Building Safety Officer

The Building Safety Officer will be essential in ensuring full compliance and customer safety throughout the property portfolio through effective management and communications. The Building Safety Officer will be required to have an in-depth knowledge of fire safety matters and other compliance areas, including fire doors, fire detection & alarms and sprinkler systems.

The Building Safety Officer will assist and support the Strategic Fire Manager and the Building Safety team to co-ordinate Customer Safety maintenance, to a minimum position of legal compliance, but also to understand and meet the requirements of British Standards and the Fire Safety Order. Assist the Strategic Fire Manager with projects across the whole of GPHG's property portfolio. Conduct regular inspections of properties, identification of areas of concern, ordering and inspection of repair works, investigation of solutions and recommendation to the Strategic Fire Manager. The Building Safety Officer will also communicate with customers and residents, understanding their reported concerns, communication of our activities, consultation on projects. To ensure there is a two-way communication with customers and residents in building safety matters.

What you’ll be doing:

• Manage allocated fire risk assessment actions within our fire risk assessment portal (Riskhub), ensuring appropriate action has been taken within the allocated timeframe and uploading compliance evidence.
• Assist with the management and operational delivery of all fire-related contracts and contractors.
• Responsible for effective liaison with colleagues across the business in providing customer communications relating to gaining access to properties, enabling contractors to undertake works within communal and private dwelling areas, for the delivery of individual works projects, programmed improvements, service programmes.
• Provide visible and a skilled survey and inspection regime covering all aspects of building safety expert technical knowledge and manage the compliance of all aspects of fire and building safety across all assets, ensuring that the services comply with current regulations, best practice and British Standards, are maintained and improved.
• Routine inspections of communal areas, blocks and individual flats to ensure that they are being managed effectively in a manner that supports customer and resident safety. Ensure sterile areas are maintained and that appropriate log books are being completed.
• Monitoring the building and fire safety inbox and providing competent advice to general fire and building safety queries, specifically to housing and independent & wellbeing colleagues.
• Working with partners to ensure a matrix of fire and building safety responsibilities has been created and understood by all duty holders.
• Ensure that all certification and reports produced by in-house staff or contractors are verified, reported and actioned in a timely manner.
• Undertake post inspections of works.
• Ensure effective and appropriate records and administrative systems are maintained, ensuring all documentation pertaining to property and communications are stored in the agreed shared location.
• Ensure KPI data is recorded and reported in a timely manner.
• Keep up to date with all changes in legislation, building regulations, policies and best practice and ensure we are compliant with legislation and good practice to include any training identified as appropriate.

What we need from you:

• A commitment to understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in the communities in which we work. We particularly value lived experience in social housing.
• A passion to advocate on behalf of people and communities.
• Respecting professional boundaries and conducting yourself in a professional manner at all times.
• A commitment to work in partnership with others for the benefit of Great Places.
• A commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Ability to work flexibly and when needed outside normal working hours to ensure service continuity.
• An ability to work in uncertainty.
• To be professional and work with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity.

What you’ll need:

• Nebosh Fire Certificate or equivalent.
• Level 4 award in Asset and Building Management Compliance (or willing to work towards).
• Technical knowledge of operation and testing of emergency lighting, fire detection systems, AOVs.
• Excellent understanding of building safety and compliance.
• Use of full range of Microsoft Office.
• Understanding of fire and building safety legislation within a repairs and asset management team.
• Ability to complete tasks in an accurate and timely manner when working under pressure.
• Attention to detail and good written and verbal communication.
• Effective liaison with staff/other stakeholders to give information/find information/resolve problems.
• Organisation and ability to time-manage workload.
• Able to deliver a high standard of customer service.
• Ability to work flexibly and when needed outside normal working hours.

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment:

• Pension | DC Scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleague and Great Places).
• WPA | Healthcare auto enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available - option to increase & add on family members.
• The Market Place | High street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more.
• Annual Leave | Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days within 5 years + Bank Holidays.
• Reward & Recognition | You Count Rewards are individual rewards for going 'above & beyond'.
• Help with transport | We offer season ticket loans, an affordable way to purchase season tickets for public transport at discounted rates.

At Great Places we believe the wellbeing of our colleagues is vital to enable them to deliver great services, all your benefits can be used inside and outside of work.