Fire Safety Inspecting Officer

Suffolk County Council - Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service

Address: Lowestoft South Fire Station, Stradbroke Road, Lowestoft, Princes Street Fire Station, Princes Street, Ipswich or Bury St Edmunds Fire Station, Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds. There is a requirement to travel across the county.

Salary: £31,022 to £42,620 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 42 hours per week (Firefighter Terms and Conditions) or 37 hours per week (Local Government Terms and Conditions) - Flexible working options available.

Contract: Permanent

We’re pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join our dedicated and dynamic Protection department in a highly specialised role focused on fire safety enforcement across Suffolk. As a Fire Safety Inspecting Officer, you’ll play a vital role within the fire and rescue service – educating, advising, and enforcing fire safety legislation in a wide range of premises throughout the county. Your responsibilities will include reviewing fire risk assessments, ensuring appropriate fire prevention measures are in place, and guiding business owners and responsible persons on how to meet legal requirements. You will be based at Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds or Princes Street Fire Stations, with the requirement to travel across the county. Hybrid working is flexible where service needs allow and with the manager’s discretion.

Your role and responsibilities:

• You can join this position under either Firefighter Terms and Conditions or Local Government Terms and Conditions, with a salary range of £31,022 to £42,620 per annum (pro rata for part time).
• Grade/rank will depend on experience and qualifications:

• Firefighter (in accordance with NJC pay scales) / Grade 4 (£31,022 per annum)
• Crew Manager (in accordance with NJC pay scales) / Grade 5 (£37,280 per annum)
• Watch Manager (in accordance with NJC pay scales) / Grade 6 (£42,620 per annum) – an A Level 4 qualification is desirable, but if you don’t already have it, you will have the opportunity to complete it as part of the role.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Empowering Everyone: We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently under‑represented in the organisation.

For more information, please contact Station Manager, Neil Young for a casual conversation. You can reach him by calling 07749 400598 or emailing neil.young@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply:

• Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Competence Framework for Fire Safety Regulators.
• Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

• Have you ever had to interpret and apply legislation or regulations in your work? If so, please give an example.
• Tell us about a time you had to make a decision with limited supervision that had significant implications. What was the outcome?
• What experience do you have in writing reports or communicating complex information clearly to different audiences?
• Can you provide an example of when you had to manage a complaint or deal with a difficult customer? How did you handle it?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process. Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 16 November 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career.

Benefits:

• Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days.
• Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits.
• Performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase.
• Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge.
• A variety of career development opportunities across our organisation.
• Diverse and active staff networks.
• Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day.

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website.