London Fire Brigade (LFB) is seeking highly motivated, talented and adaptable competent Station Commanders who have the vision, leadership skills, values and potential to become part of the Brigade’s management team.
London is one of the largest fire rescue services in the world, serving a complex and dynamic city of 9 million residents as well as those who work in or visit the city.
We are looking for the best people to lead the organisation to shape our services to provide London with a world class fire and rescue service; trusted to serve and protect London’s diverse communities.
The role
To plan, direct and deliver the services provided by a designated function ensuring continual improvement in efficiency and performance and compliance with regulations and the law. To play a full leadership role within the LFB as a member of the appropriate Departmental Management Team. To be a member of the Station Commander’s operational rota, available to monitor and be mobilised to operational incidents to perform the tactical incident command function.
Working with the Group Commanders and Deputy Assistant Commissioners, Station Commanders are key leaders in ensuring that the London Fire Brigade is trusted to serve and protect London. Station Commanders deliver this by ensuring the Brigade is a dynamic, forward-looking organisation of fully engaged people at the centre of the communities we serve, adapting to the needs of London. To support this, the post holder will be responsible for helping in the delivery of the London Fire Commissioners strategic aims set out in our Community Risk Management Plan:
Our services are:
- Modern and easy to access
- Designed to meet local and individual need
- Prioritised by levels of risk
Our organisation
- Has a safe and professional culture
- Operates efficiently and effectively
- Works together and with other organisations to protect London
Candidates should understand the role in detail, including shift pattern changes and the broader responsibilities across departments and London-wide portfolios.
Please read the Assessment Overview section below to make sure you submit all documents required with your online application form.
The closing date for submitting applications is 11 June 2026 at 16.00hrs.
To be eligible to apply, all applicants must:
- Be a serving wholetime operational, substantive, and competent Station Commander in a UK local authority fire and rescue service.
- Be Level 4 Skills for Justice Incident Command qualified and in ticket. Candidates must have an accredited Skills for Justice Level 4 qualification, with a currency of no more than two years or must have maintained their Level 4 revalidation with an accredited Skills for Justice approved course).
- Be free of any current formal disciplinary sanctions.
- Hold a full UK driving licence.
Your application should include:
1. Your CV
2. Supporting statement
Please note that the evidence you provide in your supporting statement must include the name of a serving individual who can verify that the information submitted is a true and accurate account. This verification must be confirmed by the named verifier prior to submission. A supporting statement demonstrating your suitability for the role of Station Commander, addressing the three points outlined below. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words.
- Describe how you have led and embedded an inclusive, respectful, and psychologically safe culture across a team or function.
- Provide an example of how you have led and held a team to account to deliver high performance and service delivery outcomes.
- Describe how you have proactively developed yourself to enhance your leadership capability and improve service delivery.
Assessment process
Stages
The process is sequential; you must pass each stage to progress.
Stage 1: Shortlisting. - (minimum score of 70%) w/c 15 June2026.
Only the highest-scoring 70 candidates will progress to Stage 2, regardless of their percentage score.
Stage 2: Initial interview - (minimum score of 70%) w/c 29 June2026
The interview will be based on the contents of your CV/ Supporting Statement and allow you to expand on your relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. These short-listing interviews will last no longer than 30 minutes along with additional questions. Only the highest-scoring 50 candidates will progress to Stage 3, regardless of their percentage score.
Stage 3: Final interview including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion questions, Presentation and Case Study (minimum score of 70% required in each element) w/c 13 July2026
The Final interview will focus on LFB values and behaviours required in the role and aspects of the role itself. Candidates will receive the presentation topic in advance the presentation should not exceed 10 minutes. The case studies will focus on key aspects of the role.
Please note – Achieving the minimum score in each stage does not guarantee promotion.
Operational selection board (OSB)
Successful candidates will be provided a Station Commander position at the OSB.
Any correspondence received from us will be via e-mail and sent to the address you provide on your application form. We advise you to use a personal email address as your main email contact to avoid any delays in the process (please check your emails regularly including junk/spam folders).
Please state in your application form all your unavailable dates between June and August 2026 and please keep the recruitment team informed of any additional unavailable dates you may have for the duration of the recruitment process.
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we positively welcome 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 have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.
Anyone who has contact with children, young people or adults at risk will be subject to an enhanced DBS check as part of our commitment to safeguarding.
Benefits of working for LFB
- Welfare Scheme
- Use of Brigade Medical Adviser/physios
- Season ticket loans
- Equality Support Groups
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Opportunity to access affordable accommodation
In line with the Enhanced DBS employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include an enhanced record check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences which are not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory
You will find information about the London Fire Brigade on our website, in particular the ‘About us’ page: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/AboutUs.asp
