Description
Station Commander – Staff Office and Resourcing Team (SORT)
Are you a motivated leader who enjoys problem solving, organisational improvement and making a meaningful difference across the Service?
Do you thrive on balancing people, performance and operational resilience while helping others navigate complex workforce challenges?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Station Commander to join the Staff Office and Resourcing Team (SORT).
SORT plays a critical role in supporting operational resilience across Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. The team is responsible for workforce planning, operational resourcing, promotions, transfers and organisational performance reporting. We work closely with operational managers, Human Resources, Employee Relations, Learning and Development and senior leaders to ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that sits at the centre of many service-wide decisions and contributes directly to organisational performance, workforce well-being and delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan.
About the Role
The successful candidate will support workforce planning and operational resilience across the Service while contributing to wider organisational improvement initiatives.
The role offers opportunities to:
1. Influence service-wide decision making.
2. Lead and contribute to organisational improvement projects.
3. Support workforce planning and forecasting activities.
4. Develop management information, reporting and analytical tools.
5. Contribute to policy development and review.
6. Work alongside senior leaders and key stakeholders from across the organisation.
7. Explore innovative approaches to workforce planning, including the use of technology, automation and artificial intelligence.
This is a unique opportunity for a Station Commander looking to broaden their experience, contribute to strategic decision making and help shape the future development of workforce planning within Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Why SORT?
As Surrey Fire and Rescue Service prepares for future opportunities and challenges, including Local Government Reform, changing workforce expectations and increasing use of technology, SORT has an important role to play in helping the organisation adapt and succeed.
We are seeking a candidate who can think beyond immediate problems, identify opportunities for improvement and work collaboratively with others to deliver positive outcomes for our staff, our Service and the communities we serve.
Eligibility and Essential Criteria
Applicants must be substantive Watch Commanders currently within SFRS's Station Commander Boarding Pool, or existing SFRS Station Commanders.
Applicants must meet and evidence all essential criteria detailed within the role profile.
The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate:
8. Strong leadership and people management skills.
9. The ability to build effective relationships and influence others.
10. Confidence in applying policy fairly and consistently.
11. The ability to hold difficult conversations professionally and constructively.
12. A commitment to continuous improvement and organisational learning.
13. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
14. Curiosity,initiative and a willingness to explore new ways of working.
15. A commitment to the Service's Core Code of Ethics and Leadership Framework.
Experience of workforce planning, organisational improvement, project management, policy development, data analysis, automation or artificial intelligence will be advantageous but is not essential.
Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words detailing how they meet the essential criteria and, where applicable, the desirable criteria.
Applicants should provide examples demonstrating their leadership, stakeholder management, organisational improvement experience and approach to supporting operational resilience.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
16. The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
17. The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
For an informal discussion about this role please contact
Group Commander- Staff Office & Resourcing Team
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