Chief Firearms Instructor - Inspector/Sergeant on promotion
Nottinghamshire Police are now seeking transferee applications from substantive inspectors and sergeants qualified for the rank of inspector for the role of Chief Firearms Instructor. This role is based at Nottinghamshire Police Headquarters in Arnold, and reports to the Operational Support Department Chief Inspector.
We have a bespoke fast-track Transferee process in place and will tailor training to your needs whilst fully recognising previous qualifications and skills.
In Nottinghamshire you can expect to be part of a team where staff are valued and encouraged to develop. Nottinghamshire comprises of both city and rural areas providing excellent places to live and work.
Applicants will be required to undertake a training needs analysis as part of the selection process.
Key Responsibilities
- Hold overall responsibility for firearms training and firearms command training for Nottinghamshire Police.
- Manage policy, compliance and health and safety for firearms training and command training.
- Quality assure and authorise firearms training packs prior to the delivery of all training.
- Contribute to the development of the Armed Policing Strategic Threat Risk Assessment (APSTRA).
- Provide leadership for teams of police officers and staff including the firearms instruction team, taser instruction team and the policy and compliance team.
- Directly line manage the Deputy Chief Firearms Instructor, the Chief Taser Instructor, the force armourer and the policy and compliance manager.
- Provide expert advice to the firearms portfolio holder (ACC operations) in respect of all firearms training matters.
- Develop and ensure portfolio lead sign-off of the annual Firearms Training Plan.
- Carry out the annual College of Policing firearms licencing inspection on PSQMS (self-assessment) and delivery of the four yearly College of Policing firearms licence inspection process.
- Oversee the management of all Nottinghamshire ranges.
- To maintain knowledge of the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum, POLKA, NPCC circulars, memorandums and notes from the NPCC or College of Policing and implement necessary actions to ensure compliance.
- Oversee the annual accreditation process of firearms instructors and ensure their competence to deliver training is maintained.
Essential Criteria
- Be a substantive inspector and have completed the work-based assessment, or be a substantive sergeant qualified to the rank of inspector and prepared to transfer on promotion.
- be a current serving officer in a home office force.
- Has completed the Initial Firearms Course and be operationally or occupationally competent Armed Response Vehicle Officer.
- Has successfully completed a National Firearms Instructor course and is currently accredited as a firearms instructor.
- Has successfully completed a Firearms Tactical Advisor course and is currently accredited as a tactical advisor.
- Knowledge of firearms command and firearms officer role profiles and their training profiles.
- Knowledge and understanding of the armed policing Authorised Professional Practice, National Police Firearms Training Curriculum, Codes of Practice for firearms and less-lethal weapons and armed policing strategic threat and risk assessment.
- Understanding of College of Policing licencing process and the annual and quadrennial submission requirements to maintain the Nottinghamshire Police firearms training licence.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of Chronicle.
- Able to satisfy vetting criteria (MV and SC).
- Have no live disciplinary sanctions and not be under investigation for misconduct.
- Not be under any performance management process.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of acting as a Deputy Chief Firearms Instructor.
- Hold IOSH health and safety qualification.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Chief Inspector Andrew Reynolds at andrew.reynolds@notts.police.uk
If you meet the above criteria and would like to begin your journey with Nottinghamshire Police, please click ‘Apply Online’ and work your way through the application form. When prompted, please upload your last two PDR’s and completed external questions (attached to this requisition). Applications received without these attachments, will be automatically withdrawn.
Closing date Friday 19th December 2025. Interviews will be held during the week commencing 5th January 2026.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT VACANCIES ARE LIMITED FOR TRANSFEREES AND, ONCE WE HAVE REACHED OUR MAXIMUM NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, THIS ADVERT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Vetting Level – Management – you must have resided in the UK for at least the last 5 years.
All applicants will be subject to the Nottinghamshire Police Vetting Policy.
Nottinghamshire Police is committed to the principles of Equality, Fairness and Diversity, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community in our efforts to recruit a diverse and flexible workforce that reflects the people we serve.
PROUD embodies everything we stand for as an organisation, for further detail on our PROUD values please view the attachment.
For clarification, where ‘substantive’ is stated:
Sergeants/Inspectors who were promoted under the National Police Promotion Framework process, will only become substantive in rank once they have completed the following:-
- work based assessment (Step 4 NPPF),
- 12 months following posting (which took place after interview/board process – Step 3 NPPF),
- declaration completed by first line manager and Head of Department demonstrating competence in rank
- UAP and UPP checks completed
Sergeants/Inspectors who were promoted having completed the Ospre promotion part 1 & 2, are substantive in rank from the posting which takes place after the interview/board process.
Those qualified for promotion through the Ospre process will be expected to complete their work based assessment prior to applying for substantive Sergeant posts.