Group Head of Fire Engineering

PM GROUP; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international engineering firm seeks a Group Head of Fire Engineering to define strategies and ensure compliance across projects. The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, along with extensive experience in fire engineering and project management. The ideal candidate will manage multiple projects, liaise with clients and authorities, and promote a safety culture. This position offers an opportunity to shape fire engineering capabilities within a growing company.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in Engineering, Fire Engineering, or Architecture.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and resources concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with clients and project teams to define fire engineering deliverables.
• Develop fire engineering strategies and prepare technical reports.
• Oversee compliance with regional building regulations and codes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Decision Making

Time Management

Education

Level 8 qualification in Engineering

Fire Engineering

Architecture

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Overview

PM Group is a leading international engineering, architecture, project, and construction management firm. With offices across Europe, Asia, and the US, and a team of 3,500 professionals, we deliver complex projects in life sciences, food and beverages, mission-critical/ICT, advanced manufacturing, energy, and environmental sectors.

To support our global growth, we are seeking a Group Head of Fire Engineering who will report to the Group Head of Design, Health, and Safety. This senior role involves defining strategies, liaising with sub-consultants, insurers, design houses, and operators to ensure compliance with local and project-specific requirements.

The ideal candidate should be self-driven, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously, and passionate about developing the Fire Engineering capabilities within PM Group. The position is based in the UK or Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with clients, insurers, and project teams to define fire engineering deliverables and responsibilities.
• Initiate pre-consultation meetings with fire certificate permitting authorities.
• Understand building functions for compliance and associated risks, translating these into strategy documents.
• Develop fire engineering strategies using engineering principles and prepare technical reports.
• Apply national and international standards such as TGD B (Ireland), BS (UK), NFPA, and IBC codes.
• Integrate client and insurer requirements with local codes and regulations.
• Define RACI for fire compliance and translate into the Basis of Safety, executed by fire engineering coordinators and project managers.
• Oversee compliance with regional building regulations and codes.
• Manage relationships and contracts with regional sub-consultants and authorities.
• Lead fire reviews, project meetings, and coordinate with design teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Promote a safety culture across projects.
• Develop relationships with sub-consultants and client teams.
• Support global design teams to ensure fire engineering aspects are addressed in all projects.
• Document best practices across regions.
• Occasionally visit client or project sites locally and internationally.

Core Competencies

A broad knowledge of fire protection and its connection to engineering design and building compliance is essential. Key specialisms include:

• Codes and regulations
• Compartmentation
• Fire resistance
• Flame spread
• Fire fighting requirements
• Clean agent suppression
• Egress
• Explosion protection
• Fire alarm, detection, and signaling systems
• Passive fire protection
• Performance-based design and analysis
• Process fire safety
• Smoke control systems
• Structural protection
• Sprinkler systems

The role involves working on projects aligned with your core competencies, whether in fire engineering, project engineering, architecture, or engineering design. It is a global strategy and risk-focused role within PM Group's seven workstreams, including technical integrity, process safety, and construction.

Qualifications

• Level 8 qualification in Engineering, Fire Engineering, or Architecture.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in one of these fields.
• Chartered status is preferred but not mandatory.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and resources concurrently.
• Proposal and commercial management experience is advantageous.
• Strong communication, management, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with good decision-making skills and a strong work ethic.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

As an employee-owned company, we value inclusivity, commitment, and sustainability, aligning with our 2025 business strategy. We are dedicated to diversity and equal opportunity in our hiring process, providing accommodations for candidates with disabilities.