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.
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