Fire chief to be paid £142k

Chief Fire Officer Alan Doig is leaving next April, after 32 years in the fire service.

Mr Doig, who is also chief executive of the organisation, has remained tight-lipped about his reasons for standing down. His position is now being advertised nationally, offering a job to involve "leadership of a premier fire and rescue service".

The advertisement states: "We require an exceptional applicant with the appropriate commitment, energy and dynamism to join us in our drive for excellence.

"This challenging role is offered with a substantial reward package and a five-year contract, which will be renewable dependent upon performance.

"Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is acclaimed as one of the best fire and rescue services in the UK.

"This reputation has been developed as a result of the quality of leadership of the current chief executive and his management team, the commitment of firefighters and staff, and the effective support of a forward-thinking fire and rescue authority."

The job specification says applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of having had a high impact on improving previous organisations.

It states: "Applicants must have the necessary vision, leadership and management competencies to lead the fire and rescue service into a new era of advanced cooperation and productivity with other government and community stakeholders."

The closing date for applications is September 12.

Mr Doig, aged 50, announced to members of the fire and rescue service staff in July that he would not be renewing his contract next spring.

His retirement marks the end of a career that started in the Fife fire brigade. He joined Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1988, becoming a divisional commander in 1992, assistant chief fire officer for operations in 1993, deputy chief fire officer in 1995 and chief fire officer in 1999. He became chief executive as well in 2004.