Organisational Learning, Evaluation and Assurance Manager

About the job

Key information

We have an exciting opportunity for an Organisational Learning, Evaluation and Assurance Manager to join our Organisational Assurance department based at our Service Headquarters. You’ll join us on a Permanent contract working 37 hours per week.

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 Organisational Learning, Evaluation and Assurance Manager will lead the Service’s approach to organisational learning, external inspection liaison, and evaluation of improvement activity. You will ensure that lessons from internal reviews, external inspections, and significant events are effectively captured, embedded, and shared across the organisation and wider sector. By developing robust evaluation tools, monitoring strategic action plans, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, you will provide assurance to senior leaders and the Fire Authority that actions are implemented, risks addressed, and learning outcomes achieved. You will also act as a key point of contact for HMICFRS and Fire Standards, representing the Service at a regional and national level.

Key responsibilities and duties of the Organisational Learning, Evaluation and Assurance Manager role:

• Inspection and Assurance: Act as a designated Service Liaison Officer for HMICFRS to manage all aspects of engagement with the inspectorate. This includes effective response to HMICFRS inspections, thematic reviews, and national reports, overseeing the development of actions to address areas for improvement and providing assurance of delivery of the HMICFRS action plan to senior leaders, the Fire Authority and to HMICFRS.
• Organisational Learning and Evaluation: Establish, embed and continually evaluate the organisational learning function, ensuring that lessons from internal and external reviews are systematically captured, analysed, and embedded into practice. Work collaboratively with stakeholders across the Service to design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive suite of evaluation tools, enabling the Service to capture, measure, and report on the effectiveness, outcomes, and benefits of improvement activity. Provide assurance that staff concerns, particularly those relating to health and safety, are acted upon promptly and effectively in collaboration with the Health and Safety Team. Ensure that strategic learning points identified through significant safety event investigations are embedded into operational and organisational practice.
• Strategic Advice and Planning: Provide expert advice and guidance to managers and leaders across the Service in the development, monitoring, and delivery of strategic action plans linked to organisational learning, evaluation and assurance. Promote and embed a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement across all levels of the Service, ensuring that improvement activity is sustainable and contributes to long-term organisational effectiveness.

 

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

You will be required to complete an application form and submit a document detailing how you meet the following essential criteria taken from the Job Description and Person Specification.

• The ability to prepare for and respond to external inspection and regulatory requirements e.g. HMICFRS.
• The ability to design, implement and embed robust assurance processes.
• The ability to think critically, interpret complex data, and make sound, evidence-based judgements.
• Proven track record of managing organisational learning, including capturing lessons learned, embedding improvement, and monitoring delivery of action plans.
• Experience in developing and applying evaluation processes to measure outcomes, assess effectiveness, and evidence service improvement.
• The ability to use knowledge and skills and apply them in a complex political environment.

Please note the evidence that you upload to your application should not exceed 2000 words in total (excluding titles).

Evidence submitted in relation to the essential criteria above will be used to shortlist any applications received.

What is in it for me?

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment and adhere to the Services’ Safeguarding Policy.

Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and reprimands.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.

As a Service and as individuals:

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.

Supporting documents and information

For more information, or for an informal discussion about the role, please contact Group Manager Matt Radford via MRadford@dsfire.gov.uk

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our Organisational Learning, Evaluation and Assurance Manager 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.

Closing date: 4 January 2026

Apply on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website

Apply now