Job Introduction
Job Title: Operational Fitness Officer
Starting Salary: £27,694 progressing to £31,022 per annum
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
About the team
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a highly motivated and knowledgeable Operational Fitness Officer to join our Occupational Health Team. This is a key role in supporting the health, fitness, and operational readiness of our firefighters and staff.
You will help maintain a safe and effective workforce by:
- providing expert fitness advice,
- conducting fitness assessments,
- designing and delivering evidence‑based training programmes, and
- supporting firefighters returning from injury to meet operational fitness standards.
This is a peripatetic role covering the county of Hertfordshire. You will work closely with firefighters, training instructors, Occupational Health colleagues, and line managers to ensure the Service meets all relevant fitness, health, and safety requirements.
About the role
- Deliver fitness assessments for new recruits, operational staff and specialist role holders, in line with national fire standards.
- Design, deliver and monitor personalised training programmes to support individuals in achieving and maintaining operational fitness.
- Provide expert advice on injury prevention, conditioning, rehabilitation support and safe return‑to‑work following injury.
- Support the Occupational Health Team to promote health, wellbeing, lifestyle improvement and physical resilience across the Service.
- Deliver workplace-based physical training sessions and educate staff on safe and effective exercise techniques.
- Maintain accurate fitness records and contribute to reporting, data analysis and service improvement work.
- Ensure all activities comply with relevant legislation, national firefighter fitness standards and internal policies.
- Contribute to health and fitness initiatives, campaigns and wellbeing programmes.
- Ensure all station gyms are appropriately resourced, inspected and maintained in line with Service policy.
About you
Essential Criteria
- Recognised Level 3 (or above) Fitness / Personal Training qualification (REPs / CIMSPA or equivalent).
- Proven experience delivering fitness assessments and exercise programming.
- Strong knowledge of functional fitness, conditioning and evidence‑based training practice.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate individuals at all fitness levels.
- Ability to analyse fitness data and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
- Understanding of occupational fitness requirements, preferably within emergency services, military or other safety‑critical environments.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, some evening / weekend working may be required to support all operational teams.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working within the Fire & Rescue Service or a similar uniformed, safety‑critical organisation.
- Knowledge of national firefighter fitness standards and role‑related operational demands.
- Experience delivering group exercise or physical education in structured settings.
- Additional qualifications (e.g. Exercise Referral, Strength & Conditioning).
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is within the Corporate Services, level 7 job profile. Please locate this via:
Job profiles - Corporate services
To hear more about this opportunity please contact Michelle.Moore@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
Interview Date: 26th March 2026
How to apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities and are committed to building a diverse workforce
Applications for this post are also welcomed from substantive and competent HFRS Firefighters aligned to the grey duty system on long term secondment
Additional information
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.