Operational Wholetime Watch Manager B

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Free on-site car parking

Health & wellbeing services

Employee discount scheme

Job summary

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is seeking an Operational Wholetime Watch Manager B on a permanent basis across multiple locations within the Service. The role offers a salary of £50,034 per annum, a 42-hour week with Day Duty and Shift System, and flexible working hours.

Applicants should be substantive competent Wholetime or On-Call Crew Managers seeking promotion, with evidence of leadership, supervisory experience and Level 1 Incident Command; appointments to the Appointable Pool will be

Qualifications

• Evidence of aligning to the Core Code of Ethics and demonstrating the behaviours expected within the Promotion Readiness Criteria.
• Competency in current role including completion of development/training and currency in core skills.
• Be competent at Level 1 Incident Command.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Incident Command Level 1

Promotion readiness criteria

Job description

Position: Operational Wholetime Watch Manager B

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £50,034 per annum

Location: Various locations across the Service

Hours: Day Duty and Shift System (42 hours per week)

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 01 November 2026

About Us

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) is a high achieving, dynamic and forward thinking organisation. We are looking for positive, talented and inspirational individuals who will help shape and lead the organisation in the years to come, ensuring that the level of service received by the people of Derbyshire continues to be of the highest standard.

About the Role

Due to our workforce planning profile, successful candidates who are deemed Appointable will enter the Appointable Pool, during which time appointments to substantive and temporary vacancies will be made in accordance with organisational need. Being deemed Appointable confirms eligibility for appointment but does not constitute an offer of a specific role or vacancy.

These opportunities are open to anyone who is a current local authority substantive competent Wholetime or On-Call Crew Manager looking for promotion, or existing Watch Managers looking to transfer.

All applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Evidence of aligning to the Core Code of Ethics and demonstrating the behaviours expected within the Promotion Readiness Criteria:
• Operational Effectiveness
• Personal Impact
• Outstanding Leadership
• Service Delivery
• Organisational Effectiveness
• Provide examples of your successful performance when working at Supervisory Manager level.
• Evidence of personal development at Supervisory Manager level.
• Provide examples of successfully managing people at Supervisory Manager level.
• Competency in current role which includes completion of all development/training and currency in all core skills.
• Be competent at Level 1 Incident Command.

Appointable candidates will have access to the relevant rank-aligned Leadership Development Programme. Further information is outlined in the Leadership Programmes Toolkit. External applicants will receive full information regarding programme requirements and access arrangements following appointment.

In return we offer

• Flexible working hours.
• Family friendly policies.
• Free, secure on-site car parking.
• Health & wellbeing services, including free access to gyms at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service locations.
• Employee discount scheme (Boost).
• Employee support networks.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Eligibility to join the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

If you are an existing On-Call Employee with DFRS and are successful in gaining a Wholetime role, please note that the maximum number of hours On‑Call cover you are able to provide is 60 hours per week. For further guidance, please refer to the Secondary Employment Policy and the Retained Flexible Contracts - Local Collective Agreement.

We are committed to equality and fairness at work. Applications are encouraged from all diverse communities. Under the Disability Confident scheme, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of applicants with a disability that meet the essential criteria for the role.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect this, and all staff are expected to share this commitment.

For roles based at Headquarters, Ripley or Joint Training Centre, Ripley, Police security vetting procedures at the appropriate level will be requested for the successful applicant. Please note that, due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.

Due to the sensitive nature of the duties that the postholder will be expected to undertake, an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be requested for the successful applicant.

Operational employees are responsible for their own fitness, health and wellbeing. Fitness will need to be maintained for the role to be undertaken safely. Specifically, the fitness requirements must be met as detailed in the DFRS Fitness Policy.

As part of the selection process line managers are required to sign a line manger endorsement form. This is to ensure line managers are aware of the candidates' intentions and support their application.

Line Manager Endorsement form

Portfolio

All candidates must complete and submit a Portfolio as part of the application process. Please see below Portfolio template for further information. This must be submitted to [e-mail] by midnight Sunday 01 November 2026.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 01 November 2026.

Interviews will commence on Monday 23 November 2026.

If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form, please contact the Service Centre on 01773 305441.

Candidate Information

• Promotions Process Toolkit - All Ranks.pdf
• Eligibility and the Selection Process for Progression
• Pension Implications of Temporary Promotion - Briefing Note for Candidates
• Pensions and Tax – The Annual Allowance – Briefing Note for Candidates
• Fitness Service Procedure
• Fitness Policy
• Secondary Employment Policy
• Retained Flexible Contracts - Local Collective Agreement.
• NFCC Leadership Framework