This role also offers the opportunity to travel across the UK, as you work to ensure fire safety compliance in diverse and challenging environments. If you’re ready to take on a role that combines responsibility, variety, and the chance to make a real impact, we want to hear from you.

Person Specification

Eligibility

This is a uniformed Defence Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager post available to current competent Group Managers, current competent Station Managers on promotion, or an individual who can demonstrate the correct Fire Service competencies, experience and evidence of operating as a substantive Station Manager (or higher) in a UK Fire and Rescue Service (Military Equivalent – Flt Sgt/CPO/WO).

Skills and Responsibilities

• Build Effective Relationships: Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Building Control Authorities and Responsible (Accountable) Persons on the Defence Estate. Provide regulatory guidance, goodwill advice, and monitor agreed safety management systems to ensure compliance with legislative fire safety requirements.
• Conduct Risk-Based Audits: Perform risk-based audits to assess compliance with UK fire safety legislation. Where failings are identified and supported by appropriate evidence, take enforcement action in line with national enforcement protocols.
• Review and Improve Regulations: Continuously manage, assess, and review the accuracy and relevance of Defence Fire Safety Regulations. Monitor processes, outputs, and enforcement actions to support the DFSR Team Leader (TL) in ensuring correct application.
• Champion Process Improvements: Identify and champion changes to address shortfalls in processes and policies. Work with the DFSR TL to implement more efficient and effective enforcement strategies to achieve compliance.
• Advise on Fire Safety Management: Provide advice and guidance to Responsible and Accountable Persons on delegating suitably competent staff to deliver fire safety activities. Offer practical recommendations to achieve fire safety objectives within realistic timescales, ensuring optimal use of available resources.
• Support Workshops and Meetings: Assist in planning and delivering fire safety workshops to facilitate decision-making and the implementation of regulatory duties. Participate in meetings to enhance regulatory processes, follow up on agreed action points, and ensure effective communication with stakeholders.
• Post-Incident Enforcement: Advise on breaches of fire safety legislation following incidents. Where necessary, take proportionate and appropriate enforcement action to address non-compliance.
• Develop and Implement Plans: Assist in the development, organisation, and implementation of plans to ensure effective enforcement and regulation. Make evidence-based decisions for each circumstance and maintain communication with Responsible and Accountable Persons to achieve compliance goals.
• Propose Regulatory Changes: Identify opportunities to improve regulatory processes. Record, evaluate, and propose changes to the DFSR TL, detailing the benefits and potential challenges of the suggested strategies.
• Coordinate Fire Safety Projects: Support the coordination of large PFI (Private Finance Initiative)/Pan-UK and, when required, overseas fire safety projects. Ensure that fire safety consultation input is provided to meet regulatory requirements.
• Ensure Contractor Compliance: Regulate the outputs of works contractors to ensure fire safety compliance. Build and maintain positive relationships with fire safety partners and participate in relevant meetings to drive continuous improvement.
• Represent Defence Interests: Represent Defence on national and regional fire safety sector committees and working groups. Ensure that Defence interests are effectively considered and advocated.

Licences

• Full UK Driving Licence – many of the MOD locations where you will be required to attend are remote and public transport may not be available. Therefore, a full UK driving licence is essential.

Qualifications

• Essential: Level 4 Certificate in Fire Safety (Auditors), recognised by an official awarding body.
• Desirable: Lead Auditor (ISO 9001/45001), Fire Safety level 4 Diploma, Fire Safety level 5 Diploma.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical Skills

Technical Skills will be assessed at interview only (10 min presentation). The topic will be provided to those candidates successful at the sift stage.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary of £58,410
• Ministry of Defence contributes £16,921 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Application Process

• Apply using the CS Jobs apply button, fill in all required details in all sections.
• Successful candidates will be required to undertake a DFRS Operational Fitness Assessment (OFA) prior to employment and be subject to further assessments to confirm their fitness for duty and general wellbeing, in accordance with the DFRS medical standards.
• Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
• Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

Contact Information

Job Contact

• Name: Area Manager David Marshall
• Email: david.marshall354@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone: 07890025013

Recruitment Team

• Email: DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

For further information, please visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD.