Fleet Mechanic

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

LGPS pension

Annual leave 29 days pro rata

Training and development

Career progression

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is hiring a Fleet Technician to maintain and repair a diverse fleet for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. You will service light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, fire appliances and specialised equipment, both at Phoenix House and on-site at stations across Suffolk.

You will diagnose faults with advanced electrical systems and CAN Bus diagnostics, participate in a 24/7 call-out rota, and live within about an hour of Phoenix House to ensure rapid responses.

Qualifications

• Significant experience maintaining and repairing commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
• City and Guilds or NVQ Level 3 in vehicle maintenance; apprenticeship advantageous.
• Full UK driving licence including Category C (Class 2).
• Flexible approach to work and willingness to join call-out rota.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's fleet of light and heavy vehicles, fire appliances and equipment.
• Carry out major overhauls in the Phoenix House workshop or at fire stations across Suffolk.
• Diagnose faults using diagnostic tools and interpret wiring diagrams, CAN Bus systems.
• Support 24/7 emergency call-out service; respond within travel time limits.

Skills

Vehicle maintenance

Diagnostics

Problem solving

Safety awareness

Education

City and Guilds / NVQ Level 3 in vehicle maintenance

Apprenticeship (advantageous)

Tools

CAN Bus

Electrical systems

Job description

• Suffolk County Council


• Address: Phoenix House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5NP. Onsite working


• Salary: £35,570 - £42,123 per annum (pro rata for part time)


• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available


• Contract: Permanent

This role is being advertised as Fleet Mechanic for advertising purposes. If appointed, you will be employed as Fleet Technician.

Quality, reliability and innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You'll be responsible for maintaining and repairing Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's fleet of light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, fire appliances and specialist operational equipment. Your work may involve carrying out major overhauls within the workshop at Phoenix House or travelling across Suffolk to inspect, service and repair vehicles and equipment at fire stations.

Working with a unique fleet, you'll be encouraged to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to bespoke engineering challenges. Many of the vehicles and equipment used within the fire sector are highly specialised, providing opportunities to apply your technical expertise in ways that go beyond a traditional commercial vehicle workshop environment.

Using your extensive experience in commercial vehicle maintenance and repair, you'll carry out servicing and repairs on fire appliances and the specialist equipment they carry. Your diagnostic skills will be key in identifying and resolving faults efficiently, ensuring our fleet remains safe, reliable and ready to support firefighters responding to emergency incidents across Suffolk.

The role also requires a strong understanding of electrical and electronic systems. You'll use your experience to diagnose complex faults, interpret wiring diagrams and work with modern vehicle technologies, including CAN Bus systems.

As part of the Workshops Team, you'll contribute to a 24-hour emergency call-out service operating 365 days a year. This vital service helps maximise vehicle and equipment availability, ensuring operational crews have the resources they need to protect Suffolk's communities.

Due to participation in the emergency call-out rota, you must live within approximately one hour's travel time of Phoenix House Workshops. This ensures a prompt response to urgent vehicle and equipment defects, helping to maintain operational resilience and public safety across the county.

What you will need

• Significant experience maintaining and repairing commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.


• A City and Guilds or NVQ Level 3 qualification in vehicle maintenance and repair. A completed apprenticeship would be advantageous.


• A full UK driving licence, including Category C (Class 2).


• A flexible approach to work and willingness to participate in the call-out rota. You must live within approximately one hour of Phoenix House Workshops.


• Strong problem-solving, analytical and diagnostic skills.


• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.


• A positive attitude, willingness to learn, and commitment to continuous improvement.


• A good understanding of safe working practices, including working at height, with lifting equipment, inspection pits and controlled substances.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the How to apply' section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

The Fleet Team plays a vital role in supporting Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's response to incidents and major emergencies across the county. Responsible for maintaining a wide range of vehicles and operational equipment, the team helps ensure that firefighters have the reliable resources they need to protect Suffolk's communities.

Based at Phoenix House Workshops, our close-knit team of 11 skilled professionals looks after everything from fire appliances, pumps and ladders to rescue and firefighting equipment. Through their expertise and dedication, they help keep essential assets operational, safe and ready for action.

We are proud of the service we provide and the difference we make behind the scenes. There is a real sense of achievement in knowing that every vehicle and piece of equipment we maintain directly supports frontline emergency response. When a fire appliance heads out on blue lights, our team knows it has played a crucial part in making that response possible.

The Workshops Team is committed to upholding the values and culture of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. We work collaboratively, support one another, and strive to deliver the highest standards in everything we do.

This role offers an excellent work-life balance, with a 37-hour week worked over a nine-day fortnight. Working hours are typically 8:00am to 4:45pm, with every other Friday off. While weekend working is uncommon, team members may be required to support emergency call-outs or exceptional operational demands during major incidents and periods of increased activity.

As part of the on-call rota, you'll receive a standby allowance of approximately £3,414 per annum, with opportunities for additional overtime when responding to call-outs, although this cannot be guaranteed.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

Please contact Kelvin Todd, Workshop Manager, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by either calling 01473 341436 or emailing [e-mail]

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team by either emailing [e-mail] or calling 03456 014412.You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages .

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 20 October 2026.

Promoted as PJ (Platinum Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days


• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)


• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits


• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase


• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge


• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation


• diverse and active staff networks


• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .