Fire Safety Manager

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Fire Safety Management & Compliance
  • Support the Head of Health and Safety in delivering Soha's Fire Safety Strategy and Management System.
  • Ensure arrangements comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021, Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and other applicable legislation.
  • Maintain knowledge of fire safety guidance, British Standards and industry good practice.
  • Monitor fire safety compliance, identify emerging risks and recommend improvements.
  • Provide competent fire safety advice to managers, operational teams and senior colleagues.
  • Support development and review of fire safety policies, procedures and standards.
  • Maintain accurate compliance records and evidence.
  • Undertake intermediate-level FRAs across Soha's low-rise residential portfolio.
  • Plan and programme FRAs in accordance with the risk-based programme.
  • Inspect buildings, communal areas and relevant fire safety systems.
  • Identify hazards, persons at risk and existing controls and assess their adequacy.
  • Apply professional judgement to risk ratings and proportionate recommendations.
  • Produce clear, accurate and evidence-based FRA reports.
  • Recommend appropriate control measures and remedial actions.
  • Review existing FRAs and identify where reassessment or specialist advice is required.
  • Quality‑assure external FRAs where appropriate.
  • Challenge recommendations that are disproportionate, inadequately justified or inconsistent with recognised guidance.
  • Escalate complex matters requiring specialist fire engineering or other expert advice.
  • Maintain oversight of FRA programme compliance and completion.
  • Identify recurring findings and preventative opportunities.
• 3. Fire Safety Actions & Assurance
  • Develop and manage action plans arising from FRAs, inspections, audits and incidents.
  • Ensure actions are risk‑prioritised and completed within appropriate timescales.
  • Provide technical advice on remedial measures.
  • Review completion evidence and verify that works address identified risks.
  • Undertake follow‑up inspections and quality assurance.
  • Identify recurring or systemic issues and recommend organisational improvements.
  • Provide performance and assurance information to the Head of Health and Safety and governance forums.
• 4. Remedial Works & Contractor Management
  • Provide technical oversight of fire safety remedial works.
  • Review specifications, solutions and contractor methodologies where required.
  • Work with Property Services, Asset Management and contractors to ensure works are appropriately planned and delivered.
  • Monitor contractor competence, performance, quality and compliance.
  • Undertake site inspections and quality assurance checks.
  • Ensure completed works are inspected, evidenced and recorded.
  • Challenge works that do not adequately address identified fire risks.
  • Support procurement of competent fire safety contractors and consultants.
  • Undertake or oversee fire door inspections and surveys.
  • Identify defects affecting fire resistance, integrity or performance.
  • Recommend repair, replacement or further investigation.
  • Monitor fire door remedial programmes and contractor performance.
  • Maintain appropriate knowledge of compartmentation and passive fire protection.
  • Identify when intrusive investigation or specialist fire‑stopping/compartmentation surveys are required.
  • Review remedial evidence and provide assurance that defects have been addressed.
• 6. Resident Fire Safety & PEEPs
  • Undertake or oversee assessments for residents requiring assistance during a fire emergency.
  • Develop, implement and review PEEPs and other individual evacuation arrangements where appropriate.
  • Work with Housing, Neighbourhoods, Support Services and other teams to maintain effective arrangements.
  • Provide practical fire safety advice to residents and colleagues.
  • Support resident engagement and communication.
  • Ensure vulnerability and evacuation considerations are reflected in fire safety arrangements.
  • Support development and review of Fire Emergency Plans and evacuation strategies.
  • Participate in investigations of fires, fire‑related incidents and significant near misses.
  • Identify lessons learned and recommend improvements.
  • Provide specialist fire safety advice during emergencies where required.
  • Support business continuity and emergency planning.
  • Monitor fire incident trends and preventative opportunities.
• 8. Governance & Assurance
  • Chair the Fire Safety Working Group.
  • Prepare reports, performance information, action trackers and assurance updates.
  • Provide fire safety information for senior management, committees and Board reporting.
  • Support audits, inspections and assurance activity.
  • Maintain oversight of fire safety performance indicators and compliance data.
  • Support fire safety policy and procedure development.
  • Provide evidence for regulatory, audit and governance requirements.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of the Fire Safety Management System.
• 9. Legislative & Regulatory Advice
  • Maintain current knowledge of fire safety legislation, regulations, guidance and standards.
  • Interpret legal and technical requirements and translate them into practical requirements.
  • Advise on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and associated legislation.
  • Maintain awareness of the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Safety Regulations and higher‑risk building framework.
  • Monitor relevant guidance, case law and industry practice.
  • Advise on regulatory changes and ensure policies remain aligned with requirements.
  • Act as a key contact for operational fire safety matters.
  • Liaise with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and other enforcing authorities.
  • Maintain effective relationships with consultants, contractors and specialist organisations.
  • Respond to regulatory enquiries and support inspections.
  • Represent Soha at relevant professional meetings and forums.
• 11. Training & Competence
  • Provide fire safety advice, guidance and technical support.
  • Deliver awareness sessions, briefings and toolbox talks where required.
  • Support managers in understanding their responsibilities.
  • Identify fire safety competency and training requirements.
  • Contribute to training materials and guidance.
  • Promote a positive and proactive fire safety culture.

Essential Qualifications

• Level 4 Fire Safety qualification or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Fire Risk Assessment qualification or demonstrable competence in intermediate‑level FRAs.
• Fire Door Inspection qualification such as FDIS or equivalent, or willingness to obtain.
• Evidence of ongoing fire safety CPD.
• Membership of IFE, IFSM or equivalent professional body.
• NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or equivalent.
• Qualification in fire engineering, building surveying, construction or related discipline.
• Training in passive fire protection, compartmentation or fire stopping.

Essential Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of:
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Fire Safety Act 2021.
• Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
• Relevant provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022.
• Relevant British Standards and recognised fire safety guidance.
• Fire Risk Assessment principles and methodology.
• Fire safety in residential accommodation.
• Means of escape and evacuation strategies.
• Fire doors and passive fire protection.
• Compartmentation.
• Fire detection and alarm systems.

Experience

• Experience undertaking FRAs, preferably in residential housing or a comparable environment.
• Experience assessing fire risks and determining proportionate controls.
• Experience producing technically robust FRA reports.
• Experience managing and monitoring FRA actions.
• Experience inspecting fire doors and/or passive fire protection.
• Experience managing or quality‑assuring fire safety remedial works.
• Experience providing competent fire safety advice.
• Strong technical knowledge and professional credibility.
• Excellent analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to interpret legislation, guidance and standards and apply them practically.
• Ability to undertake intermediate‑level FRAs independently.
• Strong professional judgement and decision‑making.
• Ability to challenge constructively where standards or proposed solutions are inadequate.
• Ability to explain complex fire safety matters to non‑technical audiences.

The role focuses predominantly on low-rise residential fire safety and intermediate‑level FRAs. The postholder is not expected to act as a specialist fire engineer or undertake complex fire engineering assessments but must recognise when specialist fire engineering, structural, passive fire protection or other expert input is required.