New North Yorkshire fire chief sought

The new chief fire officer for North Yorkshire will be tasked with guiding the organisation through the upcoming “financial challenges” it faces, according to a job advertisement for the position.

A contract for a six month secondment for the role is now accepting applicants, with interviews expected to take place during December.

The successful applicant will take the helm of the county’s fire service during a period of immense change, with the service now coming under the umbrella of the North Yorkshire police, crime and now fire commissioner, Julia Mulligan.

It comes as the service faces dire financial straits, while controversy has also surrounded Ms Mulligan, who has had repeated allegations of staff bullying made against her this year.

A report released in November highlighted “very serious challenges” and “tough decisions” facing the fire service, including a projected £3.5m overspend by 2022/23 if nothing changed.

Ms Mulligan said an emergency budget had to be set after seeing the document.

The new chief will also be tasked with implementing Ms Mulligan’s local business case and the fire and rescue service elements of the ongoing transformation programme, titled Transform 2020.

They’ll take over from assistant chief fire officer Jez Rushworth, who was appointed as an interim fill-in from October for a period of three months following the retirement of Nigel Hutchinson.

Mr Hutchinson had held the role for more than 13 years before his retirement.

The salary for the role will be based on a £113,605.50 per annum wage, along with an operational allowance including travel and accommodation costs and costs associated with seconding.

The secondment is expected to run from January to July.

Recruitment for the permanent post will start half way or so through the temp’s role to make sure there is time to get any individual ready to take over when the temporary position comes to an end.

Ms Mulligan’s appointment as the dual commissioner for both the police and fire service was done with the goal of saving £6.6m over 10 years and improving collaboration between the departments.

Ms Mulligan officially began her dual department role on November 15.

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