Fire Safety Manager in Suffolk

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
  • 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.
• Team Management
  • Lead and manage a team of Fire Safety Surveyors or equivalent staff.
  • Ensure all team members maintain appropriate competency, skills and knowledge in relation to fire safety requirements.
• Fire Safety Improvement Programmes
  • 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.
  • Monitor project performance in relation to cost, quality, programme delivery, compliance, and health and safety.
• Fire Risk Management
  • Ensure effective management and monitoring of fire safety systems.
  • Develop and manage permit-to-work procedures for works affecting fire safety systems or building compartmentation.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • 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.
• Health, Safety and Service Improvement
  • Ensure health and safety responsibilities are discharged effectively within areas of responsibility.
  • Investigate complaints relating to fire safety matters and implement improvements where required.

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).
• 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.
• Specialist Knowledge
  • Essential: Comprehensive knowledge of relevant fire safety legislation and standards.
  • Detailed understanding of fire compartmentation, means of escape, and fire protection systems.
• Skills and Competencies
  • Essential: Strong leadership and people management skills.
  • Excellent organisational and project management abilities.
  • Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making skills.

Special Requirements

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