Group Manager – Operational Preparedness – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

National Fire Chiefs Council Limited.; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local fire and rescue service seeks a Group Manager – Operational Preparedness to lead efforts in Strategic & Community Risk and Operational Resilience. You will drive the delivery of Community Risk Management Plan projects and create effective teams to support community safety. Applicants must be a competent Station Manager or higher, with leadership experience and the ability to command advanced operational incidents. Flexible working arrangements available, including remote options.

Qualifications

• Must be a substantive and competent Station Manager or higher grade.
• Experience in managing a team or function.
• Ability to command operational incidents at Level 3/Advanced level.

Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic & Community Risk and Operational Resilience.
• Manage delivery of Community Risk Management Plan projects.
• Create professional, effective, high performing teams.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Decision-making

Influencing skills

Education

NJC Station Manager role map competency

Job description

Group Manager – Operational Preparedness – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Your primary office location will be our Training Centre in Horsham, and you will also have the flexibility to work from other stations throughout West Sussex. Additionally, there will be opportunities for you to work remotely from home, as deemed appropriate for your work responsibilities.

Assessments and Interview: Incident Command assessments are scheduled for w/c 26 January 2026 and interview from w/c 9 February 2026

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is on a journey of continuous improvement demonstrating our ability to deliver services that benefit the community. We are proud to have opened the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre, where the state-of-the-art facilities place a real emphasis on the continued development of our staff. As we look ahead, we remain committed to continuously improving our organisational culture supporting our mission to empower and support our people to be the best they can be, to deliver to the highest standards when serving our communities and to uphold the values of our fire and rescue service.

As the Group Manager – Operational Preparedness, you will be responsible for leading Strategic & Community Risk, Operational Resilience, Training Planning, Estates Improvements, and Operational Guidance working closely with internal and external partners to coordinate review. You will also lead and manage the delivery of our Community Risk Management Plan projects.

You will lead these areas to create professional, effective and high performing teams, which in turn support the communities of West Sussex to become safer and stronger.

You will be a proven leader, able to influence and steer the efforts of those within your team and external partners that can contribute to the team’s and the Service’s objectives.

You will be a role model to others, not afraid to challenge behaviour and continually striving for personal and team improvement, aligned to our Code of Ethics.

You will be experienced in running a team or function, demonstrating effective delegation, change management, innovation and decision-making skills.

You will be required to command operational incidents at Level 3/Advanced level.

To be eligible to apply you must currently be a substantive and competent Station Manager (or higher grade) who has demonstrated and maintained competence against the requirements of the NJC Station Manager role map.