HR Business Partner

About the job

Key information

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to enhance our People Services team. You will join us on a 12 month fixed term contract working 37 hours per week, in return you will receive a competitive salary of £42,839 – £46,142 (gross) per annum.

You will be providing support to our Somerset Response Groups as well as some of our Professional Support Services. The role will be hybrid, with the expectation of spending some time in your Response Group area as well as working from our Service Headquarters in Exeter.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England. We provide prevention, protection and response services across the counties of Devon and Somerset.

Our vision is that together, we will work to end preventable fire and rescue emergencies, creating a safer world for you and your family. Keeping people safe is what we do, and we owe our fantastic reputation to our highly skilled and motivated workforce.

What will I be doing?

The HR Business Partner role will contribute to the delivery of the People Strategy by partnering with all areas of the Service, providing an effective and efficient people service, acting as strategic partner and critical friend, providing expert HR advice and support to managers and staff on a variety of people related matters.

Key responsibilities of our HR Business Partner:

• Provide strategic HR partnership to your allocated Response Groups and Professional Support Services.
• Build and maintain strong relations with line managers, offering professional advice as a critical friend.
• Lead on policy development supporting the Assistant HRBP team with our annual policy reviews.
• Act as the conduit between the Service and People Services, linking stakeholders with appropriate support for recruitment, employee wellbeing, pay and pensions advice.
• Employee Relations Case Management – manage your own ER caseload and be available to support other HRBPs with theirs.
• Ensure fair and consistent application of the capability process, performance and terminations of employment.
• Support Response Groups and Professional Services with workforce planning, succession planning and talent management.
• We’re looking for someone to take a proactive approach and always look for opportunities for People Services to add value to the service, empower our managers, and cultivate a positive employee experience.

What is in it for me?

Looking after our staff and making sure they are happy at work is important to us. As well as a career where you are making a different – there are a range of benefits such as a generous annual leave allowance that come with working for us. More details can be found here.

• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Generous Annual Leave
• Family Leave
• Access to physiotherapy
• Progression routes and training
• Free gym access and fitness coaching
• Eye care
• Blue Light Membership Discounts
• Affordable healthcare through Benenden Health
• Sports and Social Groups
• Someone to talk to; free access to counselling, training staff supporters and mental health first aiders who are there whenever you need someone to talk to.
• Access to the Firefighters charity
• Cycle to work scheme

Supporting documents and information

For more information, or for an informal discussion about the role, please contact our Senior HR Business Partner Renee Naughton at rnaughton@dsfire.gov.uk or Deputy Head of People Services Angela Boyd via aboyd@dsfire.gov.uk

Closing Date: 2359hrs 26 October 2025

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our HR Business Partner please click ‘apply’ today, we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate must, by the commencement of employment, have the right to work in the UK.

Apply on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue website

Apply now