Fire Safety Professional / Junior Fire Engineer (Band 3/SEO)

Health and Safety Executive; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A government safety regulatory body is seeking a Technical Policy Advisor to develop fire safety standards and research programs. This role involves engaging with stakeholders, shaping guidance, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will possess a relevant qualification and strong skills in communication and analysis. Flexible working hours are available.

Benefits

Access to Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme

Flexible working options

25 days annual holiday

Qualifications

• Knowledge of fire safety legislation and technical standards.
• Ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders.
• A proven ability to write effectively and present complex information.

Responsibilities

• Develop research programs to assess fire safety risks.
• Draft revisions to the statutory guidance on fire safety.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders.

Skills

Practical knowledge of fire safety design and construction

Effective communication skills

Sound analytical skills

Proficient organisational and planning skills

Ability to work collaboratively

Education

Relevant academic qualification at level 5 or higher in Fire science, Fire Engineering, or Fire safety

Job description

The Building Safety Regulator is the Government's technical authority on buildings. As part of its duties to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review, the regulator develops the technical standards for buildings including the full suite of Approved Documents. This role is in the Technical Policy Team of the Building Safety Division and will focus on the fire safety of buildings. You will be supporting the Band 2 fire safety technical lead.
We have an establishing program of work to systematically review fire safety risks. You will play a key role in developing the research programme to assess and monitor these risks. You will work with a range of stakeholders within government and in industry including leading experts in fire safety through advisory group. You will help the team to ensure that any policy developed is based upon sound evidence and communicated effectively.
The fire safety guidance in use in England (Approved Document B) is under continuous review. Following the guidance is the way most buildings demonstrate compliance with building regulations and therefore it receives interest from Industry and the public. The review will also aim to address the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, which is a priority for the government. You will have a key role in scoping and helping manage any research that is needed and drafting documents ready for publication.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report made the clear recommendation that the guidance within Approved Document B covering the Fire Safety of buildings should be reviewed. We are looking for a technical policy advisor to assist in delivering on that recommendation and supporting the wider work of the Building Safety Regulators Technical Policy Team.
The successful candidate will:
+ be part of industry leading research, developing the questions, managing the research programme, and publishing final reports
+ shape how buildings are designed and built by drafting revisions to the statutory guidance to Building Regulations on fire safety (Approved Document B)
+ provide advice within the Building Safety Division and wider government, including to Ministers, on emerging fire safety matters
+ represent government on industry standards committees and at industry events
Travel
This role can be based at any of the advertised locations, however there will be the need for occasional travel to other HSE offices including some potential overnight stays., The government announced on 30 June 2025 that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is to become an Executive Agency of Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and will be moved out of HSE. This is the natural next step in the development of the regulator and was always a likely outcome once BSR was established.
Any successful candidates recruited to this vacancy will initially be onboarded to HSE, with a move to the new Executive Agency to be undertaken in due course.
The successful applicant will manage a number of areas of policy work and will need to work flexibly and often at pace. The post will be within a team of technical specialists and policy generalists responsible for a range of regulations including those for ventilation standards, accessibility, acoustics, structure and for the energy efficiency of buildings. You may be required to work across the technical policy team to deliver other areas of work when demand requires it., + Managing relationships with key stakeholders including fire safety experts from industry and academia, other government departments and building residents
+ Scoping and managing innovative research projects into fire safety issue, covering fire science, behavioural science and social research
+ Contributing to advice within government on fire safety matters, including to ministers.
+ Collaborating with other teams in the Building Safety Division on fire safety in response to emerging fire safety issues from real fires and investigations into existing buildings.
+ Writing guidance and policy documents and contributing to standards development to shape the design and construction of the future building stock.
Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 25 hours per week., HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.
From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE's Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details - name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box [e-mail] .
Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post.
If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: [e-mail]
If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.
Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Practical knowledge of fire safety design and construction
+ Effective communication skills with the ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders to help shape outcomes
+ Sound analytical skills to identify underlying issues and develop innovative, sustainable solutions
+ Initiative and decisiveness, making sound decisions based on evidence
+ Proficient organisational and planning skills, taking responsibility for planning and delivering outcomes on time to required standard
+ The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders
+ A proven ability to write effectively and present complex information in a clear and concise way for non-technical audiences, Relevant academic qualification at level 5 or higher in Fire science, Fire Engineering, or Fire safety or on course for completing one.

Memberships
Membership of an appropriate professional association such as the Institution of Fire Engineers, or Society of Fire Prevention Engineers. Please note that you will need to provide evidence at onboarding of your ability to gain chartered status - Failure to do so may result in your application being withdrawn., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Fire Safety legislation knowledge
+ Technical Adaptability

Alongside your salary of £45,954, Health and Safety Executive contributes £13,312 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
We invest in our people with;
+ Competitive rates of pay
+ Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector
+ Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
+ Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
+ 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
+ Parental leave benefits
+ As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.