Group Manager - Response and Fire Control

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service; Telford; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Occupational health

Paycare health benefits

Learning opportunities

Inclusive working environment

Impact on frontline service

Job summary

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service seeks a Group Manager – Response and Fire Control to lead and integrate Response and Fire Control functions from the Telford region. This permanent role requires strategic leadership, strong governance and a focus on resilience.

It will oversee resource management, 42-hour weeks and a 9‑day fortnight duty system. The role is based at Telford Fire Station with travel across the Service area.

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience in a fire and rescue service or comparable operational environment.
• Experience of Fire Control, operational response, emergency communications or another safety-critical function.
• Strong understanding of mobilising, operational preparedness, assurance and organisational learning.
• Experience of leading complex projects and organisational change.
• Strong judgement, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Commitment to staff development, wellbeing, inclusion and the Core Code of Ethics.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fire Control, including its people, performance, resilience and wellbeing.
• Maintain effective emergency call handling, mobilising and incident support arrangements.
• Provide strategic leadership for operational preparedness, assurance and organisational learning.
• Lead projects, change and collaborative control room arrangements.
• Ensure legislation, national guidance, Fire Standards and operational learning are embedded in practice.
• Manage resources, budgets and partnerships effectively.

Skills

Leadership experience

Fire Control

Operational response

Mobilising

Organisational learning

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Relevant qualifications

Tools

Emergency communications systems

Job description

Job Details

Group Manager – Response and Fire Control

Group Manager (Control) – £56,940 - £63,123

Hours: 42 hours

Duty system: 9-day fortnight

Status: Permanent

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is looking for an experienced, inclusive leader to join us as Group Manager – Response and Fire Control.

This key leadership role will bring Response and Fire Control together to deliver a safe, resilient and high-performing service to the communities of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

What Will You Be Doing?

Reporting to the Head of Response and Operations, you will lead and assure the Service’s Response and Fire Control functions.

You Will Be Responsible For

• Leading Fire Control, including its people, performance, resilience and wellbeing.
• Maintaining effective emergency call handling, mobilising and incident support arrangements.
• Providing strategic leadership for operational preparedness, assurance and organisational learning.
• Leading projects, change and collaborative control room arrangements.
• Ensuring legislation, national guidance, Fire Standards and operational learning are embedded in practice.
• Managing resources, budgets and partnerships effectively.

Relevant qualifications and the experience set out in the Person Specification are required. Experience of collaborative control rooms, command and control systems, business continuity or programme management would be advantageous.

Please ensure you upload a copy of our Readiness for Promotion document so it can be assessed as part of the recruitment process.

What Are We Looking For?

We are looking for a credible, values-led leader who can demonstrate:

• Substantial leadership experience in a fire and rescue service or comparable operational environment.
• Experience of Fire Control, operational response, emergency communications or another safety-critical function.
• A strong understanding of mobilising, operational preparedness, assurance and organisational learning.
• Experience of leading complex projects and organisational change.
• Strong judgement, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• A commitment to staff development, wellbeing, inclusion and the Core Code of Ethics.

The role is primarily based at Telford Fire Station, with travel across the Service area and to partner locations as required.

What We Offer

The post is primarily located at Telford Fire Station, with travel across the Service area and to partner sites as required. Free on-site parking is available.

The role also includes the following benefits:

• Firefighters’ Pension Scheme, where eligible
• Occupational Health Services
• Paycare Health Benefits
• Access to learning, development and professional networking opportunities
• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• The opportunity to shape and strengthen a critical frontline service

Please note: Applications will be shortlisted based on how well they meet the criteria in the Person Specification, so please ensure your application clearly demonstrates your relevant knowledge, skills and experience.

Closing date for applications: 6 October 2026

For an informal chat about the role, contact Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Price by email at [e-mail] or by telephone on 01743 260200.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion at work. We want to reflect the communities we serve and therefore positively welcome applicants from disabled people and minority groups who are under‑presented in our Service.

Attached documents

Group Manager Response and Fire Control JD.docx

Readiness for Promotion.docx