Group Manager (Grey Book - Operational Fire & Rescue Service)

Job Opportunity: Group Manager - Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service

Location: Kidlington HQ and County Fire station locations (agile working)

Salary: Grey Book Group Manager + 20% Flexi-Duty Allowance

Hours: 42 per week

We’re looking for a forward-thinking Group Manager to lead teams, shape strategy, and deliver real impact across Oxfordshire’s Community Safety Services. This is a key leadership role within our Fire & Rescue Service, offering the opportunity to influence service delivery locally, regionally, and nationally.

As a member of the Community Safety Management Team (CSMT), you’ll play a key role in governance, performance, and continuous improvement, informing decisions on our priority setting in delivering outstanding services that are community-focussed and forward thinking.

What You’ll Do

• Lead teams and projects that improve community safety and operational performance, aligning to our CRMP, Vision and Strategic Direction.
• Manage budgets up to £4m and ensure value for money.
• Collaborate across Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley partners, and the National Fire Chiefs Council.
• Drive innovation, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Undertake Level 3 ICS / Duty Officer role requirements.

Our Values and Purpose

Protecting the community, reducing harm and saving lives.

We are proud of our values, which guide everything we do:

• Always learning
• Be kind and care
• Equality and integrity in all we do
• Taking responsibility
• Daring to do it differently

We support agile working and are committed to creating a culture that enables all to thrive.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current serving UK fire and rescue Group Manager or current competent serving UK fire and rescue Station Manager
• Full UK driving license
• Minimum of current and in-date Level 2 Incident Command System qualification
• Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification
• Ability to provide suitable operational response to the county of Oxfordshire as a Level 3 incident commander on the L3 rota

Social media:

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The Process:

Phase 1: Submission of an application based on our Organisation Values of no more than 1500 words. Please see attached application request and instructions on what we are asking you to upload as your application (this will be available in the job advert when you click the 'Apply Now' button.

Deadline: midday Thursday 4th September 2025

Phase 2: Interview and presentation. These will be assessed by separate panels on the same day. We will inform you of the presentation requirement at the point of invitation to interview.

Expected interview dates: 1st and 2nd October 2025