HR People Partner, Maternity Cover – Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

National Fire Chiefs Council Limited.; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional fire department is seeking an HR People Partner for maternity cover. This full-time role includes significant travel across multiple locations and offers flexible working. The ideal candidate will hold MCIPD qualifications and have a strong background in HR business partnering. Responsibilities include advising on employee relations, supporting leadership development, and implementing HR policies. The salary range is £44,075 - £47,181 per year, with various employee benefits available.

Benefits

Flexi time scheme

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Family friendly schemes including 39 weeks’ full pay during maternity leave

Health & well-being services

Qualifications

• Experience in employee relations such as mediation and conflict resolution.
• Ability to advise on HR policies and practices.
• Capacity to support leadership development and coaching.

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships to ensure best HR practices are implemented.
• Provide HR support on employee relations issues.
• Ensure managers apply HR policies effectively.
• Support leadership development and succession planning.

Skills

Qualified Member level of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD)

Previous HR business partner experience

Knowledge of employment legislation

Strong relationship-building skills

Education

Graduate calibre experience

Job description

HR People Partner, Maternity Cover – Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week

Location: The service encourages flexible working and is open to flexible working options. The role will be based at either Poundbury, Dorchester or Salisbury with the flexibility to work from home / DWFRS Stations / Support Offices and we would welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what type of flexible working arrangement will work best for you.

Travel: The role has a significant travel requirement across the Service, in particular to Christchurch, Springbourne, Ferndown, Verwood, Poole, Hamworthy, Swanage and Wareham.

Appointment Type: Temporary – up to 18 month fixed term contract (or until return of substantive postholder) – maternity cover

Contact: For a chat about this post, please contact Adele Smyth, Senior HR People Partner on 07585 985503 or [e-mail]

Closing and Interview date: The closing date for applications is Sunday 11 January 2026 (midnight). It is intended that interviews will take place on Thursday 22 January 2026. Should you be shortlisted for interview, further details regarding the interview format / location will be provided before the interview date.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our corporate staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer and healthier. Without them, we couldn’t do it.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits and strive to ensure that staff are valued and rewarded. For example, we offer a flexi time scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, a variety of family friendly schemes including 39 weeks’ full pay during maternity leave (subject to qualifying criteria) and health & well‑being services.

• Develop relationships with, and provide support to, managers within the Service ensuring best practice is implemented, working closely with them to deliver their objectives and to enable delivery of the business plan.
• Provide advice, support and guidance on employee relations issues such as conflict resolution, mediation, investigation, disciplinary, grievance, capability and attendance/sickness issues together with flexible working requests, maternity/paternity related matters, redundancy, job design and restructures to ensure a consistent and fair approach in each case.
• Ensure line managers can effectively apply HR policies and procedures, ensuring they are up to date, consistently applied and have an understanding of their importance.
• Support key stakeholders in all areas of leadership development, coaching, performance management and succession planning.

What makes you our ideal HR People Partner?

• Qualified Member level of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) or able to demonstrate a significant level of graduate calibre experience at this level.
• Previous experience of working in a business partner role and providing HR support and advice on a wide range of employee relations and other HR matters to ensure added value in meeting business objectives.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and experience of applying it and advising on best practice HR ensuring organisational risk is minimised.
• Ability to build and maintain strong, professional and credible working relationships at all levels within the organisation.

For full details of the role and requirements please have a look at the job description and person specification.

Other Information:

• You must have a full current driving licence and be able to fulfil the significant travel requirements of the role. Use of your own vehicle will be required; however, a Service vehicle may be available. Please note Service vehicles are manual transmission only. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, we would still welcome your application and will explore any reasonable adjustments that could be put in place.
• The role involves some evening working to support operational staff at drill nights.
• If you are applying for a secondment opportunity you will need to notify your substantive line manager of your intention to do so at the earliest opportunity.
• A Standard Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS) clearance will be undertaken on the successful individual prior to offer of employment.
• Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre‑employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical, negative drug test, receipt of satisfactory references, verification of employment history and an explanation of any gaps in employment in the last 3 years.
• Should a permanent position arise in the team during the period of your Fixed Term Contract, that is substantially similar to the role you are carrying out, you may be considered for the role in the first instance.

Salary: £44,075 - £47,181 per annum (rising by annual increments to £47,181)