Equipment Support and Projects Officer

Networking Women in the Fire Service; Blandford Forum; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Blandford Forum is looking for an Equipment Support and Projects Officer to manage stock holdings, oversee equipment research and development, and ensure health and safety practices. The ideal candidate will have 4 GCSEs including English and Mathematics, manual handling capability, and experience in health and safety in warehousing. This permanent, full-time role offers a competitive salary and various employee benefits including a flexi time scheme and Local Government Pension Scheme.

Benefits

Flexi time scheme

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Family friendly schemes including maternity leave

Health & well-being services

Qualifications

• 4 GCSE passes including English and Mathematics or higher-level qualification.
• Capable of manual handling activities.
• Experience in health and safety management within warehousing.
• Knowledge of simple project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Monitor stock holdings and maintaining asset management systems.
• Support research and development of equipment.
• Maintain relationships with external suppliers.

Skills

GCSE passes including English and Mathematics

Manual handling activities

Health and safety management

Project delivery knowledge

Education

4 GCSE passes – Grade A*–C including English and Mathematics

Job description

Equipment Support and Projects Officer

Grade: D

Salary: £31,537 – £33,143 per annum (rising by annual increments to £33,143). More information on salaries and progression can be found on our pay and policies page.

Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week

Core hours: 08:30 – 16:25 with some flexibility

Location: Blandford Vehicle and Equipment Preparation Centre, Blandford Fire Station – office based with very little opportunity to work from home

Appointment Type: Permanent

Contact: For a chat about this post, please contact Natalie Fairhead, Fleet and Equipment Projects and Implementation Manager on 07825 997247 / [e-mail]

Closing and Interview date: The closing date for applications is Sunday 4 January 2026 (midnight). Interviews are intended to take place on Thursday 15 January 2026. Further details regarding the interview format/location will be provided before the interview date.

Please note we do not accept CVs in place of application forms.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our corporate staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer and healthier.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits and strive to ensure that staff are valued and rewarded. For example, we offer a flexi time scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, a variety of family friendly schemes including 39 weeks’ full pay during maternity leave (subject to qualifying criteria) and health & well‑being services.

As an Equipment Support and Projects Officer in our Assets department you will:

Monitor all stock holdings by maintaining the appropriate asset management system at the VEPC, including, but not limited to, carrying out asset relocations, stock checks, registering new equipment onto the system with relevant information to ensure that the equipment is trackable and traceable throughout its life. This may include periods of lone working and shared responsibility for buildings management and the security of such buildings.

Support and coordinate the research and development of equipment, maintaining communications for all VEPC equipment related matters, liaising with the Fleet and Equipment Project Team, all key stakeholders, Equipment Review Group, Technical Document Author, and external suppliers. Producing evidential reports to support the findings and presenting to the relevant audience.

Maintain relationships with external suppliers, keeping up to date with new products changes in existing products and keeping abreast of market changes.

What makes you our ideal Equipment Support and Projects Officer?

• 4 GCSE passes – Grade A*–C / 9–4, including English and Mathematics or equivalent Level 2 qualification (including L2 functional skills), or higher‑level relevant qualification.
• Capable of manual handling activities when moving equipment.
• Experience in the management of health and safety within a warehousing environment; demonstrating an effective approach to ensure health and safety practices are maintained.
• Knowledge of delivering simple projects.

For full details of the role and requirements please have a look at the job description and person specification.

Other Information:

You must have a full current driving licence and be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role. A Service vehicle may be available. Please note Service vehicles are manual transmission only. Travel will be required across the Service area and occasionally outside of Dorset & Wiltshire.

If you are unable to drive due to a disability, we would still welcome your application and will explore any reasonable adjustments that could be put in place.

A Standard Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS) clearance will be undertaken on the successful individual prior to offer of employment.

Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre‑employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical, negative drug test, receipt of satisfactory references, verification of employment history and an explanation of any gaps in employment in the last 3 years.

To find out more and apply:

Our Candidate Charter outlines the commitments we make to you when applying for a vacancy with us.

We welcome the use of AI responsibly and ethically to demonstrate your skills in your application, but please don’t allow it to shadow your own unique voice.

You should ensure you include satisfactory evidence in your application to demonstrate all of the areas stated as being measured at the Application Stage on the Person Specification. This will ensure you have the best opportunity of progressing to the next stage of the selection process.

We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. All applications will be treated on merit and staff involved in recruitment and selection processes undertake unconscious bias training.

We are committed to the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee an interview to applicants with a disclosed disability if they meet the minimum criteria for the post to which they are applying. Please tell us in confidence if this applies to you, or if there are any reasonable adjustments that would help you apply for this post. To find out more, please see our website.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

If you hold international qualifications, you will be required to provide official evidence that shows how these compare to UK Qualifications. We will accept a Statement of Comparability from a UK organisation called ENIC which can be obtained via their website. Please note that UK ENIC charge for this service, so if you request a Statement of Compatibility, you will be required to pay for it as we are unable to reimburse you.

For further guidance on how to complete your application, please refer to the Job Application Guidance Notes. If you are experiencing difficulties completing your application or have a need to complete your application in an alternative format due to a disability, please contact HR Resourcing on 01722 691444 within plenty of time of the closing date of the position you are applying for.

Values & Behaviours Framework

Our recruitment, assessment and progression processes are based on our Code of Ethics that has been developed specifically for Fire and Rescue Services. When recruiting, we identify the most important behaviours for the role and these are used as part of the short‑listing and selection process.