Fire Safety Manager

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

• Act as the organisation's lead specialist in fire safety and fulfil duties delegated by the Responsible Person under fire safety legislation.
• Develop, implement and maintain fire safety strategies appropriate to the use and occupancy of residential buildings and associated facilities.
• Undertake, commission, review and maintain Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs), ensuring that recommendations are appropriately prioritised, allocated, monitored and completed.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Establish and maintain the 'Golden Thread' of building safety information, ensuring accurate and accessible records relating to fire safety compliance.
• Develop long-term fire safety management arrangements that ensure compliance is sustained and continuously improved.
• Lead and manage a team of Fire Safety Surveyors or equivalent staff, including recruitment, performance management, training, work allocation, supervision and appraisal.
• Lead the delivery of fire safety improvement programmes across the property portfolio.
• Manage allocated budgets associated with fire safety compliance works, consultancy fees, surveys and contracts.
• Oversee feasibility studies, technical specifications, procurement activities and contract documentation for fire safety projects.
• Monitor project performance in relation to cost, quality, programme delivery, compliance, and health and safety.
• Ensure effective management and monitoring of fire safety systems including fire doors, fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, means of escape, firefighting equipment, sprinkler systems, compartmentation, smoke control systems, signage and wayfinding systems.
• Ensure regular inspections, testing and maintenance activities are completed and appropriately recorded.
• Act as the primary point of contact for Fire and Rescue Services, regulators and enforcement authorities.
• Liaise with internal departments, consultants, contractors, residents and other stakeholders to promote effective fire safety management.
• Prepare and present reports, performance information and technical advice to senior management, boards and stakeholders.
• Lead service improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to improve fire safety compliance, operational effectiveness and customer outcomes.
• Investigate complaints relating to fire safety matters and implement improvements where required.
• Provide fire safety training, awareness and technical guidance to colleagues and non-technical staff.

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.

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.
• Desirable: Experience within social housing, local authority housing, build-to-rent, supported housing, healthcare or similar residential environments.

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).