Head of Building Safety & Compliance

Construction; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodman Masson is recruiting for a Head of Building Safety & Compliance in Birmingham to lead the organisation's safety strategy and regulatory compliance across a large housing portfolio. You will drive governance, assurance frameworks and continuous improvement in building safety.

You will oversee statutory compliance, manage budgets and external safety providers, and lead a specialist team, engaging with senior stakeholders to translate technical risks into actionable recommendations.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Building Safety or related field; substantial senior-level experience may compensate.
• Recognised fire safety qualification relevant to the role.
• recognised health and safety qualification such as NEBOSH.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver Building Safety and Compliance Strategy aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Provide assurance to senior leaders on compliance performance and risks.
• Oversee statutory compliance across gas, electrical, fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene, lifts, CDM.
• Ensure compliance with Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Act and health and safety legislation.
• Lead investigations into incidents and regulatory concerns and coordinate remedial action.
• Manage budgets, contracts and external providers for safety services.
• Maintain robust compliance systems, data management and reporting for audit readiness.
• Strengthen risk management and improve safety performance across the portfolio.
• Lead and develop a specialist safety team and foster a strong safety culture.

Skills

Leadership experience

Building safety knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical communication

Education

Degree-level qualification in Building Safety or related field

NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent

Fire safety qualification

Job description

Head of Building Safety & Compliance - Social Housing
Birmingham Up to £78,000

Goodman Masson are partnering with a social housing provider to appoint a Head of Building Safety & Compliance on a permanent basis. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced housing professional to take a lead role in ensuring the organisation's homes, buildings and services meet all relevant statutory, regulatory and health and safety requirements.

We are seeking an experienced Building Safety and Compliance leader to drive the strategic direction, governance and delivery of property safety across a large and complex housing portfolio.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will provide strategic oversight of statutory compliance, strengthen assurance frameworks and ensure that safety risks are effectively managed. You will play a key role in maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting informed decision-making and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the organisation's Building Safety and Compliance Strategy, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and wider business objectives.
• Provide clear, evidence-based assurance to senior leaders, Board members and committees on compliance performance, emerging risks and areas requiring intervention.
• Oversee statutory compliance across key areas, including gas, electrical safety, fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene, lifts and CDM.
• Ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act, Fire Safety Act and relevant health and safety legislation.
• Lead investigations into significant incidents, compliance failures, audit findings and regulatory concerns, ensuring effective remedial action.
• Manage compliance budgets, contracts and external technical providers, driving value for money and service quality.
• Maintain robust compliance systems, data management processes and reporting frameworks to support effective monitoring, audit readiness and regulatory assurance.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen risk management, improve performance and enhance the organisation's approach to building safety.
• Lead, develop and motivate a specialist team, fostering accountability, technical expertise and a strong safety culture.

About You

You will be a credible and influential leader with the technical expertise and strategic vision to oversee complex building safety and compliance functions. You will be comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders, translating technical information into clear recommendations and driving improvements across a regulated property environment.

You will bring:

• Significant senior-level experience in building safety, fire safety, statutory compliance or property safety, ideally within social housing or a similarly regulated environment.
• A strong track record of leading multi-disciplinary compliance functions and implementing effective governance and assurance frameworks.
• Detailed knowledge of building safety legislation, higher-risk residential buildings and the regulatory requirements affecting residential property portfolios.
• Experience engaging with regulators, auditors, contractors and senior decision-makers on complex compliance matters.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, contracts and specialist technical services while maintaining high standards of performance and accountability.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to develop teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to assess complex risks and present clear, practical recommendations.

Essential Qualifications

• A degree-level qualification (Level 6 or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, such as Building Safety, Fire Safety, Occupational Health and Safety, Property, Construction, Building Surveying, Engineering or a related field. Substantial senior-level professional experience demonstrating equivalent competence may also be considered.
• A recognised qualification in fire safety appropriate to the role.
• A recognised health and safety qualification, such as a NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent.
• Evidence of ongoing