Director of Strategy and Improvement

Summary

Permanent position

Remuneration: £112,296 salary with a provided car or taxable car allowance up to the value of £6850.00.

Relocation support is available to a maximum of £11,983 (including VAT) (depending on personal circumstances), of which, the first £8,000 is exempt from tax and NI contributions.

Based at our Service Headquarters near Exeter

Are you an ambitious and forward-thinking strategic leader? Would you like to live and work in one of the most stunning places within the UK?

We are seeking an innovative and influential leader who shares our values and ethics, to support the Chief Fire Officer in leading our organisation forward.

This is an exciting time to join Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, as our Director of Strategy and Improvement. We are in the process of delivering a change programme, transforming the service to ensure future sustainability as well as providing resilient services for the future challenges.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan fire and rescue service in England. We have a proud history of keeping people safe and providing prevention, protection, and response services across the local government areas of Devon County, Plymouth City, Somerset, and Torbay Councils. We have 83 fire stations and over 1,900 highly skilled and motivated staff who work tirelessly to protect the 1.8 million people who live in our two counties, plus the 1.1 million people who come to Devon and Somerset on holiday each year.

Find out more and apply

Our Director of Strategy and Improvement will report to and support the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) in leading the Service. As part of the Executive Board, you will assist the CFO in creating a vision, direction and culture of the Service which builds public trust and confidence through the delivery of effective services, and for the strategic leadership and the performance of the Service in the achievement of its collective goals.

As the Director of Strategy and Improvement (DSI) you will be responsible for the operations for core support staff departments ensuring that agreed policies are implemented effectively and performance managed. The DSI will have direct responsibility for the Corporate Services directorate and the strategy and Improvement function that is responsible for organisational strategy and performance.

More information on the role, full job description/person specification, and benefits package can be found in the attached Application pack.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• leading the largest fire service outside of London
• relocation package (see page 13 of the application pack)
• car allowance
• competitive holiday entitlement
• pension scheme
• employee assistance programme provided in-house (wellbeing, counselling and physiotherapy provision)
• comprehensive rewards and benefits programme
• lifestyle benefits – a vast range of national and local discounts and offers from retailers, as well as savings on travel, leisure, and entertainment
• various salary sacrifice schemes.

Our Identity

How to apply:

You will be required to complete an application form via the apply link below, which will include a Personal Impact Statement. Please use the 'Director of Strategy and Improvement - Personal Impact Statement and Essential Criteria' template attached below and upload this when requested in the application form.

The personal impact statement relates to each of the four quadrants of the NFCC Leadership Framework as well as professional expertise. Your impact statement should focus on demonstrating your impact at ‘Leading the Service’ level.

The template attached below also has a section for you to detail how you meet the following essential criteria from the Job Description and Person Specification.

• Evidence of strategy development and implementation
• Significant experience working at a senior level within Local Government or similar environment.
• A performance focus with the drive to deliver agreed outcomes and raise standards of performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop successful networks within, and external to organisation.
• An awareness of national issues affecting local Government

The closing date for applications is Monday 3 February 2025 at 23:59. Shortlisting will take place from 10 February and the selection and interview process will take place during the weeks starting 17 February and 3 March 2025.

If having read the application pack you would like additional information, or an informal discussion, please contact Gavin Ellis by emailing executivesupport@dsfire.gov.uk

Please note the appointment is subject to successful Baseline Personnel Security Standard check (BPSS), Medical Screening, National Security Vetting to Developed Vetting (DV) and an Enhanced DBS check.

Our values

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment and adhere to the Services Safeguarding Policy.

Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and/or reprimands.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority are committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.

As a Service and as individuals: 

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities we serve and aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to join our team.