamesavers
- Rewards for rescue
- Say So
- Development Programme
- Trade Unions
- Career Breaks
- Physiotherapy
- TRiM
- Employment Network
- Fostering Friendly
Safeguarding
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
Equal Opportunity
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is fully supportive of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and strives to employ a workforce that represents the community we serve. Our vacancies are open to everyone and all appointments are made based on merit. We encourage and welcome applications from all under‑represented groups including Black, Asian, minority ethnic backgrounds, female, people who have a disability, those who are neurodivergent and persons of the LGBTQ+ community.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…