Fire Knowledge

Person Specification

The post of Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) is fully aligned with elements of the NFCC Leadership Framework.

The ideal candidate will possess: 

Education & qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant professional qualifications or evidence of professional development (Post-graduate level qualification or equivalent)
  • Incident Command Level 3 or equivalent qualification and evidence of attending large scale incidents and within a multi-agency setting

Desirable

  • Experience of undertaking the role of Principal Officer within a multi-agency ‘Gold Command/ Strategic Coordinating Centre’, or of acting at strategic level with service responsibility during a major emergency
  • Substantial proven leadership and senior management experience with Fire and Rescue Services
  • Executive Leadership Programme or Windsor Leadership Programme
  • Incident Command Level 4 or equivalent qualification/experience
  • IOSH Managing Safely
  • Member of the IFE
Relevant Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of leading and managing major culture change and transformation
  • Proven success in providing high level, balanced advice and guidance on strategic issues to other agencies and elected members
  • Significant experience of financial management, including the successful prioritisation and targeting of limited resources
  • Proven success in establishing and maintaining a performance-oriented culture which delivers efficient and effective services
  • Proven successful partnership working
  • Experience of successfully leading, managing and motivating staff and enabling them to deliver to their full potential
Behavioural Attributes
  • Strategic awareness: proven ability to clearly articulate a strategic vision, clarity of purpose
  • Inclusive leadership: proven ability to motivate colleagues and develop their professional capability, adopting a coaching style where required. Demonstrate skills that will engender the confidence of a wide range of professional and political stakeholders in development and delivery of a high profile service
  • Motivating and influencing: ability to influence and effectively motivate others to achieve GFRS objectives and drive improvement
  • Personal effectiveness: ability to demonstrate high levels of trust and personal accountability. Ability to respond positively to and lead change and opportunities for personal development
  • Delivering results: ability to deliver and evidence objectives through effective prioritisation, project, programme and performance management
  • Effective communication: actively consult and support the flow of communication through the organisation and provide a compelling vision to others
  • Financial accountability: makes clear strategic financial decisions that take full account of value for money, the contribution of ‘added value’, efficiency and risk
  • Improving performance: ability to improve performance through appropriate feedback, coaching, management of performance
  • Create a learning organisation: focussed on role modelling to create a culture where people feel empowered and accountable through experiential learning to develop high performing individuals, teams and ultimately GFRS
Additional requirements:
  • Ability to travel nationally, as required by the role 
  • A current DBS check will be required prior to appointment
  • A requirement to be vetted to the appropriate security level
  • To provide a sustainable residential base within the County / area approved by the Chief Fire Officer
  • To be part of a continuous duty rota
  • The post is politically sensitive under the Local Government Act 1989 The role will be subject to the NJC Constitution and Scheme of Conditions of Service Fifth Edition 2006 (Gold Book)