External Wall Specialist

London Fire Brigade; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working is available

Contributory pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Staff discount scheme

Free gym access

DBS checks and career development

Job summary

The London Fire Brigade is seeking two External Wall Specialists to join the Remediation Support Team. You will provide expert advice on external wall construction, remediation strategies and fire safety compliance, helping prioritise high-risk buildings across London.

You will evaluate PAS 9980 assessments, collaborate with fire engineers, authorities and industry partners, and support enforcement with clear technical evidence. A strong background in building safety is essential.

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent in Building Surveying, Fire Engineering, Civil/Structural, Architecture, or related discipline.
• Significant experience in external wall systems, building safety, remediation or fire safety.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (IFE, CABE, RICS, CIOB, SFE, IStructE, or equivalent).
• Experience undertaking or reviewing PAS 9980 assessments and external wall fire risk appraisals.
• Experience on high-rise residential or complex mixed-use developments.
• Knowledge of government remediation programmes and building safety funding.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical advice on external wall construction, remediation strategies and fire safety compliance.
• Identify and prioritise high-risk buildings, evaluate PAS 9980 assessments and support enforcement activity.
• Work with fire engineers, remediation officers, local authorities and industry partners to provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Engage effectively with building owners, managers, authorities, contractors and residents.
• Contribute to strategic building safety improvements across London.

Skills

External wall systems

Cladding systems

Fire safety compliance

Building regulations

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Building Surveying degree

Fire Engineering degree

Civil/Structural degree

Professional body membership

PAS 9980 experience

High-rise remediation

Tools

MS Office

PAS 9980 assessments

Building safety software

Job description

Post: External Wall Specialist
Salary: £54,452 per annum
Grade: FRS E
Salary range: £54,452 - £58,202 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term until 01/09/2028
Working pattern: Full-time
Application closing date: 4 PM on Monday 16 November 2026
London Fire Brigade (LFB) is London’s fire and rescue service – one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. We are here to make London a safer city. Employing over 5000 people across our operational team (our firefighters), control (our call handlers who answer 999 calls), fire safety and our non-operational team (our team who work behind the scenes to support our front-line services, which includes Fleet, IT, HR, Finance, Procurement, Communications team and many more).

Are you an experienced building safety professional with expertise in external wall systems, cladding, and fire safety compliance? The London Fire Commissioner is seeking two highly skilled External Wall Specialists to join our Remediation Support Team and play a key role in making London's buildings safer.

Based at Brigade Headquarters, Union Street, with work across London, you will provide specialist technical advice on external wall construction, remediation strategies, and fire safety compliance. Working closely with fire engineers, remediation officers, local authorities, and industry partners, you will help identify and prioritise high-risk buildings, evaluate PAS 9980 assessments, and support enforcement activity through the provision of technical evidence.

The successful candidate will have proven experience in building construction, façade engineering, fire safety inspection, or remediation projects involving high-rise buildings. You'll possess strong knowledge of UK Building Regulations, external wall systems, cladding materials, and fire safety legislation, together with excellent analytical and communication skills.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence building safety across London, working within a collaborative team committed to protecting communities and supporting safer homes for residents. If you are passionate about improving building safety standards and driving positive change, we would welcome your application.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the following essential requirements:

• Demonstrable experience of assessing, inspecting, advising on, or managing external wall systems, cladding, façade construction, or building remediation projects.
• Sound knowledge of external wall construction methods, cladding systems, insulation products, cavity barriers, and associated fire safety considerations.
• Good understanding of current building safety legislation, regulations and guidance, including the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Approved Document B, PAS 9980 and relevant British Standards.
• Experience of reviewing technical information and providing evidence-based recommendations, reports or advice to support decision-making.
• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including building owners, managing agents, local authorities, fire and rescue services, contractors and residents.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex building safety issues and identify proportionate remediation solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical matters to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications and other relevant technical software used within building safety, construction or fire engineering environments.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold one of the following:

• A degree, HNC, HND, or equivalent qualification in Building Surveying, Fire Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Building Control, Façade Engineering, or a related discipline; or
• Significant relevant professional experience in external wall systems, building safety, remediation, fire safety, construction, or building control.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Society of Façade Engineering (SFE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), or equivalent.
• Experience of undertaking or reviewing PAS 9980 assessments and external wall fire risk appraisals.
• Experience of working on high-rise residential buildings or complex mixed-use developments.
• Knowledge of government-led remediation programmes and building safety funding schemes.
• Experience of supporting enforcement, regulatory, investigation, or compliance activities.
• Chartered status or working towards chartership in a relevant discipline.

Additional Requirements

• The successful candidate will be required to satisfy the London Fire Commissioner's pre-employment screening requirements, including a Standard DBS check.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.
• The role requires occasional travel across London to undertake inspections, attend meetings and engage with stakeholders.
• Occasional attendance outside normal working hours may be required to meet operational and business needs.

Benefits of working for the London Fire Brigade

• 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Additional leave between Christmas Day and New Year
• Family (including maternity) leave and emergency support leave
• Hybrid working is available, subject to business need.
• Free access to the Brigade gym
• Use of the Brigade’s Medical Adviser/physios/fitness advisers
• Free counselling
• Season ticket loan
• Join social networks including our Equality Support Groups
• Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff discount scheme including access to Blue Light Card retail and hospitality discounts
• Opportunity to access affordable accommodation

Criminal records check

In line with the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include a Standard criminal records check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

Anyone who has contact with children, young people or adults at risk will be subject to an enhanced DBS check as part of our commitment to safeguarding.