Operational Equipment Technician – Kempston
Salary: Starting salary *GBP*33,119 per annum rising to *GBP*35,570 per annumBasis: Full timePackage: 37 Hours Per Week, Flexitime Scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, Holiday allowance of 25 days (plus public holidays) on joining.Contractual Hours: 37Region: CentralJob Category: Technical
Job Description:
Are you practical, organised and experienced in maintaining technical equipment? Do you take pride in ensuring equipment is safe, compliant and ready for use when it matters most?
We are looking for an Operational Equipment Technician to join our Technical Team and play a vital role in maintaining the operational effectiveness of the Service.
About the role
As an Operational Equipment Technician, you will be responsible for the testing, servicing, maintenance and repair of Breathing Apparatus (BA), BA facemasks and other operational equipment. You will help ensure equipment remains safe, compliant and immediately available for operational use.
Key responsibilities
- Carry out all required testing, quality assurance, servicing and any necessary repairs on Breathing Apparatus (BA), associated equipment (including BA facemasks), and other operational equipment, in accordance with manufacturer guidance, specialist training and Service policy, to ensure all equipment is safe, compliant, and ready for issue and operational use.
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of stock, equipment allocated, maintenance, servicing and all tests and repairs completed on all operational equipment as required, to enable audits and support any investigations/inspections (internally and/or externally).
- Support the Watch Manager Technical (WMT) to ensure that the ongoing servicing, testing and maintenance of various items of operational equipment that need to be undertaken by external contractors is completed. This may include dealing with the contractors to request quotes and make arrangements such as, collecting and delivering equipment internally and/or externally, or packaging items for shipping.
- Utilise the Asset Tracking software package for operational equipment as required, including initial labelling, ongoing identification of location, completion of test records and asset disposal.
- Identify potential cost savings at all stages of the lifecycle of operational equipment and work with the WMT to explore and deliver where feasible. This may involve the procurement or fabrication of alternatives, sourcing cost effective solutions, highlighting recurring issues and potential solutions.
- Monitor, during the course of routine duties, the standard of cleanliness, maintenance and record keeping of BA and other operational equipment throughout the Service and to report adverse findings to line manager for investigation or learning purposes
- Manage the ongoing face fitting testing process of all operational personnel to facilitate individual issue face masks.
- Ensure all cylinder compressors throughout the Service are maintained and tested in accordance with current testing regulations to enable Health and Safety standards to be maintained.
- Manage the workshop-based computer-controlled cutting machine. This includes the general maintenance of the machine itself as well as the software package required, through to the production of a range of engraved items used across the service including operational tallies and signs and labels as requested.
- Manage the distribution, record keeping and stock levels of externally leased medical oxygen cylinders to ensure a constant supply is available for operational response.
About You
You will have:
- A current full manual driving licence with no pending issues.
- In-depth experience of working in a similar work environment maintaining and testing equipment.
- In-depth experience of software systems including Word and Excel packages.
- Some experience of investigating defects.
- Some experience of maintenance scheduling.
- Some experience of stock management.
- Some experience of producing written guidance and reports.
- Good communication skills both verbally and in writing.
- Able to work unsupervised with a high level of accuracy, proactively organising own work time efficiently ensuring all deadlines are met.
- Ability to operate and maintain complex equipment, maintaining written records in accordance with procedures.
- Ability to understand technical and mechanical instructions.
In post you must undertake in post essential manufacturer approved maintenance courses for operational equipment.
For full details of the essential and desirable criteria, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Why work with us
We recognise that you are looking for more than just a career. A few of our benefits include:
- Flexi-time scheme including flexible start and finish times, variable lunch breaks and flexi-leave days
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Holiday allowance of 25 days* (plus public holidays) on joining; increasing to 30 days* after 5 years’ service and 32 days after 10 years’ service (*pro rata if part time or irregular working pattern)
- Free gym access and onsite parking
- Instant access to Lifestyle Savings platform includes a range of discount cards from well-known and independent retailers
- Eligible to sign up to Blue Light Card with access to thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street.
Next steps
If this role is of interest, please visit our website https://www.bedsfire.gov.uk/careers/search for further information and to make a formal application. We ask that you include your full career history and reference your skills and experience in line with the job description and person specification within your application and supporting statement.
Closing date: Monday 16 November 2026
Interviews will take place on Tuesday 24 November 2026
This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are spent under the provision of the Act.
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Services recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.
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