Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Job Introduction

At Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue (LFR) we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. We believe that diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and ideas drives innovation and strengthens our ability to work together for safer communities. 

Based at the joint Fire and Police Headquarters in Nettleham, you’ll work closely with councillors, colleagues across Lincolnshire County Council, and partner agencies to drive forward innovation and improvement.

As a Principal Officer at LFR, you’ll provide strategic leadership and help shape a unified, forward-thinking organisation. LFR takes pride in its strong collaborations with Police, Ambulance Services, and regional fire partners - partnerships that are central to delivering lasting impact for the communities we serve. Your leadership will support the delivery of our shared vision and objectives, aligned with both Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue’s business plans.

About Us:

LFR is driven by a clear purpose: Working together to keep our communities safer. This purpose is at the heart of everything we do and is the golden thread that runs through and drives every decision we take, investment we make, our plans and actions now and in the future.

About the Role:

This is a pivotal and high-impact leadership role at the heart of LFR and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC). As an Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO), you will shape and deliver strategic priorities, working closely with elected Members, senior leaders, and key partners at local, regional, and national levels.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of service strategies that reflect the Council’s vision, ensuring your portfolio delivers efficient, high-performing services that provide real value to our communities. You’ll drive forward innovation, champion continuous improvement, and provide clear direction across your area of responsibility.

This is a highly collaborative role, requiring a visible, inspiring leader who thrives in a complex environment - someone who can motivate teams, manage performance, uphold high standards, and navigate competing priorities. You'll help shape the future of LFR while playing a key part in delivering the Council’s wider ambitions.

Operationally competent candidates will also provide strategic command during incidents on a rotational basis, offering gold or silver-level leadership where required.

As a member of the Chief Officer Group, and a trusted Assistant Chief Fire Officer, you’ll help lead cultural change, promote equality, and ensure services meet both statutory requirements and the evolving needs of our communities.

About You:

We are seeking an individual who has the tenacity, enthusiasm and passion required of a strategic leader in a modern fire and rescue service. The role requires sound knowledge and experience of fire and rescue service delivery, operational command at all levels, integrated risk management planning, business, financial and succession planning, performance and people management and partnership working.

You'll need to be politically astute, experienced in partnership working and be able to evidence translating strategy into activity. We are looking for a natural leader who will demonstrate and bring to life our values-based culture.

We welcome applications from

• Substantive ACFO’s or Substantive and fully competent Area Managers with a minimum of 12 months experience in role.
• Applicants must be assessed as competent to operate as Multi Agency Gold Incident Command or ICL level 4, with proven relevant experience managing operational incidents at this level.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience of operating effectively at strategic level and have a track record of achievement.
• Applicants will need to evidence how they meet the essential criteria detailed in the person specification.

In return for your experience, skills and qualities you will receive excellent support from the team and an opportunity to further develop.

About the Process:

Applicants are required to submit their CV along with clearly demonstrating how they meet the criteria outlined in the ACFO Person Specification, which is available in the attachments to this advert. Please use the Personal Statement section to provide specific, evidence-based examples of your experience, skills, and achievements that align with the person specification.

Your statement should be no more than 2,000 words in total.

Once the advert opens, you’ll have until the closing date to submit your application. Following this, we’ll review all submissions through an initial sift. If successful, you’ll be invited to complete psychometric testing to help us better understand your strengths. Those who progress will also be invited to the full selection process, which include; an interview, presentation, an employee panel and a stakeholder panel. If you’re selected, we’ll make a formal offer and begin pre-employment checks to welcome you onboard!

Please see full timeline below:

For an informal and in confidence discussion, prior to the application deadline, please contact:

Chief Fire Officer, Mark Baxter on 07799110463

Please be advised thatthe Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 now includes the requirement for Fireand Rescue Service employees to have a standard DBS check as a minimum. Thislegislation change applies to all Fire Services across the country and the processaims to help safeguard colleagues and communities.

As a service we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All candidates areadvised to read the attached job information pack prior to making anapplication.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talentpool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may beconsidered for a period of up to 12 months for equal positions.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.