Job Title: Watch Manager
Location: Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, England
Compensation: £46,.17 + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Lead frontline emergency response at a critical aviation site
At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Watch Manager at Royal Air Force Wittering, leading the delivery of Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting services at a busy military airfield.
The role
As a Watch Manager, you will lead, supervise and manage fire service personnel to ensure the safe and effective provision of Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting cover. Reporting to the Site Operations Manager, you will be responsible for operational readiness, incident response and compliance with all relevant military, regulatory and organisational standards.
You will act as a subject‑matter expert for fire and emergency response activities, supporting both Babcock and customer stakeholders and ensuring that emergency response capability is maintained at all times.
Day-to-day, you will be:
1. Leading and supervising fire crews to deliver safe and effective Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting cover.
2. Commanding and coordinating responses to incidents and emergencies in line with approved incident command systems.
3. Ensuring operational compliance with Defence Fire and Rescue, unit, local and company policies, orders and instructions.
4. Managing shift personnel, vehicles and equipment to maintain required levels of operational readiness.
5. Acting as a professional point of contact and subject‑matter expert, supporting the Site Operations Manager and liaising with customer representatives.
This is a full‑time, onsite role, working 40 hours per week, operating four ten‑hour shifts across Monday to Saturday (four days in five).
Essential experience of the Watch Manager:
6. Recent experience managing or supervising a fire station or watch within a military aviation environment.
7. Proven ability to work in line with Defence Fire and Rescue directives and operational instructions.
8. Strong knowledge and understanding of Ministry of Defence fire and rescue documentation and reporting requirements.
Qualifications for the Watch Manager:
9. Defence Fire and Rescue approved incident command system qualification.
10. Defence Fire and Rescue approved Crew Manager Incident Management qualification.
11. Defence Fire and Rescue approved Operational Knowledge Theory certificate.
12. Health and Safety qualification such as IOSH or NEBOSH.
13. Incident Management certificate at an advanced operational level.
14. Approved Defence Trainer and Defence Trainer Supervisor qualification.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) / Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at Babcock
We’re Babcock — a global FTSE organisation with over 26, people working together to make a difference.
Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.
We call that lifetime engineering.
Join us and see how far we can go, together.
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