Thames Valley Fire Control Service - Project Manager

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue; Old Warren; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A local fire and rescue service seeks a Project Manager to lead a crucial technology project. The successful candidate will require strong project management skills and the ability to manage stakeholder relationships. A competitive salary of £46,142 - £51,356 per annum is offered along with a range of benefits. The role is based onsite in Reading, with opportunities to work across various Thames Valley locations. This is an exciting chance to make a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Excellent annual leave allowance of 30 days

Flexible working hours

Onsite gym

Parking facilities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Professional Project Management qualifications required.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management.
• Experience with various Project Management methodologies beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Plan the end-to-end project delivery.
• Deliver a robust command and control technology solution.
• Track and monitor project progress and benefits.

Skills

Professional Project Management qualifications (Prince2, AgilePM, APM)

5+ years’ project management experience

Experience in delivering complex projects, preferably in blue light service

Strong stakeholder management skills

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Thames Valley Fire Control Service - Project Manager

Benefits:

Salary: £46,142 - £51,356 per annum, Grade 6

Hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week

Contract:24-month fixed term contract

Location – Onsite at Service Headquarters, Calcot, Reading, with travel to other Thames Valley sites and other Services as required.

Excellent annual leave allowance of 30 days, flexible working hours, onsite gym, parking facilities and a Local Government Pension Scheme.

Other information about our benefits can be found here

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Manager to join the Business Information and Systems team within Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS).

As a blue light service dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community, we are currently seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Manager to lead the delivery of a business-critical system replacement. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on our operations and contribute to the enhancement of our service delivery.

Supporting Royal Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Services, Thames Valley Fire Control has been operationally live since 2015. The technology currently used to mobilise fire and rescue resources will be refreshed and the appointed Project Manager will lead this project through to successful delivery.

As the Project Manager, you will work at an enterprise level and create plans to implement safely. You will be responsible for delivering change, aligned to strategy, tracking delivery of the project, ensuring risks, issues and dependencies are identified and managed.

You will create a project team structure that fosters effective working relationships and establish strong relationships with stakeholders across the three Services. Your project will directly impact the three Services and the communities they serve, so establishing strong connections is critical to its success.

Working collaboratively, you will adopt best practice methodologies and use your skills to aid project scoping, planning, design, and delivery.

You will champion and adapt industry best practice to meet our specific needs, strengthening our approach to change and growing the project management capability within the Service, by proactively promoting best practice and sharing knowledge with key stakeholders. You’ll help the organisation understand complex problems and provide data and analysis to enable robust decision making and optimum ways of working.

Working with us, you’ll be part of an incredible team, and you’ll feel inspired to demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile and our Behavioural Competency Framework.

The key focus of this role isto:

• Plan the end-to-end project delivery.
• Deliver a robust command and control technology solution, effectively manage key stakeholder relationships, to ensure the project delivers, aligned to expectations.
• Track, monitor and report project progress.
• Track and monitor targeted benefits.

Key role requirements (knowledge, skills and experience):

• Professional Project Management qualifications, e.g. Prince2, AgilePM, APM.
• 5+ years’ project management experience, delivering technical and business projects.
• Experience delivering complex projects, preferably in a blue light service.
• Hands on experience of working with a variety of Project Management methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Core project management skills, including planning, project tracking, reporting, as well as budget, risk, issue and benefit management.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbally.

Application and selection process

The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile / Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached on application.

The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process.

If you are interested in applying for this position, click Apply Now

Please see the link to the Job Profile / Person Specification on application

Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Rechecks will be required in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.

For further details about the role please contact Ellie Wilde, Technical Programme Manager at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion.

If you have any queries about the application process or to discuss any adaptations or adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application or with our promotion process contact Amanda Gavin at [e-mail] or by phone [phone] for an informal discussion.

Please note we do not accept applications via Agencies or CV’s without an accompanying application form.

Closing date for applications is 16 January 2026.

It is anticipated that the assessment/interview process will run in February 2026.

Anticipated start date: April 2026, however this is subject to negotiation.

Please note that it is your personal responsibility to check whether by applying / accepting this position it would result in any Annual Allowance implications. A breach in the Annual Allowance threshold could result in a Tax charge.

Please view our Applicant Privacy Statement on application.

Our Commitments:

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service values your individuality, your diversity and your dignity. All are welcome here. Inclusion, diversity and equality are principles which guide our decisions and will be visible throughout the Service, and we will continually work to improve in these areas.

We are committed to creating an inclusive culture of dignity and trust where everyone feels safe and comfortable to bring their whole self to work.

Simply: The communities we serve are varied and diverse, we should be too.

Applications are welcome for job-share or part time arrangements please enquire on application.

All applications are considered on merit alone. We are a Disability Confident Leader – if you meet the essential criteria of the role, you will be guaranteed an interview if you choose to opt into the Offer of an Interview Scheme (formerly known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme).

To find out more: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.

Please view our Safer Recruitment Statement on application.