CFRS0187 - Head of People and Culture - INTERNAL ONLY

About this opportunity

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced and influential people leader to join Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service as our Head of People and Culture.

This is a key strategic leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering our people agenda to support the ambitions of the Service. As the professional lead for Human Resources and Organisational Development, you will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to develop a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce that is equipped to deliver the priorities set out within our People Strategy and Community Risk Management Plan.

We are looking for a credible and forward-thinking leader with significant experience in HR, organisational development and cultural change. Our ideal candidate will have excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at all levels, provide strategic advice, and foster a positive and inclusive working environment.

Within this role you will be expected to undertake a variety of activities, including:

• Strategic responsibility for Human Resources, Organisational Development, Resourcing and Talent, and Service Fitness, leading management teams and ensuring the effective use of resources to deliver a high-quality, person-centred service.
• Overseeing and managing HR-hosted and shared service functions with partner agencies, ensuring appropriate service assurance, governance and reporting arrangements are in place.
• Leading on strategic employee relations matters, maintaining positive and constructive relationships within a unionised environment and ensuring effective consultation and negotiation processes.
• Acting as the primary point of contact for strategic people matters, ensuring services remain responsive to organisational priorities and workforce needs.
• Providing expert advice and guidance to Principal Officers on HR policy, people strategy and organisational development matters.

Click here to view the full post spec

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact ACFO Ian Seel.

Details of the Post and How to Apply

INTERNAL ONLY

Salary: £68, 046 - £71,046

Hours: 37 hours per week. We support part-time working, job-shares and other flexible options - these can be discussed at interview.

Contract: Fixed term for 7 months

Location:  Penrith Headquarters, and home-working.  

Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 4th October

Interviews: Interviews will be held in-person during October at CFRS Headquarters, Penrith. Dates will be confirmed as soon as possible

* This post requires a Standard DBS Check * 

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 our best to facilitate’. Where we are unable to make the adjustment, we will share this asap.

Resourcing Team email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk  

Guaranteed Interview scheme 

CFRS has a Guaranteed Interview scheme for those whose most recent employer is the armed forces, for care leavers, and for those who consider themselves disabled. If you consider yourself eligible, please include this information when submitting your application to the Resourcing team, who will handle this confidentially. We encourage candidates to let us know so we can provide the best support and access throughout the process.

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