Area Manager

Role:                                 Area Manager  

Salary:                             £94,581 per annum

Location:                        Based in Ripley, with some local and national travel

Do you have what it takes to lead, inspire, and drive meaningful change?

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) is seeking a dynamic and visionary Area Manager (AM) to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in one of the UK’s most diverse and picturesque regions. Serving a population of over 1 million across 1,000 square miles, our Service protects communities ranging from the stunning landscapes of the Peak District to bustling cities, manufacturing hubs, and rural areas.

Following the retirement of one of our current Area Managers, we are looking for an exceptional leader to join us on our mission to Make Derbyshire Safer Together.

This opportunity is open to substantive operational Group Managers and existing operational Area Managers.

About the Role

- Lead portfolios aligned to corporate priorities, ensuring effective governance, resource management, and adherence to relevant Fire Standards

- Drive the delivery of strategic objectives outlined in the Community Risk Management Plan (Our Plan) and contribute to the high performance of the organisation

- Command operational incidents at a strategic level and provide gold command support to Duty Principal Officers

- Develop partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance service delivery, policy implementation, and continuous improvement

- Inspire, mentor, and develop high-performing teams

About You

- Strategic change management and risk management expertise

- Experience managing complex projects and delivering organisational objectives

- Financial management skills, including resource allocation and budgeting

- Exceptional leadership and communication skills

- Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and personal integrity

Essential Criteria includes:

- Leadership and management qualification at Level 5 or equivalent e.g. Chartered Management Institute (CMI) or Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). (NB if Level 5 held, attainment of Level 7 will be required as part of the role)

- Four Level 4 IFE Papers (including Mandatory Papers) as detailed in the Services IFE Examinations Procedure (Link to FireView IFE Examination Procedure below and attached) and/or a Masters level degree e.g. MBA

- Incident Command competent at Level 4. (NB if Level 3 held, attainment of Level 4 will be required as part of the role)

- A Multi Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) qualification. (NB If not already held, the postholder will be required to complete as part of the role.)

Why Join Us?

At DFRS, we pride ourselves on being a progressive organisation that values innovation, inclusivity, and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to influence the future direction of a high-performing fire and rescue service and put our people at the heart of everything we do. This is your opportunity to make a real impact—not just within the Service, but across the communities of Derbyshire.

You will have a DFRS provided car for business travel and to meet the requirements of the rota arrangements.  

The post holder will be expected to provide operational cover and therefore live, or be located (whilst on duty) within the County boundary of Derbyshire.

The Area Managers currently operate on a one week in three operational rota and provide Gold Command Support to the Principal Officers.

We are committed to equality and fairness at work. Applications are encouraged from all diverse communities. Under the Disability Confident scheme, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of applicants with a disability that meet the essential criteria for the role.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect this, and all staff are expected to share this commitment.

Police security vetting procedures at National Security Check (SC) and Non Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV3) Level 3 will be requested for the successful applicant. Given the nature of the role, an enhanced DBS check will also be required.

Appointable candidates will remain on a hold list for up to 12 months or until the next AM process, whichever is sooner.

For the full advert and further information about the role, including the benefits of working for us, please visit the DFRS website.

Key Dates

- Closing Date for Applications: midnight on Monday 20 January 2025

- Assessment Centre and Interviews: 6/7 February and 14 February 2025 (to be held at our Joint

Training Centre (JTC), located next to DFRS Headquarters in Ripley)

Apply Now

Join us and be the change that drives Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service forward