Watch Manager Protection South

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

60% office based (agile working)

Training and development opportunities

Blue Light Card eligibility

Free on-site parking and health/well‑g

Employee discount scheme

Job summary

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is seeking a proactive Watch Manager to lead and develop a team of Fire Safety Inspectors within the Protection South area. You will drive high standards, support professional development and contribute to community risk reduction initiatives.

The role blends operational leadership with a dedicated apprenticeship pathway to achieve nationally recognised fire safety qualifications, while delivering compliant inspections and enforcement.

Qualifications

• Be competent at Level 1 Incident Command.
• Evidence of aligning to the Code of Ethics in supervisory role.
• Proven leadership and people-management experience.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to undertake a structured apprenticeship programme and achieve qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Fire Safety Inspectors.
• Maintain high-performance culture through collaboration and improvement.
• Manage team performance, wellbeing and development.
• Support delivery of risk-based fire safety activities across the Service area.
• Ensure high-quality inspections, audits and enforcement in line with legislation.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the Fire Safety apprenticeship programme and develop staff competence.

Skills

Level 1 Incident Command

Code of Ethics

Leadership

People management

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Equality and inclusion

Structured apprenticeship

Job description

Position: Operational Wholetime Watch Manager B (Protection South)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £50,034 per annum
Location: South Protection Service Delivery Area – Ascot Drive
Hours: Day Duty System (42 hours per week worked on a 9-day fortnight basis)
Department: 1 x vacancy in Protection South
Reports to: Station Manager Protection South
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 18th October 2026

About Us:

At Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, we’re more than an emergency service—we’re a team of over 900 dedicated people working together to make Derbyshire safer every day. Whether it’s responding to emergencies, preventing incidents before they happen, or supporting our frontline teams behind the scenes, every role here makes a real difference.

We’re proud to be one of the country’s top-performing fire and rescue services, recently rated ‘Good’ in 9 out of 11 areas by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This recognition reflects the professionalism, progress, and dedication of our people. We continue to strive to be an outstanding Service and we know we have more to do.

Lead, Inspire and Develop the Future of Fire Safety

We are seeking an ambitious and motivated Watch Manager to join our Fire Safety Team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to develop a career in fire safety
while managing and leading a team of highly skilled Fire Safety Inspectors who help
keep our communities safe.

Whilst previous fire safety experience would be advantageous, it is not essential. We are
looking for an exceptional people leader with a passion for learning, development and
continuous improvement. The successful candidate will undertake a structured
apprenticeship programme, leading to nationally recognised fire safety qualifications
and supporting the development of specialist knowledge and competence within the
role.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine operational leadership experience
with professional development in a specialist area of the Fire and Rescue Service.

About the Role

As a Watch Manager within the Fire Safety Team, you will:

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of experienced Fire Safety Inspectors.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Manage team performance, wellbeing and development.
• Support the delivery of risk-based fire safety activities across the Service area.
• Ensure the team delivers high-quality inspections, audits and enforcement activities in line with relevant legislation and Service standards.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Undertake and successfully complete a Fire Safety apprenticeship programme, achieving the required professional qualifications and competence standards.
• Contribute to the strategic development of Fire Safety services and community risk reduction initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

We are interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

A permanent appointment will only be offered to candidates who meet the following criteria:

• Be competent at Level 1 Incident Command.

• Evidence of aligning to the Code of Ethics and applying them in your role as a Supervisory Manager and across the Service.
• Operational Competence
• 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.
• Current local authority substantive competent Wholetime or On-Call Crew Manager looking for promotion, or existing Watch Managers looking to transfer. NB This process is specific to the posts advertised. Successful candidates will therefore only be offered this role.
• Proven experience of leading, managing and developing highly motivated teams.
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to inspire, influence and support people to achieve organisational objectives.
• Experience of managing performance and delivering successful outcomes.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Ability to undertake a structured apprenticeship programme and achieve the required qualifications.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within a regulatory, compliance or assurance environment.
• Knowledge of Fire Safety legislation and enforcement processes.
• Experience of project management, change management or service improvement activities.

What We Offer

• A rewarding leadership role within a specialist and professional team.
• Fully supported apprenticeship programme leading to recognised fire safety qualifications.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Access to a supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities to contribute directly to protecting people, businesses and communities from fire risk.

In return we offer;

• Flexible working hours.
• Agile working (60% office based).
• 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) and eligibility to apply for Blue Light Card.
• Employee support networks.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Eligibility to join the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme

DFRS require successful candidates to complete the Leadership Programme. Further information is outlined in the Service Procedure – The Leadership Programme which can be found in the links at the end of the page.

There will be a requirement for some travel for which a pool car will be provided.

Please note guidance on pension implications can be