The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC) seeks to appoint an Independent Expert to chair both the Resolution Advisory Panel (RAP) and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP).

The NJC is a joint body responsible for national negotiations on pay and conditions of service of firefighters and emergency fire control staff employed by the United Kingdom's 49 fire and rescue authorities. It is a voluntary organisation covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on which employing authorities, through the Local Government Association, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board, the Welsh Local Government Association, and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board, are represented together with the Fire Brigades Union and Fire Officers Association.

The Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of the NJC may be called up where there is no agreement at a local level between a fire and rescue authority and recognised trade union over a proposed new duty system. The Panel will seek to broker an agreement between the parties, but where that is not possible it will make recommendations.

The Resolution Advisory Panel (RAP) of the NJC may be called upon where there is no agreement at a local level between a fire and rescue authority and recognised trade union over a negotiable issue. Both Panels seek to broker an agreement between the parties, but where that is not possible the Chair will make a recommendation.

The NJC is seeking to appoint an Independent Expert to chair both bodies. The successful candidate will be someone who has a high level of personal credibility - able to command the continuing respect and confidence of the parties - and who should not be closely identified with either employer or union interests. The Chair will be assisted in their work by the Joint Secretaries. The Employers' Secretariat is provided by the Local Government Association and the Employees' Secretariat by the Fire Brigades Union.

Candidates should have a successful track record brokering agreement between conflicting points of view and broad expertise in the following areas, although not necessarily gained through the fire service: problem solving; working time arrangements and work-life balance issues; an understanding of the principles of risk management including health and safety; negotiating and consultative mechanisms; and knowledge and understanding of current employment relations.

The appointment will be for a maximum term of three years, following which a second term may be served by mutual agreement. Each Panel's work is conducted on an ad-hoc basis, remunerated on a daily fee basis, currently GBP522 + expenses.

An information pack and application form for this position are available by contacting Jamie Osowski via:

E-mail:

Telephone:

Closing date for the return of applications is 3 January 2024.

Interview date: January 2024.