Fire Safety Manager

Lewisham; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Lewisham is seeking an experienced Fire Safety Manager to lead fire safety strategy and risk management across a large social housing portfolio in South East London. This senior role requires expert technical direction, assurance, and strong leadership to drive compliance and continuous improvement.

You will own the FRA programme, coordinate with leadership and regulatory bodies, and manage multi-disciplinary teams and contractors to deliver high standards of fire safety and governance.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior-level experience in fire safety, risk management or fire engineering.
• Level 4 fire safety qualification (minimum) or equivalent.
• Level 6 qualification in fire safety or fire risk management.
• Membership of a professional body such as IFE or IFSM.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the organization’s housing fire safety function, providing strategic direction and technical expertise.
• Own the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) programme, ensuring assessments are completed to required standards and remedial actions are prioritised and closed out.
• Provide expert advice on fire safety legislation, statutory compliance and building safety requirements.
• Oversee fire safety works, including fire doors, compartmentation, fire stopping, alarms, emergency lighting, smoke control and sprinkler systems.
• Maintain and continuously improve fire safety policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Manage relationships with the London Fire Brigade, regulators, building control bodies, consultants and contractors.
• Provide senior-level reporting and assurance on fire safety risks, compliance performance and outstanding remedial works.
• Lead, manage and develop fire safety teams, consultants and contractors, ensuring high professional standards and accountability.
• Support investigations following fire incidents, near misses and significant compliance failures.
• Drive continuous improvement through performance monitoring, audits, training and risk management.

Skills

Fire safety leadership

Fire risk management

Fire engineering

Education

Level 4 fire safety qualification

Level 6 fire safety qualification

IFE/IFSM membership

Job description

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Fire Safety Manager to join a local authority housing and compliance team in South East London.

This is a senior-level opportunity for an accomplished fire safety professional to take the lead on fire safety strategy, operational compliance and risk management across a large residential housing portfolio.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will provide expert technical advice, strategic direction and assurance, ensuring fire safety risks are effectively identified, managed and mitigated in line with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong leadership experience and a proven background in managing fire safety within social housing or a similarly complex residential environment.

• Lead and oversee the organisation's housing fire safety function, providing strategic direction and technical expertise.
• Take ownership of the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) programme, ensuring assessments are completed to the required standards and remedial actions are prioritised and closed out.
• Provide expert advice on fire safety legislation, statutory compliance and building safety requirements.
• Oversee fire safety works, including fire doors, compartmentation, fire stopping, alarms, emergency lighting, smoke control and sprinkler systems.
• Ensure fire safety policies, procedures and governance frameworks are maintained and continuously improved.
• Manage relationships with the London Fire Brigade, regulators, building control bodies, consultants and contractors.
• Provide senior-level reporting and assurance on fire safety risks, compliance performance and outstanding remedial works.
• Lead, manage and develop fire safety teams, consultants and contractors, ensuring high professional standards and accountability.
• Support investigations following fire incidents, near misses and significant compliance failures.
• Drive continuous improvement through effective performance monitoring, audits, training and risk management.

• Competitive daily rate of up to £450 per day.
• Senior-level opportunity within a large housing and compliance environment.
• Opportunity to lead and influence a significant residential fire safety programme.
• High-profile role with direct engagement across senior leadership and regulatory stakeholders.

Interested?

If you have the relevant fire safety leadership experience and are available for your next interim opportunity, we would be keen to hear from you.

• Substantial senior-level experience in fire safety, fire risk management or fire engineering, ideally within social housing or a local authority environment.
• A minimum Level 4 fire safety-specific qualification or equivalent.
• A relevant Level 6 qualification in fire safety or fire risk management.
• Membership of a recognised professional body, such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), or equivalent.
• Strong working knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021, Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and Building Safety Act 2022.
• Proven experience managing large-scale Fire Risk Assessment programmes and overseeing remedial action plans.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders and influencing strategic decisions.
• Experience managing teams, consultants, contractors and specialist fire safety providers.
• Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a confident and credible fire safety leader who can operate at a senior level, challenge where necessary and ensure resident safety remains at the forefront of all decisions.

You will have the technical knowledge, leadership capability and professional judgement to manage complex fire safety risks, influence stakeholders and deliver measurable improvements in compliance.