Building Safety Director in London

Our client is a leading specialist contractor in the building safety and façade remediation sector, delivering some of the UK's most complex and high-profile cladding replacement programmes. With an established façades division turning over circa £80M+ annually and a secured order book extending through 2029, they are a trusted partner to housing associations and local authorities nationwide. Operating at the forefront of post-Grenfell remediation works, they've built a reputation for technical excellence, safety leadership, and delivering occupied high-rise projects that others won't touch.

The Role

We're recruiting a Facades Director to lead the national façades and cladding remediation division. This is a high-impact operational leadership role with full P&L responsibility for a £80M+ turnover division, managing 10-15+ direct reports including Contracts Managers, Senior Project Managers, Commercial Managers, and Design Managers. You'll be accountable for the delivery, commercial performance, and strategic direction of all façade remediation projects across the UK.

This means:

• Ensuring safe, profitable, quality delivery across a portfolio of typically 12-20 live projects (ranging from £3M to £25M+ per scheme).
• Managing key client relationships at director level with housing associations, ALMOs, and local authorities.
• Leading pre-construction, estimating, and bid strategy for new opportunities and framework tenders.
• Driving operational improvements, margin protection, and team development.
• Representing the business at industry forums, client boards, and building safety roundtables.

This role reports directly to the Chairman and sits on the Executive Leadership Team. You'll have genuine autonomy, commercial authority, and the platform to shape the future of a market-leading division.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Delivery:

• Full accountability for the safe, on-time, and profitable delivery of all façade remediation projects nationally.
• Oversee a live portfolio typically worth £80M+ at any one time (12-20 concurrent schemes).
• Manage Contracts Managers and senior delivery leads – set clear KPIs, conduct performance reviews, and drive accountability.
• Conduct project gateway reviews at key stages.
• Resolve escalated issues – technical, commercial, contractual, or client-related.
• Champion a zero-harm safety culture across all projects.
• Ensure Building Safety Act compliance, Golden Thread integrity, and handover of compliant Fire & Emergency Files.

Commercial & Financial Management:

• Full P&L responsibility – drive divisional profitability, protect margin.
• Review and approve monthly CVRs (Cost Value Reconciliations), WIP reports, and cash flow forecasts with Commercial Managers.
• Manage risk exposure across the portfolio – assess contingency drawdown, variation opportunities, and contractual claims.
• Oversee final account settlements and close-out of retention/defects liability periods.
• Set commercial strategy for pricing, subcontractor procurement, and supply chain management.
• Work with Finance Director on divisional budgeting, forecasting, and year-end reporting.

Business Development & Client Management:

• Lead strategic client relationships with housing association CEOs, Directors of Asset Management, and local authority officers.
• Attend quarterly steering groups, board presentations, and framework review meetings.
• Identify new business opportunities, extensions of scope, and cross-selling within existing clients.
• Support estimating and bid teams on major tenders – commercial strategy, methodology, technical solutions.
• Build strategic partnerships with façade engineers, fire engineers, warranty providers, and Approved Inspectors.

Essential Requirements

• Proven Director-level experience in façade remediation, cladding replacement, or building envelope works (minimum 8-10+ years in senior operational roles).
• Strong track record managing £50M+ annual turnover or portfolios with similar scale and complexity.
• Deep technical knowledge of fire safety remediation, EWS1, Building Safety Act, Part B compliance, ACM/HPL systems, rain screen cladding, over-cladding solutions.
• Experience managing high-rise occupied residential projects with complex stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrable experience leading teams of 10-15+ professionals including Contracts Managers, Commercial Managers, and technical specialists.
• Strong commercial acumen – P&L management, margin protection, risk/opportunity management, final accounts.
• Excellent client relationship management – proven ability to engage at Director level with housing associations and local authorities.
• Degree qualified (Civil/Structural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Building Surveying) or equivalent senior-level experience.
• Chartered status (MCIOB, MRICS, MIStructE, RIBA) or senior professional membership highly desirable.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.

What's On Offer

• Base Salary: upto £160,000 per annum.
• Performance Bonus: % of base salary linked to divisional profitability, project delivery KPIs, and safety performance.
• Car Allowance.
• Pension.
• Private Medical Insurance: Full family cover (Bupa/AXA).
• Life Assurance.
• Flexible/Hybrid Working.
• Professional Development: Executive coaching, leadership programmes, industry accreditations (IOSH, NEBOSH), conference attendance.
• Equity/Profit Share: Potential long-term incentive plan for key senior hires (discretionary).