Independent Chair of the National Joint Council for UK Fire & Rescue Services

The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC) is a joint body responsible for national negotiations on pay and conditions of service of firefighters and emergency fire control staff employed by the United Kingdom’s 49 fire authorities. It is a voluntary organisation covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The constitution of the NJC also includes a body with full plenary powers, which deals specifically with pay and conditions affecting only middle managers.

Employees’ representation includes the Fire Brigades Union and the Fire Officers’ Association. National Employer representation includes the Local Government Association, Welsh Local Government Association, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Board and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Board.

The post of Independent Chair of the NJC covers both bodies in order to ensure maximum consistency and communication and the role of the Independent Chair is pivotal in ensuring effective and proper management of both negotiating bodies’ business, and in ensuring that minority voices are heard. The Chair may also act as a communication channel with Government.

You should have the ability to command the continuing respect of all parties and a commitment to consensual decision-making through collective bargaining. You should have expertise in the following areas, although not necessarily gained through the fire service: ability to chair meetings with authority and impartiality and to examine complex issues in a neutral way, evidence of the skills to facilitate employment negotiations (within the last five years), effective communication and mediation skills, a clear writing style, and a general knowledge and experience of contemporary employment relations issues.

The appointment will be for a term of three years (maximum two terms) and will be remunerated on a daily fee basis, currently £575 plus travel and expenses.

To request an information pack and application form for this position, contact: Jamie Osowski by an email via the button below.

Closing date: 18.00 on Monday 18 November 2024.

Interview date: Monday 2 December 2024 in central London.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community.