Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are looking for a People Rewards and Benefits Manager to enhance our People Services team. The role is based at our Service Headquarters in Exeter, and available on a permanent, full time (37 hours per week) basis. We can offer a competitive salary starting at £53,460 rising annually to £57,416 per annum.
Join the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England and help shape how we reward, support and develop our people.
About the role:
As our People Rewards and Benefits Manager, you will lead the teams delivering on pay, pensions and benefits across our diverse workforce of operational and professional support staff. You will be the Service expert, ensuring our systems, policies and reward strategies are effective, compliant, and aligned with organisational goals.
What you’ll do:
• Lead teams delivering payroll, pensions, systems, reporting and benefits
• Act as the lead expert on pension schemes and rewards strategy
• Drive implementation of pay, benefits and legislative changes
• Develop and manage reward and benefit programmes aligned to our People Strategy
• Oversee external contracts (payroll, pensions, benefits) and performance
• Provide insight through workforce data, reporting and analysis
• Lead job evaluation, grading structures and policy development
• Build strong relationships with Senior Leaders and Trade Unions
• Support organisational projects and strategic workforce planning
What we are looking for:
A strategic HR or People leader with a strong expertise in reward, pensions and people systems, who can balance operational delivery with long-term planning and stakeholder influence.
Why join us?
Make a real difference in a Service that protects communities across Devon and Somerset, while enjoying a supportive and rewarding workplace.
We offer:
• Flexible working
• Generous pension scheme
• Excellent annual leave
• Family friendly policies
• Health and Wellbeing support (including physiotherapy, counselling, Benenden Health)
• Professional development opportunities
• Blue Light Membership and associated discounts
If you are ready to help shape how we support and reward our people we’d love to hear from you.
Should you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Chris Howes – Assistant Director of People via chowes@dsfire.gov.uk The successful candidate must, by the commencement of employment, have the right to work in the UK.
You will be required to complete an application form via our website and submit a document detailing how you meet the following essential criteria taken from the Job Description and Person Specification.
- Excellent team leadership skills and experience of managing a HR team.
- Demonstrable experience of working as a senior HR Generalist or in a Rewards Management specialist role.
- Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data and conduct market research.
- Excellent numeracy skills and HR systems, spreadsheet and management report writing skills.
- Demonstrable experience of managing pension-related matters and Payroll Systems.
- A good understanding of pay, pensions and benefit schemes.
Closing Date: 2359hrs 27 April 2026
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 are 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
