Passive Fire Contracts Manager in Bedford

Location: Office based in Bedford with travel to sites across London and occasionally other regions of the UK

Employment Type: Full-time

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

About us: We are a growing bespoke consultancy offering comprehensive health, safety, fire, and project management services to residential clients, with a focus on supporting High-Rise Residential Buildings. We specialise in ensuring the safety and compliance of purpose-built blocks of flats, providing a high standard of support and expertise to our clients. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals and gain in-depth knowledge of fire safety and building safety standards.

Role Overview: This is a key leadership role within our growing Projects team, responsible for managing passive fire protection contracts from initiation through to completion, leading a team of Project Managers, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, compliance, and delivery across our portfolio of works. We are looking for someone with proven, hands-on experience managing passive fire protection contracts who understands the technical requirements, knows how to hold contractors to account, and can deliver to programme and budget on multiple projects simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Lead the day-to-day delivery of the Projects team, coordinating workload across Project Managers and ensuring work is completed on time and to the required standard.
• Project Oversight: Own the overall project portfolio monitoring progress, programme, cost, and quality across all live projects, and identifying and managing risks before they become issues.
• Contractor Management: Manage contractor performance across multiple sites, resolving disputes, challenging poor performance, and maintaining strong professional relationships.
• Tender Management: Lead or oversee the preparation, issuing, and analysis of tender documentation; ensure specifications are accurate, compliant, and commercially sound.
• Estimating and Quoting: Prepare and review quotations for passive fire protection works, ensuring accuracy, compliance with relevant standards, and commercial soundness.
• Client Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for key clients on complex or high-value projects, providing clear and regular updates on progress, risks, and changes.
• People Development: Support, mentor, and develop junior team members; provide practical guidance and act as the first escalation point for delivery issues.
• Standards and Compliance: Ensure consistent application of internal processes, documentation standards, and compliance requirements across the team.
• Process Improvement: Contribute to the continuous improvement of project processes, templates, and ways of working.
• Resourcing: Support hiring decisions and onboarding of new team members as the team grows.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience (Essential): Proven track record of managing passive fire protection contracts end-to-end from pre-start through to completion and handover.
• Contractor Management: Demonstrable experience managing contractors on site including holding them to programme, quality, and safety standards.
• Sector Knowledge: Strong knowledge of passive fire protection systems, materials, and installation standards is essential. Experience in high-rise residential buildings or building safety remedial works is a distinct advantage.
• People Leadership: Ability to lead and motivate a small team, allocate work effectively, and support team members' development.
• Commercial Awareness: Commercially aware, with experience reviewing contractor pricing, managing budgets, and understanding contract terms.
• Communication Skills: Strong communicator, both written and verbal able to engage confidently with clients, contractors, and colleagues.
• Organisation: Organised and methodical, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of detail.
• Qualifications: Formal qualifications in passive fire protection or construction (e.g. ASFP membership, NVQ in passive fire, APM, HNC/HND, or degree) are welcomed but not required; experience and demonstrated capability will take priority.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) is essential.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Ongoing professional training and development support.
• Company phone and site equipment.
• Collaborative and dynamic working environment.
• BUPA healthcare including family BUPA dentistry including family.
• Birthday day off (after probation).
• 20 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing by one day per full year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.
• Professional membership fees paid.
• Opportunities for career progression within a growing consultancy.
• Social events throughout the year.