The right person, in the right role, at the right time

CFRS0168 - Watch Manager L&D - Recruits Lead

Opportunity to join our Learning and Development Team! 

The L&D department are looking for an engaging, professional, and motivated Leader to support new recruits joining our service.

Following recruitment, this is the recruits first experience of the wider service, and the right candidate will need to deliver training, supported by the wider dept., but also adapt and develop a wide variety of learning styles, backgrounds, and fire experience. 

The main responsibility of this role will be to lead the planned On-Call Recruits Courses, with the next one planned for Jan 2026. It's an incredibly rewarding role in the service and for anyone looking to expand their operational knowledge, or who would like experience in a functional department, this is a brilliant opportunity. 

This is a fixed term opportunity and will be going through our full recruitment process, so it is open to all operational personnel, FF and above. 

You will be joining a supportive and collaborative work environment where the opportunities to develop are readily available. 

About you:

  • Applicants must have sound working knowledge of IT systems.
  • Willingness to attend a number of residential courses to obtain the relevant Instructor/Teaching qualifications, if not already achieved.
  • Strong leadership and team management skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
  • Strong organisational skills.
  • Be sensitive to the needs of the On-Call members of staff
     

Further information about the role can be found in the Watch Manager L&D Post Specification, linked below.

Watch Manager L&D Post Specification (WORD)

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact SM Tom Harding on 07917828317

Details of the post and How to apply

Fire Service Watch Manager L&D - Recruits Lead

Location: The L&D team are based out of Penrith Headquarters, but training is delivered all over the county. For any candidates concerned about travel or a different rota, please get in touch and we can discuss. 

Salary: Watch Manager B Salary plus 10% L&D Allowance

Hours: 42 hours 

Contract: Fixed term contract, initially 6 months

Eligibility: INTERNAL OPERATIONAL STAFF ONLY

Key Dates

  • Awareness Session - an opportunity to meet directly with L&D to learn about the role and ask any queries - Tuesday 11th November at 19:00hrs
  • Closing date: Friday 14th November 2025 at 09:00hrs
  • Shortlisting: Friday 14th November 2025
  • Candidate Assessment information will be issued by EOD Friday 14th November 2025
  • Interviews will be in-person on week commencing Monday 17th November 2025. (We will ensure all successfully shortlisted candidates have adequate prep time). 

Adjustments – we strongly encourage any candidate who needs adjustments to make us aware as soon as possible, either using the section on the application form or by contacting the Resourcing Team directly (email below). We will have a confidential discussion with you and we take the approach of ‘you tell us what you require, and we will do out best to facilitate’. Where we are unable to make the adjustment, we will share this asap.

Resourcing team email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk 

TO APPLY

  • Please complete the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service Application Form, linked here: https://forms.office.com/e/X2pc2y6sDR (Microsoft Forms)
  • Please ensure you have properly submitted your application. You will not receive an email confirmation, however you will be taken to a page that confirms it has been submitted.
  • We do not accept CVs

If you have any queries at all, please contact the Resourcing and Talent team via email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk  

What We Can Offer You

With approximately 600 employees, covering operational firefighters, front facing delivery teams, corporate services, and support staff, delivering services across the county from 38 Fire Stations, we know we need to be a modern, flexible, and inclusive employer. 

We offer:

  • Flexible working across the county, including a hybrid of homeworking and office working at one of our Wholetime stations
  • Free parking at our fire stations
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Access to station gyms, free of charge
  • Enrolment in either the Fire Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme (depending on your terms and conditions) - link to the Pensions page here
  • Occupational Health service, including counselling
  • Close working relationship with the Firefighters Charity, including mental and physical health support
  • A dedicated Wellbeing Hub – link here
  • On-going personal development, including apprenticeship options and leadership courses
  • Access to modern ICT equipment
  • Family friendly policies, including 45 weeks full pay for Family Leave
  • Menopause Policy - link here (Word document)
  • Support for Carers - can be found on our Wellbeing Hub
  • Workplace adjustments for Neurodivergent and Disabled employees
  • Staff Networks for a variety of different communities, including (but not limited to) Armed Forces, LGBTQ+, Menopause, Retirees

Our service is passionate about the communities we serve and dedicated to developing our workforce - if you're looking to progress in an inclusive, supportive, and dynamic fire service, we would like to hear from you! 

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our communities in Cumbria. We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. 

We capture Equality data on our application forms to help us review barriers in our processes for any minority group. This is optional to complete and is securely removed and accessed only by the Resourcing team to review. 

Resourcing Team email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk