Station Manager Promotional Pathway & Inter Service Transfer Autumn

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is an organisation with its sights set on the future an organisation that has firmly set itself on a new course for a better future. Our improvement journey is well underway. We are building at pace, with serious intent and enormous drive, and in doing so we are defining a new era for our Service, for the communities we serve and our workforce.

We are the most improved Fire and Rescue Service in England and one of the best performing. We are proud of our most recent HMICFRS report awarded ‘Good’ in 10 of the 11 areas whilst also being recognised in four areas for Positive Practice and two areas for Innovative Practice.

We are currently out to public consultation on our new four-year Fire Plan (Community Risk Management Plan) for the period 2025/2029 it’s a really exciting time to join GMFRS as we finalise our Fire Plan which will serve as the next chapter in our improvement journey to become an outstanding Fire and Rescue Service.

We are one of the largest Fire and Rescue Services outside London, covering an area of approximately 500 square miles and a culturally diverse population of 2.8 million people. Greater Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic and growing city-region and an incredibly exciting and rewarding place to work.

Improving organisational culture remains a top priority for us we have taken a ‘culture first’ approach and under the leadership of our CFO, GMFRS has an unrelenting commitment to fostering cultural change. We have been recognised by Stonewall as culminating in a gold award and ranking the 34th LGBTQ+ inclusive employer in their Top 100 list. Our Rainbow Staff Network also won Stonewall’s Network Group of the Year.

We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

We are now looking for our next Station Managers to join our team and support us on our journey to become an outstanding Fire and Rescue Service.

As a Station Manager, you will be integral to the leadership of the organisation, supporting Heads of Service in driving forward a shared vision to make “Greater Manchester one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old”.

The foundations have been laid for the future of our Service, a Service which is now building at pace, delivering a new era and capable of meeting the challenges of the future and we want you to be part of this journey.

As a Station Manager, you will bring outstanding leadership to our organisation - leadership that encourages new ways of thinking, collaborative working and an inclusive approach to everything we do. You will play a key role in leading teams to deliver against plans which align to our strategic ambitions.

As an organisation, we have been on a journey of change, and you will play a major role in continuing that cultural transformation and doing things differently - whilst understanding our history and heritage.

This role is pivotal in creating a positive, safe and supportive organisational climate ensuring that the values of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service remain fully embedded and visible in everything we do.

You will influence performance, future plans and direction for the organisation and will ensure the continued development of GMFRS.

We are looking for inspiring, confident, ,talented and high performing individuals to operate successfully within the Station Manager role and bring diverse ideas into an evolving and improving UK FRS.

Candidates should be forward-thinking, innovative, and able to lead, mentor and manage the performance of teams and individuals to achieve organisational objectives. Strong communication, negotiating and influencing skills are essential, and you must demonstrate an ability to embrace change and provide inclusive leadership.

As a Station Manager, you will lead and support operational incidents, plan activities, manage resources, select personnel, and develop teams. You will also drive and manage performance, achieve work objectives, and support decision making.

We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates who have a proven track record of success as acompetent Wholetime Watch Managers or Station Manager within their current service.

To support you in preparing for the pathway, we will be offering a few Microsoft Teams briefings being lead by ACFO Willmott.

These sessions are designed to support your career progression and provide guidance ahead of applying for the Station Manager Pathway.

Attendance at a briefing will be mandatory for those wishing to apply:

Friday 23rd October 14:00

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/359164187014217?p=mF166EKtYcJrAxcAWa

Meeting ID: 359 164 187 014 217

Passcode: zZ3be7vP

Wednesday 4th November 16:00

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/315841185576783?p=3mHUOHDW3O4M1ArVbK

Meeting ID: 315 841 185 576 783

Passcode: J4cy6TJ9

You will only need to attend one session, so you are welcome to select whichever available briefing best suits you.

• Demonstrable competence as a permanent Wholetime Watch Managers or Station Manager within a UK Fire and Rescue Service, specifically a proven track record in planning, managing high performing teams, cultural change and development of yourself and others
• Operational awareness (or competence) at a Watch Manager Level.
• Currently not under any live sanctions, capability, performance, or disciplinary procedures.
• Proof of UK Fire and Rescue Service contract and up to date training records.
• Willingness and ability to be posted to and work from any location within the Greater Manchester boundary.
• UK driving licence with access to own vehicle.

Please Note:We are not currently accepting any On-Call or retained Firefighter applications for our external Promotions Pathways

DESIRABLE CRITERIA - the desirable criteria will form a scored element of the application form, so we strongly encourage prospective applicants to review the campaign information carefully before submitting an application.

• IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Service Operations, Incident Command, Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Science.
• Started a development portfolio / can evidence development for promotion.
• Already accessed a coach or mentor to support you throughout your promotional process.
• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Qualification (IOSH)
• Leadership and Management qualification minimum Level 3, Level 5 preferable

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

The Disability Confident Scheme will apply where applicable. Candidates who apply and are eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme and demonstrate that they meet all of the essential criteria for the role, including through any assessed elements of the application process (application questions), will be shortlisted and will not be required to meet the desirable criteria.

Please note that the Greater Manchester Guaranteed Assessment Scheme (GAS) does not apply to the Promotional Pathway or Inter Service Transfer (IST) process.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

Privacy Notice (Click here)

Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Enhanced DBS Check

The role holder will be subject to an Enhanced level check by the Disclosure & Barring Service.

This post involves working with children, young people or vulnerable adults and is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Failure to disclose information when asked within this application could result in dismissal but will not necessarily be a bar to employment with us. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provides that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Safeguarding Policy and Procedure

Supporting Documents

↗ WM-SM Infographic

↗ Station Manager Role Profile

↗ Pathway Framework

↗ Station Manager Process Map

↗ External SM Pathway and IST Process 26