Head Of Fire Safety

Foster + Partners

Role Definition

As the Head of Fire Safety, you will assume a leadership role at the forefront of our organization’s commitment to proactive and comprehensive fire safety. In this pivotal position, you will drive a risk-based design methodology across projects, offering crucial support and creative solutions to achieve project fire safety objectives. The responsibilities encompass both strategic leadership within the Technical Design Group and hands-on involvement in providing fire safety advice during Technical Reviews, ensuring compliance with procedures, and maintaining records of professional development. Join us in shaping and sustaining a robust fire safety culture within our dynamic organization.

Job title: Head of Fire Safety

Reporting to: Head of Technical Design Team.

Responsibilities

1. As lead of the Fire Safety Team, you will drive a proactive, holistic, and risk-based design methodology within the Architectural Studios and Engineering Groups.
2. Provide support to the Architectural Studios and Engineering Groups and use creativity to assist in the development of solutions which fulfil the project fire safety objectives.
3. Build and maintain strong positive relationships throughout the organisation.
4. Contribute to the identification and addressing of fire-related constraints and opportunities for projects throughout their lifecycle using evidence-based methods.
5. Cultivate and propagate an awareness of the impact of the fire safety design on construction, installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
6. Contribute to the growth and promotion of the Fire Safety Team.
7. Take a leadership role throughout the Technical Design Group and the organisation; identify and run cross-team and cross-function projects.
8. Remain abreast of developments in national and international fire-related legislation, fire technologies, and materials and products – and feed this back to the wider team.
9. Monitor and attend national and international fire and safety related events with the aim of increasing the expertise within, and the exposure of, the Fire Safety Team.
10. Develop and describe fire safety design options for further discussion with the team.
11. Assist in providing fire safety and fire engineering advice during the undertaking of Construction Reviews and follow up on requests for further guidance, information, or advice.
12. Attend meetings as required; in some cases, international travel may be necessary.
13. Give guidance and assistance on appropriate fire engineering approaches office-wide and, where applicable, interact with externally appointed fire engineers.
14. Assist in the update and maintenance of the relevant F+P Guides.
15. Maintain and provide records of advice given.
16. Maintain a record and evidence of professional development and review this with the Deputy Head of Technical Design.
17. Identify personal and Fire Safety Team training needs, stay up-to-date regarding training opportunities, and feed this back to the wider team.
18. Review fire engineering reports/studies/strategies where provided by external consultants.

Qualities and skills required

1. Chartered status with a relevant Institution.
2. Extensive and demonstrable experience in a fire engineering, fire research, or related discipline role.
3. Solid proven experience of applying engineering methods to safety. For example, qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, probabilistic risk analysis, and detailed deterministic analysis.
4. Ability to use a variety of media in the development and documentation of a design project.
5. Ability to take initiative in response to direction or instruction.
6. Evidence of the ability to understand design decisions taken by others.
7. Ability to manage own time to work well under pressure and meet expected timeframes.
8. Awareness of and ability to use some of the following: MicroStation, InDesign, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, FDS, CFAST, B-RISK, OZone, MACS+, and structural software packages.

Desirable

1. Experience in the use of advanced engineering methods. For example, CFD-based modelling, FEA analysis, quantitative probabilistic and reliability analysis.
2. Experience with the use of Matlab, Python, R, or similar, to carry out data analysis, automation, and/or model development.
3. Demonstrated good network with the fire science, fire engineering, and wider community.

This description reflects the core activities of the role. It is not intended to be all-inclusive and other duties within the group/department may be required in addition to changes in the emphasis of duties as required from time-to-time. There is a requirement for the post-holder to recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work. Job descriptions will be reviewed regularly and where necessary revised in accordance with organisational needs. Any major changes will be discussed with the post-holder.

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