Head of People and Culture

£56,131 - £59,489 per annum + benefits About Us Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is one of the UK’s leading Fire and Rescue Services. We pride ourselves in striving to “Create the Safest Community” and our dedicated and diverse workforce are committed to delivering this. We are currently rated as good by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and we consider ourselves to be a high performing, innovative organisation that is well regarded by the communities we serve and the partner agencies with which we do business. The Service values and respects the diversity of its employees and aims to recruit a workforce that represents the communities we serve. The Department The People & Culture Department has recently gone through a significant period of change and is made up of three clearly defined teams that work closely together to provide a comprehensive people offer. These teams include 1). People Systems and Transformation, 2). Employee Relations and Compliance and 3). Culture and Inclusion. Our aim is to provide an environment where people are aware of what is expected of them and are supported to achieve the required standards and fulfil their potential. We truly value our employees and ensure they have a voice which positively contributes to our cultural growth and supports our aspirations of being an “Employer of Choice”. The Role As the Head of People and Culture you will be part of the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for the provision of strategic and operational people management advice, guidance and support. You will play a key role in shaping our organisational culture, driving employee engagement and ensuring we attract, develop and retain talent. Reporting directly to the Director of People Services, you will need to demonstrate previous experience in a HR management / leadership role, in order to lead the People and Culture department and ensure the provision of a high quality, customer focused service.
We are looking for someone with knowledge and experience across multiple HR specialisms, in particular Employee Relations, to ensure compliance with current legislation and best practice, and to pick up the management of complex and escalated cases. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a firm commitment to inclusivity, fairness, dignity and the highest standards of ethical behaviours and will champion these in their day-to-day work. Experience within a heavily unionised organisation would be advantageous. The Selection Process This is a multi-stage assessment process; successful candidates will be progressed to subsequent stages; all candidates will be notified of their outcomes following participation in a given assessment stage. Set out below are the key dates relating to this selection process: Stage Timeline*
Advert closes 12 noon on 17 February 2025
Notification of shortlist Week commencing 17 February 2025
I3 Profile online assessment Week commencing 17 February 2025
Interview Week commencing 24 February 2025
*Please note the dates and stages detailed may be subject to change Interested in applying? Further details can be found in the accompanying job description and person specification. You are required to complete our online application form and submit a supporting statement of no more than 1000 words which should demonstrate how you meet the criteria stated on the person specification and job description. Please submit your supporting statement and equal opportunities monitoring form by no later than 12 noon on 14th February 2025. Further information about our Service can be found by visiting and our various social media channels. For further information about the role, please contact the current Head of People & Culture via email at Leanne.Cain@twfire.gov.uk Pre-employment checks The successful applicant will be subject to our pre-employment screening process which includes a standard DBS check, completion of an occupational health medical questionnaire and a substance abuse test. We will also conduct right to work and reference checks. Our facilities Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters are located in purpose-built premises based in Washington, within easy reach of the A1 and A19. On site facilities include a staff gym, ample free parking and canteen facilities. Key employee benefits  Generous leave entitlement commencing at 23 days (rising to 28 days after 5 years’ service, and 31 days after 10 years’ service).
 Plus 3 local days leave to be used over the Christmas period and all recognised Public Holidays.
 Flexi-time scheme in operation (with potential to accrue up to 2 days flexi every 4 weeks).
 Local government pension scheme (with generous employer contributions)
 Free on-site parking
 Free on-site gym
 Blue light discount
 Car leasing scheme

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Head of People & Culture