Fire Officer

Reporting to the Senior Fire Officer, the postholder will assist the University to develop, implement, maintain, and monitor effective fire safety management systems, policies, and procedures across the organisation to ensure the safety of all staff, students and visitors, compliance with legal standards and protection of the University Estate. This will involve conducting fire risk assessments in accordance with the provisions of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations. The post holder requires to build a strong rapport with Estates colleagues, who review, evaluate, and implement the findings of the fire risk assessment.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• The Fire Safety (Adviser) will work within a small professional team of safety specialists and take a specialist role in developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive fire safety policies, procedures, and arrangements.
• The post holder will work in partnership with the Senior Fire Safety Adviser, to ensure that effective systems for fire safety management exist across the organisation, deputising for the Senior Fire Safety Adviser during periods of leave, or absence.

In particular, the job involves the following areas of work:

• Fire Risk Assessment
  • Plan and conduct a programme of fire risk assessment ensuring that required assessment review frequencies are met.
  • Apply specialist technical expertise and knowledge to prepare legally compliant written fire risk assessments.
  • Prepare and issue written reports, including appropriate action plans and recommendations based on the findings of fire risk assessment surveys.
  • Advise and support units across the University on implementation of required actions.
• Training
  • Assist the Senior Fire Safety Adviser to identify fire safety training needs and to develop effective programmes of fire safety training.
  • Take a lead role in delivering trainer‑led fire safety training to university staff across the organisation.
  • Assist in developing specialist fire safety training and support to Fire Safety Coordinators, Fire Wardens, security staff and other staff groups with identified special fire safety training needs and take a lead role in delivering this training.
  • Assist in the delivery of a statutorily required programme of regular fire drills in all University properties.
• Fire Incidents
  • Assist in maintaining a record of all fire‑related incidents and in conjunction with other SEPS staff, undertake periodic analysis of the overall causes.
  • Investigate selected incidents and prepare reports and recommendations on the findings.
  • Support the development and implementation of measures to avoid, or minimise, unwanted alarm activations and genuine fire incidents.
  • Provide specialist fire safety advice and support to Security to facilitate their day‑to‑day management of fire alarm activation incidents and building evacuations.
  • Assist in the preparation and implementation of emergency evacuation plans and arrangements for disabled staff and students.
  • As far as is reasonably possible, be available out of hours to attend serious fire‑related incidents within the University and to provide advice.
• Policy, Management and Liaison
  • Support and assist the Senior Fire Safety Adviser to prepare policies, procedures and guidance aimed at Heads of University management units and staff within the units to enable them to understand the legal and policy constraints concerning fire safety and to operate within these constraints.
  • Keep up to date with relevant current and forthcoming developments in fire safety legislation and guidance and assist the Senior Fire Safety Adviser to prepare reports and recommendations on these matters.
  • Identify areas of shortcoming in existing fire safety arrangements and bring forward practical and achievable proposals to improve working practice.
  • Assist the Senior Fire Safety Adviser to provide specialist fire safety advice to the Estates department regarding fire safety arrangements within new and existing University occupied properties.
  • Consult with the Fire Service and external stakeholders.
  • Engage in continuous professional development activities as appropriate and necessary.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential

• A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8 (Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4, Higher National Diploma) or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role.
• A2 A professional level (VQ3/4) qualification in fire safety (e.g., TechIFE or equivalent Fire Service qualifications) with experience as noted below.
• A3 A demonstrable up‑to‑date knowledge of fire safety and fire safety legislation and Scottish Fire Safety Guides.
• A4 An in‑depth professional level understanding of fire risk assessment and fire prevention principles and practice.

Desirable

• B1 Formal qualification in fire risk assessment.

Skills

Essential

• C1 Proven ability to exercise reasoned and sensible judgement and work effectively to problem solve within a risk assessment based framework.
• C2 High level of presentation skills and a high level of ability as a trainer.
• C3 Proven ability to time‑manage, prioritise and meet deadlines.
• C4 Proficient in the use of IT with ability to use the Microsoft Office package, in particular Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, competently.

Experience

Essential

• E1 Demonstrable practical experience in fire prevention, fire risk assessment, fire safety management and of developing policy and guidance documents and systems.
• E2 Experience of conducting and/or auditing fire risk assessments.
• E3 Experience of developing and presenting fire safety training courses.

Desirable

• F1 Experience within an enforcing authority environment preferably SFRS.
• F2 Experience in a fire safety management role outside an enforcing authority environment, preferably within the HE sector or comparable environment.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,951 – £37,694 per annum. This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6 months UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too.

Closing Date: 27 November 2025