Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Location: Staffordshire
Contract Type: Full-time Permanent
Salary: £145,545
About the Role
As DCFO you will support the Chief Fire Officer 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.
This is a pivotal role requiring strong leadership, innovation, and collaboration in order to deliver outstanding services to our communities.
The role is a uniformed operational role and conditioned 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.
The Service is seeking a motivated, driven individual with the ability to build on an already high performing and successful organisation. A focus on leadership and management in the public sector with a clear ‘business’ based ethos is key to delivering efficient and effective public services. Driving performance based on our core strategies, embracing change and innovation are key skills that the successful candidate will need to demonstrate.
Key Responsibilities
1. Provide full organisational leadership in the Chief Fire Officer’s absence, ensuring continuity of strategic direction and critical decision‑making at the highest level.
2. Provide strategic leadership across all Service functions, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long‑term objectives.
3. Lead major transformation programmes designed to strengthen efficiency, culture, and service delivery.
4. Ensure operational effectiveness and compliance with all relevant legislative and sector requirements.
5. Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
6. Build strong and effective relationships with partners, stakeholders, and elected members to support public safety, enable collaborative working, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
7. Represent the Service nationally, regionally, and locally, influencing policy and outcomes.
8. Ensure compliance with health, safety, and welfare obligations.
9. 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.
10. Act as a role model for the Core Code of Ethics, ensuring ethical behaviours, fairness, integrity, and accountability across the organisation.
11. Support the development of leaders at all levels, championing inclusion, wellbeing, and high performance.
Essential Behaviours – Living the Core Code of Ethics
The successful candidate will demonstrate behaviours aligned to the national Core Code of Ethics:
Putting Our Communities First
12. Understands diverse community needs and champions equitable, accessible, and effective fire and rescue services.
13. Makes decisions rooted in public safety, safeguarding, and community wellbeing.
Integrity
14. Acts with openness, honesty, and professionalism at all times.
15. Upholds high ethical standards and fosters a culture where staff feel safe to challenge inappropriate behaviour.
Dignity & Respect
16. Promotes an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
17. Models positive behaviours, valuing differences and encouraging diverse perspectives.
Leadership
18. Demonstrates visible, authentic leadership that inspires confidence and trust.
19. Takes ownership, provides clarity during uncertainty, and leads through a period of transformation with empathy and resilience.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
20. Ensures EDI principles are embedded in all decision‑making, workforce practices, and community engagement.
21. Challenges discrimination and champion’s positive cultural change.
Strategic Leadership & Problem‑Solving
We are looking for a leader who can:
22. Drive strategic change developing long-term plans, navigating complexity, and ensuring effective implementation.
23. Apply critical analysis and evidence‑based judgement to complex operational and organisational challenges.
24. Demonstrate strong risk management, scenario planning, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
25. Influence and negotiate at senior levels to build consensus and achieve shared outcomes.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from high‑performing and suitably qualified UK based Assistant Chief Fire Officers, 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. Please see full Conditions of Service attached.
Further information about the role and responsibilities can be found in the attached role profile.
To apply please submit your application including the CV and a 2000 words Supporting Statement (please use the template attached to the advert as it outlines the criteria. This can be uploaded in the box for the Cover Letter)
Closing date on: 20th March 2026 midnight 12:00.
Following the receipt of the applications, a Personality Profiling online assessment will be conducted by an independent provider, between 21st March and 3rd April.
Interviews Date: First interview: 7th or 8th April 2026
Second interview 9th April 2026
The process will have 2 rounds of interviews so please ensure that you are available for the above dates
In addition to your salary, you will have access to a range of benefits including:
26. Enhanced Annual Leave Entitlement
27. Generous Pension Scheme
28. Access to Gyms & Fitness Advisor
29. Free Parking at Most Sites
30. Enhanced Maternity Package
31. Occupational Health
32. Well-being Champions
33. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
34. Eye Tests
35. Flexible Working Scheme
36. The Firefighter Charity
37. Cycle Scheme
38. Blue Light Card
39. Flamesavers
40. Rewards for rescue
41. Say So
42. Development Programme
43. Trade Unions
44. Career Breaks
45. Physiotherapy
46. TRiM
47. Employment Network
48. 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.
Please note if you are successful at interview and commence pre-employment checks this will include DBS, please see what this involves and the process via the below link:
Positive Action
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 underrepresented groups which include: Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, female, people who have a disability, those who are neurodivergent and persons of the LGBTQ+ community.
We use positive action to encourage potential candidates from underrepresented groups through targeted step-In support and advice sessions. If you have the skills, experience and values, that here in Staffordshire Fire and Rescue we pride ourselves on, then we would welcome you to apply.
For more information on Positive Action please email the team on
For any Recruitment queries please email