Fire Safety Manager

BSL; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

BAE Systems Strategic Aerospace Services WLL in Ipswich is seeking a Fire Safety Manager to lead fire safety across the Council’s housing stock and related assets. You will ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order and Building Safety Act, and act as main liaison with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.

You will head a team of Fire Safety Surveyors, develop tailored fire strategies, conduct risk assessments, and oversee budgets and major works to protect residents and visitors.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level of professional building qualification with post-qualification experience.
• Minimum of 5 years technical professional experience.
• Experience at managing fire safety in residential premises.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Windows applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead fire safety for Council housing stock and act as the principal Duty Holder.
• Manage a team of Fire Safety Surveyors with training, programming and review.
• Develop fire strategies appropriate to each building’s use.
• Undertake Fire Risk Assessments and ensure actions are completed to a high standard.
• Coordinate with other service areas and external stakeholders to maintain a golden thread of information.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Organisation

Negotiation

Education

Degree or equivalent professional building qualification

Tools

Microsoft Windows

Job description

BAE Systems Strategic Aerospace Services WLL | Full time

Fire Safety Manager

Ipswich, United Kingdom | Posted on 09/11/2026

Responsible for managing the fire safety to all IBC Council properties and customers, thePostholder will ensure all aspects of the Fire Safety Act and the Regulatory Reform (FireSafety) Order 2005 (Fire Safety Order) are met within legal, financial, time and policyconstraints.

Duties

As the Council’s expert in Fire Safety for the Council’s housing stock, to act as theprinciple Duty Holder and fulfil those duties as defined in the legislation as delegatedby the Responsible Person.

To manage a team of Fire Safety Surveyors including training, allocation,programming, monitoring and progressing work of the team, supervision andappraisal of the team.

To develop individual fire strategies appropriate to the purpose of a buildings use

To undertake Fire Risk Assessments in a timely manner, and all actions identifiedtherein are appropriately allocated and completed to a high standard and recorded assuch to maintain a safe environment for all residents and visitors.

To work with all M&C teams, other Service Areas within the Council and externalstakeholders so that a “Golden Thread” of information is held, maintained andavailable relating to fire safety, and to ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act.

To deliver fire safety improvements across the Council’s housing estate, with acurrent budget of around £10m and to manage the allocated budgets for all fees andworks and supplier contracts, in line with financial regulations.

Act as client officer to manage and monitor the programme and performance of theCouncils appointed multi-disciplinary fire safety consultancy contract, overseeing(with the consultant and the Council’s procurement team) the RIBA design stages ofthe project leading to the procurement of major works contracts on publicframeworks.

To be the Council’s main point of contact with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, andto provide all documentation and evidence to support fire audits, to receive Notices ofDeficiencies where issued, and follow up on all actions to remove the threat ofenforcement action.

To implement a Corporate Fire Safety Policy, individual site-specific fire strategies foreach of the Councils’ 15 sheltered schemes and 4 Homeless Families Units, and anoverarching fire strategy for low rise general needs flat blocks.

To implement a tenant engagement and consultation strategy and effectivecommunications including liaising with stakeholders (including SFRS), and regularlyreporting performance to CMT and Senior Councillors (including presentations).

During and beyond the fire improvement programme, maintain fire safety in line withlegislation, ensuring all improvements are sustainable long term for the Council. Thisincludes maintaining a “Permit to Work” scheme for all works to communal areas andlines of fire compartmentation.

To obtain competitive tenders/quotations and ensure orders are placed in accordancewith the Councils standing orders, financial regulations and consitution.To ensure fire related compliance tasks (not exhaustive) indicated below aresatisfactorily undertaken at regular intervals, and to provide clear, appropriateinformation and instruction (and training where necessary) to assist others, to ensurecompetency, when undertaking tasks / testing / inspections:

• Quarterly and monthly fire door inspections
• Fire risk assessments
• Maintenance and checking of Firefighting equipment.
• Sprinkler systems
• Assessment of vulnerable tenants by way of PEEPS
• Resident engagement
• Educate and refine processes across the housing directorate.
• Operate a permit to work process (to control future works or repairs at schemes to prevent detriment to improvements made)

Responsible for Health & Safety within delegated areas of Health & Safety policy.

To be willing to attend regular training to maintain competency in Fire Safety andHealth and Safety.

Lead project teams for particular projects including selecting and organising the teamand co-ordinating their activities. Liaise with the Principal Surveyor, housingmanagers, housing policy officers & other relevant employees to ensure a coordinated approach to maintenance and allocation of work to ensure targets are met.Keep the Principal Surveyor informed of progress and problems with all projects.

Head service improvement teams including the investigation of best workingpractices, the introduction of new policies/ procedures, and developing and leadingservice improvement panels, to assist in the overall improvement of customerfocused services. Develop partnership agreements and apply the principles of Eganto the maintenance, improvement, and planned contracts.

Fully investigate and follow through to conclusion service area complaints includingliaising with housing office staff, contractors, and the complainant/representative.Report to Corporate Director, Head of Housing Services, Principal Surveyor andHousing monitoring team on progress and outcome of complaints and instigateservice level improvements where identified through the investigation. Makejudgements on levels of compensation.

Formulate and coordinate the responsive repairs programme, improvementsprogramme, and planned maintenance programme liaising with area housing officestaff. Monitor budgets, frequencies, and current working practices to help establishwork more suitable for inclusion in maintenance improvement programmes. Assist indeveloping improved communication and joint working with neighbourhood teams,contractors and customers.

Oversee and undertake feasibility studies, provision of estimates, preparation ofdrawings, specification and contract documentation for works of Council properties.Ensure the necessary statutory approvals are obtained. Carry out duties of PlanningSupervisor compliant with Construction, Design and Management Regulations

Oversee and undertake obtaining of competitive tenders/quotations and ensureorders are placed in accordance with the Councils standing orders. Managecontracts, including chairing meetings, monitoring and controlling quality, overseeprogress, manage costs and safety. Develop best value service improvementinitiative. Develop partnership agreements.Prepare reports and give professional/technical building surveying advice. Coordinateand provide training of other non-technical staff on fire safety related subjects.

Other associated tasks that may arise in this role at a senior management andleadership level.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level of professional building related qualification with post qualification practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years technical professional experience
• Experience at managing fire safetyin residential premises
• Good working knowledge of allMicrosoft Windows applications

SpecialistKnowledge

• Expert knowledge of fire safetylegisation and regulations.
• Proven ability to successfullyidentify and manage fire safetyrisks, develop fire strategies andundertake fire risk assessments.

Personal Skills

• Proven ability to organise andprioritise workload to meetdeadlines / to help achievelegislative requirements.
• Proven programming ability tosuccessfully deliver a wide varietyof fire safety measures acrossmultiple sites in terms of risk, time,cost and quality.Demonstrates risk based approachto decision making
• Proven ability to communicate at alllevels, including externalorganisations
• Excellent interpersonal andnegotiating skills
• Proven ability to deliver successfulinnovative and creative solutions toservice delivery

Special workingconditions

• Maybe required to work outside ofnormal working hours and to attendevening meetings or to meetdeadlines
• Experience atundertaking Fire RiskAssessments