Job Description

Watch Manager A - Positive Action Watch Manager A Publish date: 17 September 2025 Closing date: 1 st October 2025 at 12 noon Salary: 45260.00 Hours: 42 Overview


West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) is the second largest fire and rescue service in England, serving an area of 902km square and a population of more than 2.9 million people.


Our vision is 'Making the West Midlands safer, stronger and healthier'.


This vision and the strategic goals outlined in 'Our Strategy' are what drives the people, professionalism and pride with which we serve our communities.


An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen for a Watch Commander A, Positive Action, working alongside the Recruitment team. Applications are invited from existing Watch Commanders who wish to be considered for transfer to West Midlands Fire Service.


You will be at the forefront of our firefighter recruitment activity, helping to shape our approach and ensure that the Service is best placed to attract the highest calibre of candidates to our organisation.


Responsibilities


You will be responsible for the initial attraction of applicants, working in partnership with colleagues across the Service as well as external partners. You will develop our attraction strategy, continuously monitoring and evaluating the success of advertising campaigns and initiatives. Displaying a proactive and resilient nature, you will drive the positive action agenda, implementing a range of initiatives to ensure that our applicant pool is diverse. You will work in conjunction with the recruitment outreach co-ordinator to best target and engage with underrepresented groups. Working collectively to develop strategies with tangible outcomes.


With an analytical approach, you will measure and report on the impact of positive action and the success rates of applicants during selection. Liaising with the Trainee Firefighter Development Team, you will understand performance levels during training and make any recommendations for change in selection as required.


Whilst this position is based at Fire Service Headquarters you will be required to work at other Fire Service locations, particularly when running Firefighter Assessments and positive action initiatives. You will also be required to represent WMFS at national meetings and conferences in connection with recruitment and selection.


Experience and skills


The candidate should have experience of managing people and be a good communicator, able to engage and speak authentically to a wide range of individuals across the West Midlands conurbation form different backgrounds and communities.


This position is conditioned to the 9-day fortnight rota system; however, you will be expected to provide flexibility as some evening and weekend work will be required.


Benefits


We offer a friendly working environment and benefits including:


flexible and agile working arrangements free, on-site gym facilities free, on-site parking.
We also offer access to an in-house occupational health (OH) facility, including OH health and fitness advisors, sports therapists, physiotherapists, cognitive behavioural therapy practitioners and counsellors.


In addition, employees have access to:


24/7 Employee Assistance Programme wellbeing programmes 'blue light' discounts across many retailers, through partner schemes Sports and Welfare scheme (for a small fee), with access to discounted products and services.
Diversity


We welcome applications from all eligible candidates. However, as women and Black and minority ethnic employees are currently under-represented in our service, we particularly encourage applications from these groups.


WMFS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect the same of every staff member. Successful candidates will be subject to necessary pre-employment checks, including - where applicable - relevant level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, qualifications, medical clearance, identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references. How to apply


All applications will require the approval of your Line Manager confirming competence and highlighting your suitability for the role.


If you require further information about the role, please feel free to contact Joanne.simmonds@wmfs.net