Fleet Technician

WFS Patron; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Standby allowance (£3,414 p.a.)

Emergency call-out rota

Job summary

Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a skilled Fleet Technician to maintain and repair our specialist fleet, including light vehicles, heavy goods, fire appliances and equipment at Phoenix House Workshops in Ipswich.

You will diagnose faults, perform servicing and major overhauls, work with CAN Bus systems and electrical diagnostics, and participate in a 24/7 emergency call-out rota to keep frontline responders ready. A one-hour travel radius is required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience maintaining and repairing commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
• City and Guilds or NVQ Level 3 in vehicle maintenance and repair.
• An apprenticeship would be advantageous.
• Full UK driving licence, including Category C (Class 2).
• Flexible approach to work and willingness to participate in the call-out rota.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and diagnostic skills.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Good understanding of safe working practices, including working at height and with lifting equipment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s fleet of light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, fire appliances and specialist equipment.
• Carry out servicing and repairs at Phoenix House Workshops or during site visits to fire stations.
• Diagnose faults, interpret wiring diagrams and work with CAN Bus and modern vehicle technologies.
• Contribute to 24-hour emergency call-out service to maximise vehicle availability.
• Ensure fleet safety and reliability for frontline emergency responses across Suffolk.

Skills

Commercial vehicle maintenance

City & Guilds/NVQ Level 3

Apprenticeship

Class 2 driving licence

Flexibility & call-out rota

Problem solving & diagnostics

Equality & inclusion

Safety & working at height

Education

City and Guilds/NVQ Level 3

Completed apprenticeship

Job description

Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
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

Quality, reliability and innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. We’re looking for a skilled and motivated Fleet Technician to help maintain and develop our specialist fleet and operational equipment, ensuring our firefighters have the vehicles and resources they need to protect Suffolk’s communities. If you’re passionate about vehicle maintenance, thrive on solving technical challenges, and want to play a vital role in supporting frontline emergency services, we’d love to hear from you

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.

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.

For more information

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