Fire Safey Manager (Senior Operating Manager)

NHS; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Fire Safety Manager responsible for the organization's fire safety strategy. This senior operating manager role includes managing fire safety risks, developing policies, and ensuring compliance with legislation, all aimed at maintaining a safe environment for patients and staff.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in fire safety management.
• Graduate membership of a professional organization.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fire safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the fire safety team and external contracts.
• Develop and review fire safety policies and protocols.
• Conduct fire risk assessments and training programs.

Skills

Negotiating

Influencing

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Master's degree in Science or Engineering

Professional qualification in fire safety

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

MS PowerPoint

MS Outlook

SharePoint

Job description

Go back The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Fire Safey Manager (Senior Operating Manager)

The closing date is 04 July 2025

Has responsibility for ensuring that the workplace / significant part of, is safe for patients, staff and all other service users.

Responsible for the management of the organisations fire safety strategy, including staff management and SaTH wide training programme for Fire Safety.

Required to obtain/ provide expert specialist and professional fire safety, construction, building and / or engineering reporting and advice for the directors, senior management and executives of the organisation.

The Fire Safety Manager will be expected to be able to identify key fire safety risks and assist in the overall prioritisation and recommendation of resources and funding within the Trust capital programme to resolve/ minimise any consequences.

Required to work largely on their own initiative, provide and receive complex information and integrate this into appropriate fire safety strategies which they will own and update as necessary.

He/she will be required to work closely with other senior managers, staff, third parties and outside authorities in order to fulfill the objectives of the Trusts H&S, Fire and Emergency Preparedness policies.

He/she will also be accountable to the Trust Fire Safety Group, Health & Safety Steering Group and Estates Divisional governance platform. Executive boards and performance assurance committees on all fire safety and governance issues.

Main duties of the job

• Manager of the fire safety team.
• Management of external contracts and Service Level Agreements.
• Reporting of non-compliance with legislation, policies and procedures to the executive director with fire safety responsibility. Leading risk assessment as appropriate.
• Obtain/provide expert and technical advice on the application and interpretation of fire safety guidance, including DH's firecode;
• The development, implementation, monitoring and review of the organisation's fire safety management system.
• The development, implementation and review of the organisations fire safety policy and protocols.
• Produce an annual report of fire safety for the Trust board and Performance Assurance Committee.
• Ensuring that fire risk assessments are undertaken, recorded and suitable action plans devised in a format that they can easily interpreted and managed.
• Ensuring that risks identified in the fire risk assessments are included in the Trust's risk register as appropriate.
• The overall operational management of fire safety risks identified by the risk assessments.
• Management and development, delivery and audit of an effective fire safety training programme.
• The reporting of fire incidents in accordance with Trust policy and external requirements.
• Lead liaison with enforcing authorities i.e. Fire Service, Local Authority Planning & Building Control
• Be the lead Liaison with independent Authorising Engineers (Fire);

About us

Join us at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, where our passion for excellence drives everything we do.

We're on a mission to provide high quality, safe care to our patients, in an environment our incredible staff are proud to work in.

Our vision, 'To provide excellent care for the communities we serve,' is not just a statement; it's a promise we live by every day. Guided by our core Values - Partnering, Ambitious, Caring, and Trusted - we're determined to make a real difference in the lives of those who matter most: our patients and their families.

If you're ready to be part of a team that's dedicated to continuous improvement, come join us and let's make a difference together!

Job responsibilities

For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Science or engineering-based education to master's degree level; or extensive experience of fire safety.
• Graduate membership of a professional organisation (Institution of Fire Engineers; Institution of Occupational Safety and Health).
• Professional qualification in a fire related subject.
• Demonstratable and Extensive Training in Healthcare Fire Safety.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Knowledge, Behaviours and Experience

• Considerable experience of operating in a senior management role.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries to improve standards.
• Considerable experience of working with external agencies i.e. local authorities (Planning, Building Controls),Fire Service etc.- and influencing internal change.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, its practical implications and application.
• Specialist knowledge and experience in the application of Firecode.
• Specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and practice of fire risk management techniques.
• Ability to take the lead whilst developing policies, protocols and procedures for ensuring that the workplace / significant part of, is safe for patients, staff and all other service users.
• Significant understanding of fire safety strategies in order to validate complex risk assessments undertaken by other specialist Fire Safety Advisors.
• Practical knowledge and interpretation of the Building Regulations 2010.
• Ability to identify and prepare business cases to obtain capital funding to resolve significant fire safety risks.
• Excellent computer skills, being proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook and Sharepoint etc.
• Excellent organisational skills with practical and methodical project planning and ability to manage a number of concurrent schemes.
• Excellent numeracy skills and application of these skills for performance and budgetary analysis.
• Capability to devise and manage the delivery of fire safety training programmes - Trustwide and to external organisations if part of any contract or service agreement
• Ability to lead a positive / commercial approach to customer care.
• Ability to work without supervision, in a demand driven service.
• Ability to work under pressure and to make judgements on the correct course of action.
• Ability to manage budgets (pay, non- pay etc.) and act as signatory for the service.
• Ability to manage contracts and service level agreements with other external organisations.

Skills

• Highly developed and effective negotiating and influencing skills and ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships with professional and managerial disciplines.
• Highly developed management skills and the ability to maximise resource utilisation.
• Highly developed and effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to assimilate, analyse and present complex problems identifying necessary action, make recommendations and ensure actions are implemented.
• Knowledge / Understanding of different types of equipment/software/web technology or computer software that can be utilised for communication and training purposes.
• Ability to chair meetings.
• Guided by fire safety legislation; lead specialist on fire related capital projects.
• Required to act independently within appropriate guidelines, deciding when it is necessary to refer to their manager.
• To lead on specialist aspects (fire related), responsible for interpreting legislative and other requirements.

Specific Job Requirements

• A flexible approach is necessary to make judgements based upon interpretation when not all of the facts are available.
• May be required to work outside core hours as service demands.
• Occasional working at heights and in confined spaces e.g. scaffolds or roof voids.
• Normally office based. When required visits to other areas/ external organisations for meetings or to conduct surveys, assessments or training
• To maintain a current driving licence and willing to travel and work between all Trust and contracted locations.

Other

• Highly motivated and resourceful with a proactive approach to problem - solving.
• Innovator with a positive attitude and willingness to take responsibility.
• Self-motivated and has the ability to use own initiative.
• The ability to motivate others to deliver sometimes challenging outcomes.
• Excellent ability to manage staff.
• Ability to work within a changing environment.
• Willingness to participate in continued professional development.
• To attend and fully participate in training provided by the Trust.
• Satisfactory DBS check.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

£53,755 to £60,504 a yearPer annum/pro rata