Building Safety Manager

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Building Safety Manager to join our Housing Assets and Compliance team. Reporting to the Head of Building Safety Compliance, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of our higher-risk and complex residential buildings, helping us meet our duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021 and associated legislation. As the lead officer responsible for the day-to-day management of building safety, you will oversee the development and maintenance of Building Safety Cases, fire safety strategies and the Golden Thread of building information. You will provide assurance that our buildings remain compliant with statutory requirements, manage building safety risks, monitor contractor performance, and ensure that fire and life safety systems are effectively maintained and tested. The role requires regular site visits, close liaison with contractors, consultants and regulators, and the confidence to challenge where standards fall short. A key aspect of the role is resident engagement. You will act as the primary point of contact for building safety matters, working closely with residents and stakeholders to promote a strong safety culture, respond to concerns and deliver the Council's resident engagement strategy. You will also manage mandatory occurrence reporting, support access arrangements for safety-related works, contribute to major projects, and provide expert advice to senior leaders on building safety compliance and risk management. The successful candidate will have substantial experience in building safety, fire safety, compliance, asset management or the built environment, together with a strong understanding of current building safety legislation and regulatory requirements. You will be an effective communicator, capable of managing complex stakeholder relationships while maintaining a clear focus on resident safety and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will play a leading role in the ongoing implementation of the Council's Building Safety Programme, including the development and maintenance of Building Safety Cases, strengthening the Golden Thread of information, embedding resident engagement arrangements and supporting compliance with building registration and Building Safety Regulator requirements. The role will also contribute to major capital works and remediation projects, ensuring building safety considerations are integrated throughout the project lifecycle and that residents remain protected during periods of change and investment. This is 1 full-time permanent post and represents an excellent opportunity to help shape and deliver a robust building safety framework across our housing portfolio,

• Lead the delivery of building safety compliance across the Council's higher-risk and complex residential buildings, ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021 and associated regulatory requirements.
• Develop, maintain and continuously review Building Safety Cases, fire safety strategies and the Golden Thread of building information, providing assurance that statutory obligations are met and residents remain safe.
• Manage building safety risks through inspection, monitoring and challenge of contractors, consultants and duty holders, ensuring that all maintenance, repair and construction activities are carried out safely and in accordance with legislative requirements.
• Act as the principal point of contact for residents, stakeholders and regulatory bodies on building safety matters.
• Lead resident engagement activities, respond to concerns, oversee mandatory occurrence reporting and support the effective resolution of safety issues.
• Prepare reports and provide expert advice to senior management, ensuring building safety risks, compliance performance and improvement actions are clearly communicated and managed.
• Provide professional leadership and expert guidance on building safety matters across Housing Assets and wider Council services.
• Work within a matrix management environment to influence and coordinate colleagues, contractors, consultants and delivery partners, ensuring building safety objectives are achieved.
• Lead on stakeholder engagement with residents, senior leaders, regulators and external agencies, fostering a positive safety culture and ensuring effective collaboration.
• Challenge poor performance, escal…
  Relevant professional qualification in Building Safety, Fire Safety, Construction, Asset Management or a related discipline, such as a degree, diploma or equivalent professional qualification. Membership of a recognised professional body such as CIOB, IFE, IFSM, IOSH, IIRSM, RICS or equivalent is desirable. A CIOB Level 6 Diploma in Building Safety Management (or working towards completion) would be highly desirable.
• Significant experience of managing building safety, fire safety compliance, asset compliance or related functions within residential property, social housing, local government or the wider built environment. Demonstrable knowledge of the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, CDM Regulations and associated guidance is essential.
• Experience of developing and maintaining Building Safety Cases, managing building safety risks, implementing resident engagement strategies and maintaining the Golden Thread of information. Ability to work effectively with contractors, consultants, regulators and residents while providing assurance on compliance and risk management.
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to interpret complex technical and regulatory information, prepare reports for senior management and confidently challenge poor performance or non-compliant practices where necessary
• Proficient in the use of digital compliance, asset management and document management systems, with the ability to maintain accurate electronic records, data logs, photographic records and statutory compliance information. Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook, are expected
• Must be able to travel regularly to sites and undertake inspections of residential buildings. The role requires the ability to access all areas of buildings, including climbing stairs, accessing service risers, roof spaces, plant rooms and other restricted areas where appropriate, and attending occasional evening, weekend or emergency call-outs as required
  Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.

We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents. London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London's Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment., Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy. We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview. For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/find-jobs-and-other-opportunities/working-us.