Fire Safety Manager

Permanent (£53,051 – £55,224 per annum)

Location: Ipswich

Job Purpose

The Fire Safety Manager is responsible for leading and managing fire safety compliance across a residential property portfolio, ensuring that all statutory duties are met in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Fire Safety Act, the Building Safety Act, and all other relevant fire safety legislation and guidance.

The postholder will act as the organisation's lead fire safety professional, providing expert advice, developing fire safety strategies, managing fire risk, and delivering fire safety improvement programmes while ensuring compliance, resident safety, and continuous service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Fire Safety Leadership and Compliance

1. Act as the organisation's lead specialist in fire safety and fulfil duties delegated by the Responsible Person under fire safety legislation.
2. Develop, implement and maintain fire safety strategies appropriate to the use and occupancy of residential buildings and associated facilities.
3. Undertake, commission, review and maintain Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs), ensuring that recommendations are appropriately prioritised, allocated, monitored and completed.

1. Ensure compliance with:

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Fire Safety Act
• Building Safety Act
• Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM)
• Relevant British Standards and approved guidance

1. Establish and maintain the "Golden Thread" of building safety information, ensuring accurate and accessible records relating to fire safety compliance.
2. Develop long-term fire safety management arrangements that ensure compliance is sustained and continuously improved.

Team Management

1. Lead and manage a team of Fire Safety Surveyors or equivalent staff, including:

• Recruitment and induction
• Performance management
• Training and development
• Work allocation and monitoring
• Supervision and appraisal

Fire Safety Improvement Programmes

1. Lead the delivery of fire safety improvement programmes across the property portfolio.
2. Manage allocated budgets associated with fire safety compliance works, consultancy fees, surveys and contracts.
3. Oversee feasibility studies, technical specifications, procurement activities and contract documentation for fire safety projects.
4. Manage external consultants, specialist contractors and multidisciplinary teams involved in fire safety programmes.
5. Monitor project performance in relation to:

• Cost
• Quality
• Programme delivery
• Compliance
• Health and Safety

1. Support project development through recognised design and construction stages, ensuring fire safety requirements are embedded throughout.

Fire Risk Management

1. Ensure effective management and monitoring of fire safety systems including, but not limited to:

• Fire doors
• Fire alarm systems
• Emergency lighting
• Means of escape
• Firefighting equipment
• Sprinkler systems
• Compartmentation
• Smoke control systems
• Signage and wayfinding systems

1. Ensure regular inspections, testing and maintenance activities are completed and appropriately recorded.
2. Develop and manage permit-to-work procedures for works affecting fire safety systems or building compartmentation.

1. Ensure arrangements are in place for assessing vulnerable occupants, including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) where required.

Stakeholder Engagement

1. Act as the primary point of contact for Fire and Rescue Services, regulators and enforcement authorities.
2. Liaise with internal departments, consultants, contractors, residents and other stakeholders to promote effective fire safety management.
3. Lead resident engagement and consultation activities relating to fire safety improvements and compliance initiatives.
4. Prepare and present reports, performance information and technical advice to senior management, boards and stakeholders.

Health, Safety and Service Improvement

1. Ensure health and safety responsibilities are discharged effectively within areas of responsibility.
2. Lead service improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to improve fire safety compliance, operational effectiveness and customer outcomes.
3. Investigate complaints relating to fire safety matters and implement improvements where required.
4. Develop best practice procedures, guidance and operational standards relating to fire safety management.
5. Promote partnership working and collaborative approaches to achieving compliance objectives.
6. Provide fire safety training, awareness and technical guidance to colleagues and non-technical staff.
7. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Building Surveying, Construction, Fire Safety, Building Control, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant technical and professional experience in building or fire safety management.
• IFE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Safety (or equivalent recognised fire safety qualification).

Desirable

• NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety.
• Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), CABE, CIOB, RICS or similar professional body.
• Fire Risk Assessor qualification recognised within the sector.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of managing fire safety within residential buildings.
• Experience undertaking and reviewing Fire Risk Assessments.
• Experience developing and implementing fire safety strategies.
• Experience managing compliance programmes and fire safety improvement projects.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors and service providers.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

• Experience within social housing, local authority housing, build-to-rent, supported housing, healthcare or similar residential environments.
• Experience managing large-scale fire remediation or building safety improvement projects.
• Experience of budget management and procurement processes.

Specialist Knowledge

Essential

• Comprehensive knowledge of:
  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  • Fire Safety Act
  • Building Safety Act
  • CDM Regulations
  • Fire Risk Assessment methodology
  • Relevant British Standards and Approved Documents
• Detailed understanding of:
  • Fire compartmentation
  • Means of escape
  • Passive fire protection
  • Active fire protection systems
  • Fire safety management systems

Desirable

• Knowledge of modern methods of construction and their fire safety implications.
• Knowledge of building information management systems and Golden Thread requirements.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational and project management abilities.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex fire safety challenges.

Desirable

• Experience presenting to senior leadership teams, boards or governance groups.
• Experience leading organisational change or service improvement programmes.

Special Requirements

• Willingness to undertake ongoing professional development and maintain technical competence.
• Ability to attend site visits, inspections and meetings across multiple locations.
• Flexibility to attend meetings outside normal working hours where required.
• Full UK driving licence and access to transport (where operationally required).