Group Manager – Operational Preparedness – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

National Fire Chiefs Council Limited.; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional fire and rescue service is looking for a Group Manager – Operational Preparedness based in Horsham. This role offers flexibility to work from home and various sites within West Sussex. The successful candidate will lead community risk initiatives, manage operational resilience and training planning, and command incidents at advanced levels. You must currently be a Station Manager or above. This leadership position requires strong decision-making skills and the ability to foster high-performing teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in operational incident command at Level 3/Advanced level.
• Proven experience in leading teams and influencing stakeholders.
• Effective delegation and innovation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic & Community Risk initiatives.
• Manage the delivery of Community Risk Management Plan projects.
• Create high performing teams to support community safety.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Management

Change Management

Decision-Making

Education

Current substantive Station Manager or higher

Job description

Group Manager – Operational Preparedness – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Your primary office location will be our Training Centre in Horsham, and you will also have the flexibility to work from other stations throughout West Sussex. Additionally, there will be opportunities for you to work remotely from home, as deemed appropriate for your work responsibilities.

Assessments and Interview: Incident Command assessments are scheduled for w/c 26 January 2026 and interview from w/c 9 February 2026

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is on a journey of continuous improvement demonstrating our ability to deliver services that benefit the community. We are proud to have opened the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre, where the state-of-the‑art facilities place a real emphasis on the continued development of our staff. As we look ahead, we remain committed to continuously improving our organisational culture supporting our mission to empower and support our people to be the best they can be, to deliver to the highest standards when serving our communities and to uphold the values of our fire and rescue service.

As the Group Manager – Operational Preparedness, you will be responsible for leading Strategic & Community Risk, Operational Resilience, Training Planning, Estates Improvements, and Operational Guidance working closely with internal and external partners to coordinate review. You will also lead and manage the delivery of our Community Risk Management Plan projects.

You will lead these areas to create professional, effective and high performing teams, which in turn support the communities of West Sussex to become safer and stronger.

You will be a proven leader, able to influence and steer the efforts of those within your team and external partners that can contribute to the team’s and the Service’s objectives.

You will be a role model to others, not afraid to challenge behaviour and continually striving for personal and team improvement, aligned to our Code of Ethics.

You will be experienced in running a team or function, demonstrating effective delegation, change management, innovation and decision-making skills.

You will be required to command operational incidents at Level 3/Advanced level.

To be eligible to apply you must currently be a substantive and competent Station Manager (or higher grade) who has demonstrated and maintained competence against the requirements of the NJC Station Manager role map.