Watch Manager

Job description

About the Role

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has 1 or more vacancies for motivated and committed individuals at Watch Manager level. Individuals will need to be enthusiastic, strong team players, culturally aware with excellent communication skills, and have the ability to work in a dynamic environment.

Internal candidates, please consult and inform your line manager in advance of applying for this position.

Vacancies are across the whole of WFRS which utilises different duty systems. Successful candidates will be positioned based on current and future risk critical operational establishment vacancies.

Key Requirements

In accordance with WFRS's recruitment pathway for promotion, applications are welcomed from personnel who satisfy the following criteria -

• Substantive within their current role, one role below the position being applied for.

• Competent against the full role map within your current role and in maintenance for all elements of NOS. External candidates will be contacted following application to ascertain qualifications and accreditation of skills.

• In receipt of the relevant Incident Command Level 1 assessment

• Must not have a live disciplinary sanction placed against them from a formal disciplinary process.

• In receipt of either the Crew Manager IFE examination ( IFE Lev 3 Certificate, Unit 2 - Operations and Incident Command) or Watch Manager IFE examination (IFE Lev 3 Certificate Unit 6 - Operations and Incident Command) or internal gateway examination*

If you require an internal gateway exam, please contact us at [email protected] by 17:00hrs on 3 rd September 2026

* If successful, applicants not in receipt of the Watch Manager IFE Level 3 Certificate Unit 6 examination, will start on development pay until a pass of the Watch Manager IFE Level 3 Certificate Unit 6 examination has been achieved.

Applications from external Watch Managers wishing to apply for a sideways transfer, will be required to complete all stages of the process.

Additional Information

Candidates will need to demonstrate their professional competence and leadership behaviours as defined in the NFCC Leadership Framework (Leading Others) and Core Code of Ethics .

As part of your application, you are asked to complete and upload the Performance and Behaviours Application , detailing the skills and attributes you hold, which are relevant to this role.

Please ensure your application is tailored specifically to this promotion process. Applications will be reviewed anonymously by the assessment panel, and your application should provide a clear picture of your current experience, skills, and professional development. We encourage you to include relevant examples from the last three years to demonstrate your recent achievements and impact. Reusing a previous application may not fully reflect your progress, so providing fresh, role-specific information will help you present the strongest possible application.

For more information about the role, please click on the job description link below -

• Watch Manager Job Description and Person Specification

For information on the gateway syllabus please click here

Failure to meet the required deadlines, or to upload the correct Performance and Behaviours application, IFE certificate, and/or Internal Gateway Pass, will result in your application being withdrawn from the process.

Candidates who are due to take the Internal Gateway Exam should upload all other required documentation by the deadline. The Gateway Pass can be submitted once it has been obtained.

It is the candidate's responsibility to attend the promotion process dates within any set timeframes.

Schedule -

Candidates are advised that due to the nature of these assessments' dates are not flexible
Performance and Behaviours Application (Stage 1) Candidate Awareness Session with Q&A opportunity (Microsoft Teams)
Session 1 - Tuesday 25th August 2026

Session 2 - Thursday 3rd September 2026

Application closing date

23:00hrs on Monday 14 th September 2026
Gateway exams (if required)
Session 1 - Tuesday 8 th September 2026

Session 2 - Tuesday 15 th September 2026

Print® Profile Session (Only for candidates who have never had a profile)

Candidates are only required to attend one session.

Session 1 - Friday 2 nd October 2026

Session 2 - Monday 5 th October 2026

Performance and behaviours practical assessment (Stage 2)

(You will be invited to and are only required to book onto one AM or PM assessment)

7 th - 9 th October 2026

Confirmation assessment (Stage 3)

(You will be invited to and are only required to book onto one interview assessment)

Week commencing 19 th October 2026

We welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you have any neurodiverse conditions or require adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know so we can support you by contacting [email protected] .

If you are interested in the role and are unable to attend either of the planned briefing sessions, please contact Station Manager Ian Brooker by email at [email protected] to arrange a short informal discussion.

Warwickshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Please be advised successful applicants will be subject to a range of pre-engagement checks, including a relevant Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our own policy, should an individual have a declared criminal offence an individual assessment will be completed. Warwickshire County Council adheres to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The Fluency Duty is outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. The Fluency Duty for this role is Required. You must be able to speak and provide advice in accurate spoken English to the public.

Should you require application forms in an alternative format / language or any adjustments to be made throughout the application process or upon appointment, please contact [email protected] and we will make every effort to meet your specific requirements.

Warwickshire County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and is keen to address areas of under representation in its workforce. See more

Working for Warwickshire - This is the difference you make

Warwickshire County Council is a place where everyone feels valued, included, safe, supported, and welcome. Our people are at the heart of this vision, could you be one of them!

At Warwickshire County Council we are committed to ensuring Warwickshire's economy is vibrant and supported by the right jobs, training, skills and infrastructure. Our people vision for Warwickshire County Council is a great place to work where diverse and talented people are enabled to be their best.

Your future matters to us, if eligible, you will be opted into the Firefighters Pension Scheme , which includes an employer contribution rate of typically around 37 percent, to help support your financial security during retirement.

The benefits we offer include a valuable part of the pay and reward package for employees working in local government and access to Vivup benefits and discounts platform.

Click here to view the benefits at Warwickshire County Council.