Station Manager Development & Promotion (External only)

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is proud to be recognised as the region’s top-performing service. Covering nearly 800 square miles and serving over two million people, we provide 24/7 emergency response every day of the year.

We are an organisation where everyone is encouraged, trusted, and supported to play their part in promoting safety and wellbeing across all communities in West Yorkshire. We are looking for candidates who are committed to our vision of making West Yorkshire safer and who demonstrate the values of team, responsibility, integrity, communication and learn.

WYFRS is now inviting applications for the Station Manager Promotions and Transfer Process. This opportunity is open to competent wholetime Watch Managers seeking promotion and to substantive Station Managers from other UK Fire and Rescue Services wishing to transfer into WYFRS.

As part of the promotions process, a development programme will be utilised to ensure that you have the opportunity to develop the right skills, knowledge, behaviours and understanding in order to competently perform the role.

Following an induction, successful candidates will embark on a development programme that will prepare them for the step up into the unique and key organisational role of WYFRS Station Manager.

WYFRS are an equal opportunities employer; we value and celebrate equality, diversity and neurodiversity and inclusion. We particularly welcome applications from communities that are currently under-represented at WYFRS, including women, racially & ethnically diverse applicants and applicants with disabilities. We can offer support and adjustments for candidates who experience barriers to work that result from health conditions or Specific Learning Differences, such as dyslexia.

WYFRS are committed to the safeguarding of our staff, volunteers, visitors and the community we serve. This includes protecting vulnerable adults, children and young people from potential neglect and harm. All employees must share the same commitment.

Eligibility

Individuals applying for development must:

• Be currently employed by a UK Fire and Rescue Service
• Be a substantive and competent Watch Manager
• Hold and maintain all qualifications required for their current role.
• Have completed and maintained all role related courses within the required refresher periods.
• Have no current/outstanding development action plans, performance improvement action plans or capability issues related to competency.
• Be free of current formal disciplinary awards throughout the entire process.
• Possess, IFE Level 3 Diploma in Fire Engineering and Science OR a Level 3 Certificate in Fire Safety.
• Possess, IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Service Operations.

We are an organisation where everyone is encouraged, trusted, and supported to play their part in promoting safety and wellbeing across all communities in West Yorkshire. We are looking for candidates who are committed to our vision of making West Yorkshire safer and who demonstrate the values of team, responsibility, integrity, communication and learn.

All applicants should make themselves aware of the FF-SM Development & Promotion Policy.

The selection process will comprise of:

1. Application Form.
2. Pathway Online Career Progression Gateway.
3. Intermediate Command Assurance.
4. Management Paper Review and Interview.
5. Phase 2 and 3 of the Development Portfolio.
6. Competent in role sign off.

1: Application form

Application Form

Applicants must complete and submit an online application form using the e-recruitment system which will require them to detail how they meet all the essential criteria for the role.

Applicants should write a maximum of 600 words for each criterion detailed on the personnel specification.

Click here for Station Manager Job Description

Shortlisting

Following the closing date, submitted application forms will be forwarded to the Shortlisting Panel for consideration. All applicants will be advised via email as to whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted.

2: Selection process for promotion

CPG Career Progression Gateway

Career Progression Gateway (CPG) is an online assessment that evaluates performance, knowledge, skills and behaviours. Applicants will be assessed and graded (Pass or Fail). The CPG will consist of 2 online exercises:

1. The case study exercise

In this timed exercise, applicants receive various pieces of information along with clear task guidelines. They must read the provided information and type their responses, which may include writing an email or article, drafting a proposal and recommendation, or conducting an analysis, strategy, and initiative, all within free text boxes during the allotted time.

1. The role-play exercise

Applicants have a set time to read the scenario information before an assessor calls them via video. The role-play begins and is timed from the moment the candidate answers the call.

3: Operational Command Assurance

Applicants will be assessed and graded (Pass or Fail) against Skills for Justice Intermediate Incident Command scoring criteria. However, prior to this assessment taking place, development opportunities will be available for all successful shortlisted candidates.

WYFRS Command Training Team will email appointments to all applicants. However, any attendance on this development session is voluntary.

4: Interview and Presentation

Applicants will be required to prepare a 15 minute presentation, of which the title will be given beforehand and a 60 minute interview.

Formal Appointments

Successful applicants will be held on a successful applicant list in merit order and will be offered a promotion role, applicable to that promotion process rank, as soon as a suitable vacancy arises.

5: Substantive (Development) roles

Successful applicants that are offered and accept a promotion role will be paid at development rate of pay and required to complete the development programme, with competent pay awarded on successful completion of the development pack and all associated courses.

6: Competent in role sign off.

On completion of the development pack, Learning and Development team will review the pack and subject to the quality and range of evidence provided being sufficient, the pack will be signed off and the candidate deemed competent in role, at which point competent pay will be awarded and the candidates role made substantive.

Timeline

• External applications open: Wednesday 17/12/25.
• External applications close Sunday 11/01/26 (midnight).
• External shortlisting W/C Monday 12/01/26.
• Internal portfolio closed W/C Monday 19/01/26.
• Pathway Online CPG: W/C Monday 26/01/26.
• Intermediate Command Assurance: W/C Monday 02/02/26.        
• Management Paper review and Interview: W/C Monday 09/02/26.
• Candidate Feedback W/C Monday 23/02/26.

WYFRS are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workforce, if you feel you require any reasonable adjustments to participate within this recruitment process, please contact our HR Team at Applications@westyorksfire.gov.uk

The closing date for applications will be midnight on Sunday 11^th January 2026.

All offers of employment will be subject to a skills gap analysis, references, medical, fitness test, Disclosure checks and pre-employment checks.

For an informal discussion about these roles, please contact:

AM Scott Donegan at scott.donegan01@westyorksfire.gov.uk 

AM Toby May at toby.may01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

AM Dave Teggart at dave.teggart@westyorksfire.gov.uk

Click here for Guidance Document

Click here for Additional Guidance for our new E-recruitment System

All correspondence will usually be sent to your email account registered with the online recruitment system rather than by letter. Please check your email account regularly.

If after reading all of this information, you are interested in applying, please read the documents listed above for more details and click on 'Apply' for the application form.

Please note we do not accept CVs. If you are viewing this vacancy on ‘jobsindeed’ or other external platform, the only way to apply for this vacancy is to visit www.wyfs.co.uk/careers/ and complete the application form via our online Access vacancy system.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we value and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion. We particularly welcome candidates from communities that are currently under-represented at WYFRS, including women, racially and ethnically diverse applicants and applicants with disabilities. We can offer support and adjustments for candidates and staff who experience barriers to work that result from health conditions or Specific Learning Differences, such as dyslexia. We are a ‘Real Living Wage’ employer.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service are committed to the safeguarding of our staff, volunteers, visitors and the community we serve. This includes protecting vulnerable adults, children and young people from potential neglect and harm. All employees must share the same commitment.