Deputy Commissioner For Prevention, Protection & Operational Policy & Assurance

Post: Deputy Commissioner for Prevention, Protection & Operational Policy & Assurance
Grade: Director
Starting Salary: C. £140,000 per annum
Application closing date: Wednesday 31 January 2024

London Fire Brigade is London’s fire and rescue service – one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. We are here to make London a safer city. Employing over 5000 people across our operational team (our firefighters), control (our call handlers who answer 999 calls), fire safety and our non-operational team (our team who work behind the scenes to support our front-line services, including IT, Finance, Procurement, and communications team).

As laid out in our Community Risk Management Plan – Your London Fire Brigade – our plan to keep London Safe, we have been undergoing considerable change since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower on 14th June 2017 where 72 people died. We have also implemented changes since the publication of our Independent Culture Review in November 2022. We understand about our need to change and are committed to doing everything we can to learn the lessons, but we know that there is still more to do. Our plan and our transformation is founded in an acknowledgement of the greatness of diversity, of sustainability and the need to engage with our communities.

Following the announcement of the current postholder to retire this year, we are seeking to appoint an exceptional individual to undertake the role, working directly for the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) and deputising for the LFC where required.

The role includes strategic oversight of our prevention and protection responsibilities, health and safety function, Operational Policy and assurance functions. The post holder will have a high level of knowledge of current issues in the built environment, changes and impact of fire safety legislation and experience of working with the Building Safety Regulator. The post holder will be required to oversee strategy and long-term plans to meet fire safety legislation and implementation of such legislation.

The post holder will also possess a high level of knowledge about National Operational Guidance, the development of Operational Policy, analysis of risk and the impact of health and safety on the workforce and in the context of our operating environment.

The post holder will also be responsible for driving and delivering transformational change, improving culture and delivering against the Brigade’s corporate objectives. This role gives the post holder an unrivalled opportunity in the UK Fire Sector to deliver change on a large scale. The post holder will require a high degree of political awareness, experience of stakeholder engagement and managing external scrutiny.

The post holder will be responsible for planning, directing, and delivering the services provided by departments ensuring continual improvement in efficiency and performance and compliance with regulations and the law. The post holder will play a full leadership role as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and Top Management Group. The post holder will be available to undertake the duties and responsibilities of the Duty Brigade Manager and be mobilised to operational incidents to perform the strategic incident command function and/or represent the London Fire Brigade as its nominated ‘Strategic/Gold’ Commander.

Eligibility
The London Fire Brigade is driven by a strong sense of purpose; we are trusted to serve and protect London. As such the Brigade has introduced a new Values and behaviours framework which will help us to create a safe and professional workplace culture. The post holder is expected to lead the successful delivery of this approach and ensure that they role model the Brigade’s Values and Behaviours Framework and will hold others to account in doing the same.

The post holder will be expected to ensure appropriate and effective risk management processes are in place and to provide assurance to the London Fire Commissioner on the effective use of controls and actions which mitigate risk and support the Brigade’s CRMP and annual Delivery Plan.

The post holder will be expected to manage Brigade resources and its budget efficiently and spend money properly and appropriately. Resources should be aligned to risk and costs should be kept down without compromising public safety.

The post holder will always ensure that they maintain their professional competence and ensure that they remain fit and proper to fulfil the responsibilities set out in this document.

In addition to their corporate responsibilities outlined above, the post holder will also provide leadership to the areas of the Operational Directorate for which they are responsible for leading.

What we’re looking for:

• An experienced operational fire officer competent and substantive at Assistant Commissioner level or above serving in a local authority service.
• A proven track record of successfully delivering change in a large and complex service in a safety critical environment.
• A high level knowledge of current issues in the built environment, changes and impact of fire safety legislation, knowledge of National Operational Guidance and development of policy and analysis of future risk.
• A proven track record of supporting diversity and inclusion, driving cultural change within the fire service.
• The ability and sensitivity to work in a fast-paced multi-stakeholder environment and develop strategic partnerships to improve performance.
• The ability to develop and implement departmental strategy and long-term plans.

Applicants are also required to hold a full UK driving licence.

External candidates will also need to be serving as a whole time Assistant Commissioner in a local government brigade.

Internal candidates – before submission of your application you will be required to undertake a professional development discussion for your line managers to support your application. Please factor this into your timeline.

Assessment Overview
To apply please complete the online application form by 31st January 2024 and upload all the documents you will need to submit with your application form:

Your application should include:

1. Your CV
Please include your current or most recent salary, and the name and contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current line manager.

2. Your personal statement evidencing suitability to be considered for the role of Deputy Commissioner for Prevention, Protection & Operational Policy & Assurance. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words.

You will find information about the London Fire Brigade on our website, in particular the ‘About us’ page: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/AboutUs.asp

Please ensure you give yourself enough time to complete and submit your application. Late or un-submitted applications cannot be accepted. Any correspondence received from us will be via e-mail and sent to the address you provide on your application form.

Assessment process

Stage 1: CV and Personal Statement – Closing date: 4pm on 31st January 2024

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to stage 2.

Stage 2 – The assessment process will include the following steps and is likely to take place in February

• Incident Command Exercise (if required)
• Diversity and Inclusion Exercise
• Psychometric tests
• Station Based Visit
• Stakeholder panel Interview

Main Panel Presentation and Interview will take place in late February/early March, dates will be confirmed in due course.

If you cannot make any of the specified dates we will do our best to reschedule but please note this may not always be possible.

Please note that that the Assessment and development centre review process (Policy Number 497) does not apply to this assessment process.

Additional Information
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. 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.

Benefits of working for LFB
• Welfare Scheme
• Use of Brigade Medical Adviser/physios
• Season ticket loans
• Equality Support Groups
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunity to access affordable accommodation

In line with the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include a basic criminal records check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences which are not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory. Successful candidates should apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to get a copy of their criminal record and share the original disclosure certificate with the LFC. The check will only show convictions that are not ‘spent’. It will cost the successful candidates £18 (current charge) and usually takes up to 14 days.