Head of Engagement

Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service 

Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

Being the Head of Engagement

As Head of Engagement, you will be at the heart of shaping how Kent Fire and Rescue Service connects with the communities we proudly serve. This is your opportunity to lead the vision for how we communicate our purpose, tell our story, and build meaningful relationships with the people of Kent and Medway.

You will be the driving force behind a modern, forward‑thinking approach to engagement. One that helps people stay safe, strengthens trust in our service, and brings our colleagues closer together. Through compelling messaging, creative campaigns, and clear, inclusive communication, you will help us reach more people in more impactful ways.

You’ll lead a talented, multi‑skilled team across internal communications, external communications, media, digital, design and education. Together, you’ll shape engagement activity that informs, inspires and empowers. This is a role where your ideas can genuinely make a difference to community safety and wellbeing and where your leadership helps build a culture that values openness, collaboration and innovation.

What you’ll do

• Lead the development and delivery of an organisation‑wide engagement and communications strategy that brings our vision to life, supports the Community Risk Management Plan, and ensures our messages are meaningful, targeted and effective.
• Oversee internal communications, strengthening how we inform, support and connect with our colleagues so everyone feels part of one team.
• Lead our education, outreach and public engagement work, building strong relationships with diverse communities and helping people understand how to reduce risk.
• Advise senior leaders on reputation, brand and messaging, bringing a strategic, calm and solutions‑focused approach.
• Build relationships with the media and partner organisations, enhancing trust and ensuring we are a visible, credible and supportive community partner.
• Manage budgets and resources, ensuring best value and supporting long‑term planning.
• Lead, support and develop your team, creating an empowering, inclusive environment where people thrive.
• Ensure compliance with legal, ethical and accessibility standards, championing open, responsible and inclusive communication.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience leading communications, engagement or marketing teams, with the confidence to set direction and inspire others.
• A natural ability to transform complex information into messages that resonate, helping people understand, connect and take action.
• Strong knowledge of communication strategy, digital engagement and inclusive design, with a passion for creative storytelling.
• Calmness and clarity in fast‑moving situations, with the judgement to make decisions and the confidence to lead during challenging moments.
• Experience managing projects, budgets and resources, with the ability to balance long‑term planning and day‑to‑day delivery.
• An inclusive, supportive and people‑focused leadership style, championing collaboration and helping others develop and grow.
• Desirable - A degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant field such as Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing
• Desirable – Experience working for a Public Sector organisation

Benefits

• Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Blue Light Card discount scheme supported by a number of high street retailers
• A range of family friendly policies including promoting work-life balance
• Access to health and wellbeing services and advice
• Free parking
• Above all you’ll become part of a service that is committed to the safety of our community

How to apply

Please complete an online application and provide your CV by Thursday 29 January 2026. We will then be in touch shortly to arrange the next steps. Interviews will take place on 11 and 12 February 2026. Interviews will take place at Service Headquarters, Tovil, Kent.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy upon receiving a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this role we recommend that you submit your application at the earliest opportunity. 

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.

As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.