Firefighter – Control – Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

National Fire Chiefs Council Limited.; Essex; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Essex is seeking a Firefighter – Control to manage emergency calls and mobilize responses. Candidates must demonstrate resilience and clear communication skills, providing vital support in crisis situations. The position offers a salary range of £28,865 to £36,937. Applicants should be calm under pressure and capable of multitasking effectively.

Qualifications

• Ability to stay focused and emotionally steady under pressure.
• Experience in managing multiple tasks during peak demand.
• Confident in both following instructions and taking initiative.

Responsibilities

• Receive and record emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Utilise advanced call-handling techniques to provide guidance.
• Mobilise appropriate resources and equipment during incidents.
• Maintain communication links and manage risk information.
• Operate and monitor communications equipment for readiness.

Skills

Calm under pressure

Clear communicator

Teamwork

Quick decision-making

Empathy

Resilience

Job description

Firefighter – Control – Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Are you calm under pressure, a clear communicator, & passionate about helping others? Fire control personnel are the first point of contact in emergency situations, playing a vital role in saving lives & protecting communities. From answering 999 calls to mobilising fire crews & providing lifesaving guidance, this highly skilled role demands resilience, teamwork, & quick decision-making.
Using advanced technology & thorough training, you’ll manage resources, support crews during incidents, & work closely with other emergency services. This is more than a job—it’s a commitment to public service & a rewarding career for those who thrive in fast-paced, meaningful environments.

Be part of a team that’s there when it matters most.

What You Will Be Working On

• To receive and record emergency & non-emergency calls, including from operational crews & other agencies, ensuring that all relevant information is accurately obtained & recorded.
• To utilise advanced call-handling techniques, when appropriate, provide survival advice & guidance to callers in danger situations & pass information obtained to crews & other emergency agencies, when required, utilising the Emergency Call Management Processes.
• To mobilise appropriate resources, including officers & special equipment via the Mobilising & Communication Systems, including Paging Systems & Systems used during Business Continuity.
• To transmit, receive, acknowledge, & accurately record messages (normally using telephone and radio) to & from incidents.
• Operate, monitor, & test communications equipment to ensure a constant state of readiness in the Control Room environment, including responding to alarms, alerts, or faults, liaising with ICT, & reporting accordingly.
• Liaise, as appropriate, with other Authorities, Emergency Services, Commercial Organisations & other Fire and Rescue Services.
• To maintain communication links, including the maintenance of County wide fire cover for the duration of all incidents & manage risk and other specialist information.
• Informing the Watch/Crew Manager immediately of changing circumstances in relation to incidents, resource availability & equipment.

What Are We Looking For?

As the first point of contact in a crisis, you’ll be the calm, reassuring voice that helps guide people through some of their most difficult moments. Can you bring empathy, resilience, & a strong commitment to public service to every call?

In this role, you will need to stay focused & emotionally steady under pressure, making clear decisions when it matters most. You will be an intuitive multi-tasker who can adapt quickly with no warning and manage competing priorities & tasks during times of peak demand. Confident working both on your own initiative & while following instruction, you will collaborate effectively as part of a team, communicate clearly, & listen attentively to gather vital information from distressed callers & assess the urgency.

Salary: £28,865 rising to £36,937 (when competent)