Head of Risk, Compliance & Building Safety in Colchester

Cobalt is working with a founder-led residential block management business to appoint a Head of Risk, Governance & Building Safety as it strengthens its approach to governance, compliance and building safety. This is an opportunity to join a growing specialist managing agent where the successful candidate will have direct access to senior leadership and visible backing from the founders. Rather than inheriting a finished structure, you will have the opportunity to shape a function designed to support the organisation's growth over the long term.

The package includes:

• Salary of up to £70,000, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate.
• Hybrid working, typically involving one to two days per week in the office and/or on site.
• Private healthcare.
• Pension.
• Long-term holiday incentive.
• Travel across London and the South East as required.

The role and responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Head of Risk, Governance & Building Safety will establish and lead a second-line control function across the business, with responsibility for the Health & Safety team. This is not a day-to-day property management position and does not involve managing a personal portfolio. Instead, you will provide oversight, challenge and direction across risk, governance, regulatory compliance and building safety.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Designing and developing the organisation's risk, governance and compliance framework.
• Providing strategic oversight of building safety compliance, including higher-risk building processes and requirements arising from the Building Safety Act 2022.
• Establishing clear responsibility boundaries, escalation routes, audit trails and evidence standards across the business.
• Providing independent challenge to operational teams and directing corrective action where governance, compliance or safety concerns arise.
• Providing oversight on governance matters affecting Resident Management Companies, Right to Manage Companies, freeholders and associated client boards.
• Supporting controls relating to contractors, insurance, service charge recoverability and legal risk.
• Developing risk registers, governance dashboards and reporting for senior leadership.
• Monitoring regulatory change and advising the Managing Director and founders on emerging risks and business readiness.

A key priority for the Head of Risk, Governance & Building Safety will be to leave the business with a more structured, defensible and scalable control environment, including stronger higher-risk building processes and portfolio-wide governance controls.

The skills needed and requirements

We are looking for someone who can combine knowledge of residential property regulation with the judgement required to influence senior stakeholders and constructively challenge operational teams. You will need:

• Strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act 2022, fire safety legislation and the wider leasehold governance framework.
• Experience of building, strengthening or leading governance and compliance frameworks within residential property.
• Working knowledge of residential block management, building safety or compliance leadership.
• The ability to work credibly with senior leadership, client directors, consultants, insurers and legal stakeholders.
• The judgement to identify control weaknesses and require appropriate corrective action.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce defensible, board-level reporting.

Experience relating to higher-risk buildings, safety case support, Golden Thread information, resident engagement requirements or regulator-facing matters would be beneficial. Experience and qualifications in leasehold property management would be particularly advantageous, including membership of a relevant professional body such as IRPM, TPI, MRICS or CIH. Additional health and safety qualifications, such as the NEBOSH General Certificate or NEBOSH Fire Safety, or membership of bodies such as CABE or IFE, would also be beneficial but are not essential.

For someone looking to move beyond maintaining an existing compliance framework, this Head of Risk, Governance & Building Safety position offers the opportunity to build one. You will have the scope to influence how governance and building safety operate across a growing residential property business and create structures designed to remain effective as the organisation develops.

Interviews are expected to progress promptly, so apply now to be considered. Due to the volume of applications received, if you don't hear back from us, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process for any reason whatsoever, please let your Cobalt consultant know.