South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Head of Fleet & Equipment

The closing date is 01 June 2025

Job summary

There has never been a better time to join the Trust's Fleet and Equipment team as a Deputy Head of Fleet and Equipment.

This key role will manage and coordinate the day-to-day operations within our Fleet and Equipment teams across the organisation with the aim of maximising the availability of ambulances and equipment for the delivery of high-quality patient care.

We are looking for a committed, passionate person to create and develop an engaged and highly motivated team by providing positive, inspirational, and highly visible leadership, acting as an ambassador for the Fleet and Equipment department.

This role will be based at our Exeter site with the opportunity for hybrid working and supported essential travel to workshops and meetings providing a direct overview of the Department.

Main duties of the job

Ensure Fleet and Equipment service centres achieve agreed performance targets including financial targets and complete work to trust and industry Health and safety standards

Responsible for the procurement of vehicles and equipment and ensuring they are maintained to high standards and are safe, roadworthy, legal to use, clean and well presented

Supporting the Head of Fleet & equipment and working alongside the Fleet and Equipment area Managers to ensure all Fleet, Medical devices and Make ready systems and processes are effective and efficient.

Provide seamless support to the Operations department by effectively managing vehicle and equipment procurement, maintenance standards, performance and reliability issues, system and data standards.

Manage planned maintenance and unplanned work activity to ensure performance targets are achieved at all service centres.

Manage resource efficiently by overseeing service centre use of third party maintenance provider's controlling and minimising expenditure.

Deputise for the Head of Fleet and equipment as required.

Contributes to strategic procurement of Vehicles and Equipment including medical devices providing advice and guidance as part of the corporate procurement programme

Ensures compliance with statutory and local policy's , SOPs and procedures throughout the F&E service

Highly developed specialist knowledge, and experience of Fleet and Equipment strategy

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

The role is based in Exeter, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

  • Competitive NHS salary
  • A standard working week of 37.5 hours
  • Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
  • Generous Pension Scheme
  • Career and salary progression
  • Car leasing scheme
  • Free parking across Trust sites
  • Staff networks
  • Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Details

Date posted

19 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-6954676-B

Job locations

Exeter

Exeter

EX2 7JS


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional knowledge acquired through a good standard of general education to degree level. Holds or working towards a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject or has relevant experience
  • Qualifications in vehicle or general engineering in mechanical/electrical or electronic discipline or relevant subject
  • Full driving licence held for at least one year with no current endorsements
  • If test passed, or retaken, after 1/1/97 must hold a C1 to drive any A&E Ambulance
  • Has completed a recognised Motor Vehicle/Engineering Apprenticeship/or training program
  • Motor Vehicle Craft Studies parts 1,2 & 3 or Motor Vehicle Technicians parts 1, 2 & 3 or BTECH equivalent.
  • Experience of Medical device maintenance and management

Desirable

  • Attended a Vehicle Inspectorate inspection or equivalent course relevant to PSV or HGV vehicle maintenance.
Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional knowledge acquired through a good standard of general education to degree level. Holds or working towards a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject or has relevant experience
  • Qualifications in vehicle or general engineering in mechanical/electrical or electronic discipline or relevant subject
  • Full driving licence held for at least one year with no current endorsements
  • If test passed, or retaken, after 1/1/97 must hold a C1 to drive any A&E Ambulance
  • Has completed a recognised Motor Vehicle/Engineering Apprenticeship/or training program
  • Motor Vehicle Craft Studies parts 1,2 & 3 or Motor Vehicle Technicians parts 1, 2 & 3 or BTECH equivalent.
  • Experience of Medical device maintenance and management

Desirable

  • Attended a Vehicle Inspectorate inspection or equivalent course relevant to PSV or HGV vehicle maintenance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Exeter

Exeter

EX2 7JS


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Exeter

Exeter

EX2 7JS


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Fleet Operations Manager

Kevin Bartholomew

kevin.bartholomew@swast.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

19 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-6954676-B

Job locations

Exeter

Exeter

EX2 7JS


Supporting documents

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