AC Promotion Gateway Feb2026 - Salary: Area Commander GBP67,792 - GBP74,360 (plus 20% FDS allowance, plus locally agreed GBP13k ARA for Strategic Operational Commander role). SOC rota subject to review. Basis: Full timePackage: Contractual Hours: Region: Job Category: Operations Job Description:Area Commander Promotion Gateway - Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue ServicePost: Area Commander BClosing Date: 11 March 2026, 23. 59 hoursSalary: Area Commander £67,792 - £74,360 (plus 20% FDS allowance, plus locally agreed £13k ARA for Strategic Operational Commander role). SOC rota subject to review. Location: BedfordshireIf you are looking for a leadership opportunity in a fire and rescue service with a great reputation and a strong track record of visible leadership and delivering positive outcomes for our communities then Bedfordshire could be for you. Join our Service, to play a vital role building upon our successes to date and striving to deliver on our Mission working together to keep Bedfordshire safe.The service is seeking to expand our Area Commander talent pool.This is an exciting time to be joining our senior team, who will help shape and deliver on our ambitious plans for the future. As part of our succession planning, the Service is opening a gateway process for Area Commander. We and inviting applications to create a talent pool eligible for temporary or substantive appointment to Area Commander vacancies expected to arise over the next 6-12 months.There has never been a better time to join us.Why Bedfordshire Bedfordshire covers an area of 480 square miles and has a growing and diverse population currently estimated around 655,000. Growth projections indicate this will grow by up to a third in the next decade or so. There has been significant investment in the County recently, and Bedfordshire has undergone significant expansion in terms of housing, and industrial and commercial sites. Universal Studios planning has been granted approval and also the East West Rail project brings exciting new development to the area. Our challenge is to align our resources to support this exciting growth and continue to keep our communities safe.About UsBedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is made up of an engaged and dedicated team of around 600 talented and diverse individuals.Our employees are our greatest asset and without them, we couldn’t achieve all we do for the communities of Bedfordshire. We continue to invest in ensuring we have an agile, motivated and highly capable workforce, reflective of the diverse communities we serve. Beyond our fire service duties, we are proud to say we offer much more to our communities. As part of our blue light collaboration strategic partnership we are working with Bedfordshire Police and The East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) on a number of projects. About the role You will lead, develop and support the Service in delivering on its Mission working together to keep Bedfordshire safe.You will demonstrate excellent leadership qualities that align with the NFCC Leadership Framework, the Core Code of Ethics, our professional behaviours and our Service Values:We are AccountableWe’ve got your BackEvery Contact countsWe Dare to be Different.The Service is seeking dynamic individuals, with visionary leadership and the capability to make things happen. The role will be responsible for strategic planning, direction and guidance to ensure the Service’s vision, values and objectives are achieved.To be successful, you will have a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by the Service and the Sector locally, regionally and nationally. You will possess high levels of resilience, and demonstrate exceptional experience in leading and motivating diverse teams and services.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.With a proven trck record of leading teams, managing performance underpinned by a well-developed strategic awarenss, you will enable the effective design and delivery of strategic objectives. Our Area Cmmanders wil need the ability to operate as a Project Executive working across a range of internal and external programmes.Through a collaborative approach, applicants must have the ability to lead, build and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders to attain strategic goals. You will have the ability to challenge, promote and advance equality and diversity and inclusion, and build a positive culture for a forward thinking Service.The role is conditioned to the Flexible Duty System (FDS) and postholders are required to provide a response base in an area approved by the Chief Fire Officer which will enable them to undertake their operational command duties when on-call. Basic salary in development is £67,792 per annum (rising to £74,360 upon achieving competent Area Manager B) plus a 20% flexible duty supplement. There is an additional payment of £13,381 per annum for carrying out Strategic Operational Commander (SOC) duties, which is under review.Relocation assistance may be available to successful candidates (details available on request). EligibilityWe welcome applications from Substantive Area Commanders serving with a UK Fire Authority fire and rescue service, holding valid ICL3/ICL4 (application on transfer)Substantive and fully competent Group Managers with a minimum of 12 months experience in role, serving with a UK Fire Authority fire and rescue service (application on promotion)Personnel that have passed the BFRS Group Manager promotion gateway and hold a place in the GM talent pool or serving in a GM role (internal applicants only) (application on promotion) Internal applicants must be deemed ready for progression at appraisal. Applicants on promotion must be assessed as competent to operate as an ICL3 Advanced Incident Commander, with proven relevant experience managing operational incidents at this level. They must be able to demonstrate experience of operating effectively at strategic level,and have a track record of achievement. Internal applicants meeting the eligibility criteria to apply, that do not currently meet the full criteria for the AC role, may still be shortlisted and be eligible to join a development pool if successful at gateway. To ApplyApplicants will need to complete an application form which includes a supporting statement. This will enable you to demonstrate how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification.The Selection ProcessCandidates will have the opportunity to join an engagement forum hosted by Andrew Hopkinson, our Chief Fire Officer to discuss what we have to offer, and an opportunity to visit our HQ site.Candidates successful at shortlist will be invited to attend our Area Commander selection process. This will include an assessment stage, an interview stage and an Incident Command L3 assessment.Successful applicants at the gateway process will enter a talent pool, eligible for consideration for Area Commander posts as they arise. The pool will remain live for 12-18 months. They will be required to serve at any location in the Service, and appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and pass a Service Medical and Fitness Test before appointment will be offered. Successful applicants will be required to undertake a probationary period of 6 months and those successful on promotion will also be required to satisfactorily complete the Area Manager Development Programme. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.Further details can be obtained from the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service website, where the gateway process will be published under the Careers section:Promotion Gateways | Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue ServiceApplications should be made via Current Vacancies area. This is found on the BFRS website for external applicants. Internal applicants should access the current vacancies site via the Employee Self Service ESS portal on the BFRS intranet Sharepoint site.Closing date: 23.59 hours 11 March 2026For further information please contact Juliet Ormerod, Assessment and Selection Co-ordinator via email Juliet.ormerod@bedsfire.gov.uk All candidates can request an informal 1-2-1 discussion with our Chief Fire Officer, Andrew Hopkinson, which we will seek to accommodate, subject to availability of all parties. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This is a public-facing role and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act. Appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, at the level required for the role. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.To understand how we might use your information during the recruitment process, please refer to the Applicant Privacy Notice (attachment above).At Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, we’re not all the same. And that’s our greatest strength. We draw on the differences in who we are, what we’ve experienced, and how we think. Because to provide a service that serves everyone, we believe in including everyone. Be bold, be unique, be you, dare to be different!
