Fleet Technician at EOCE in Suffolk, United Kingdom

Job description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Phoenix House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5NP. Onsite working
• Salary: £35,570 - £42,123 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent
• Quality, reliability and innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
• We're looking for a skilled and motivated Fleet Technician to help maintain and develop our specialist fleet and operational equipment, ensuring our firefighters have the vehicles and resources they need to protect Suffolk's communities.
• If you're passionate about vehicle maintenance, thrive on solving technical challenges, and want to play a vital role in supporting frontline emergency services, we'd love to hear from you.
• Reimagine the possibilities.
• The Fleet Team plays a vital role in supporting Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's response to incidents and major emergencies across the county. Responsible for maintaining a wide range of vehicles and operational equipment, the team helps ensure that firefighters have the reliable resources they need to protect Suffolk's communities.
• Based at Phoenix House Workshops, our close-knit team of 11 skilled professionals looks after everything from fire appliances, pumps and ladders to rescue and firefighting equipment. Through their expertise and dedication, they help keep essential assets operational, safe and ready for action.
• We are proud of the service we provide and the difference we make behind the scenes. There is a real sense of achievement in knowing that every vehicle and piece of equipment we maintain directly supports frontline emergency response. When a fire appliance heads out on blue lights, our team knows it has played a crucial part in making that response possible.
• The Workshops Team is committed to upholding the values and culture of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. We work collaboratively, support one another, and strive to deliver the highest standards in everything we do.
• This role offers an excellent work-life balance, with a 37-hour week worked over a nine-day fortnight. Working hours are typically 8:00am to 4:45pm, with every other Friday off. While weekend working is uncommon, team members may be required to support emergency call-outs or exceptional operational demands during major incidents and periods of increased activity.
• As part of the on-call rota, you'll receive a standby allowance of approximately £3,414 per annum, with opportunities for additional overtime when responding to call-outs, although this cannot be guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You'll be responsible for maintaining and repairing Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's fleet of light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, fire appliances and specialist operational equipment. Your work may involve carrying out major overhauls within the workshop at Phoenix House or travelling across Suffolk to inspect, service and repair vehicles and equipment at fire stations.
• Working with a unique fleet, you'll be encouraged to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to bespoke engineering challenges. Many of the vehicles and equipment used within the fire sector are highly specialised, providing opportunities to apply your technical expertise in ways that go beyond a traditional commercial vehicle workshop environment.
• Using your extensive experience in commercial vehicle maintenance and repair, you'll carry out servicing and repairs on fire appliances and the specialist equipment they carry. Your diagnostic skills will be key in identifying and resolving faults efficiently, ensuring our fleet remains safe, reliable and ready to support firefighters responding to emergency incidents across Suffolk.
• The role also requires a strong understanding of electrical and electronic systems. You'll use your experience to diagnose complex faults, interpret wiring diagrams and work with modern vehicle technologies, including CAN Bus systems.
• As part of the Workshops Team, you'll contribute to a 24-hour emergency call-out service operating 365 days a year. This vital service helps maximise vehicle and equipment availability, ensuring operational crews have the resources they need to protect Suffolk's communities.
• Due to participation in the emergency call-out rota, you must live within approximately one hour's travel time of Phoenix House Workshops. This ensures a prompt response to urgent vehicle and equipment defects, helping to maintain operational resilience and public safety across the county.

Requirements

• Significant experience maintaining and repairing commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
• A City and Guilds or NVQ Level 3 qualification in vehicle maintenance and repair. A completed apprenticeship would be advantageous.
• A full UK driving licence, including Category C (Class 2).
• A flexible approach to work and willingness to participate in the call-out rota. You must live within approximately one hour of Phoenix House Workshops.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and diagnostic skills.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• A positive attitude, willingness to learn, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• A good understanding of safe working practices, including working at height, with lifting equipment, inspection pits and controlled substances.
• You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.
• If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Skills

Preferred

• Completed apprenticeship

Benefits

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
• Plus lots more!
• If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).