Senior Overseas Fire Safety Officer (SOFSO)

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); England; On-site; GBP 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a Fire Safety Manager to lead the implementation of fire safety policies for overseas projects. The successful candidate will develop training, implement new safety structures, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Ideal candidates should possess significant fire safety management experience and relevant qualifications. Competitive salary with additional benefits is offered.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension

25 days Annual Leave

Learning and Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Hold or be working towards recognised qualifications in Fire Safety.
• Significant experience in Fire Safety management principles.
• Able to demonstrate understanding of UK Fire related regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of Fire Safety operating model.
• Advise on compliance with statutory duties in fire safety.
• Conduct fire safety inspections and audits.

Skills

Fire Safety Management

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Compliance Knowledge

Education

Level 3 or 4 Diploma in Fire Science and Fire Safety

Job description

Overview

The FCDO overseas estate is extensive in size and fire safety provision is managed via a devolved approach. The successful candidate will initially be responsible for leading and conducting a fire safety operating model review for the overseas platform and implementing a new overseas fire safety structure. As the Overseas Fire Safety subject matter expert within the Estates, Security and Network Department (ESND), you will lead on all aspects of fire policy development across the overseas estate including policy development and operational implementation. You will be required to develop training and awareness campaigns to drive improvements in competence and provide expertise and leadership across the function whilst also proactively working with colleagues at overseas networks to improve operational fire safety.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Be the subject matter expert on Fire Risk Management across the overseas estate and lead the development and implementation of the new overseas ESND Fire Safety operating model.
• Provide assurance to FCDO that compliance with statutory duties as prescribed in the FCDO policies and relevant legislation (e.g. Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order and Fire Safety England Regulations) are met so far as applicable (noting the legal application of UK legislation overseas is nuanced, however the FCDO approach is to default to this as a core baseline).
• Advise and influence large projects on the overseas estate to embed an ethos of Fire Safety within projects to ensure compliance with the RRFSO and to ensure a smooth project handover.
• Manage the ESND Overseas Fire safety Risk Register to track risk and progress mitigations to an acceptable level of risk, reporting and escalating areas of operational concern.
• Develop and implement fire safety policies and procedures for the overseas estate, liaising with FCDO departments and stakeholders to align with security constraints.
• Support colleagues across the overseas network to understand and address their obligations and duties in accordance with the FCDO fire safety code and help support them whilst they seek to discharge their duty.
• Conduct fire safety inspections and audits to ensure departmental compliance with Health & Safety obligations.
• Work with service delivery partners to ensure contracted duties to manage fire risk is discharged including maintenance, testing, exercise and training.
• Advise on life cycle asset management plans for all fire related life safety systems to ensure continued building functionality and risk mitigation.
• Deliver training on Fire Risks and execution of process for how to respond to various types of emergencies.
• Act as the focal point of escalation for departmental unresolved issues / concerns regarding Fire Safety for the overseas network.
• Investigate and report on all overseas fire safety related events.

Travel to overseas networks will be an important aspect of the role. It is estimated to be one week out of every eight, however the exact frequency and location will be agreed in advance with the Head of Global Building Compliance and Standards and be subject to business requirements.

Selection Criteria / Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

The Behaviours you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

You will also be asked two fire safety related questions. The first question will be a risk-based fire safety scenario. The second question will test your understanding of UK Statutory compliance requirements in relation to an operational estate drawing on, for example, your knowledge of the following regulations:

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Fire Safety Act 2021
• Fire Safety England Regulations 2022 - (January 2023)
• Building Safety Act 2022 and secondary legislation
• Section 156 Building Safety Act - Legalisation to be implemented in to the Fire safety Order

IMPORTANT: If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments to complete your application, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift by a lead Behaviour. For this campaign we will be prioritising Communicating & Influencing. Only candidates who meet the minimum standard in this Behaviour will have the rest of their application fully assessed.

Interview Stage

• If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview (in person) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London, Milton Keynes or East Kilbride. There may be the option to conduct the interview by Microsoft Teams for overseas candidates. If this is preferred, you must make this clear at the application stage.
• At the start of your interview, you will be asked a non-assessed warm-up question about your motivation for applying for the role.
• The Behaviours you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Candidates will be required to give a 10-minute presentation on a high-level Action Plan relating to fire safety at the Interview. The scenario will be sent to you in advance.

Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your Application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.

Reasonable Adjustment

• If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
• Hold, or be working towards, recognised qualifications in Fire Safety (e.g. Level 3 or 4 Diploma in Fire Science and Fire Safety or building industry qualifications with relevant experience in designing or managing fire safety).
• Significant experience and knowledge of Fire Safety and fire safety management principles.
• Good problem-solving skills with the ability to apply alternative fire safety solutions in line with guidance, for example, complex fire risk assessments, construction site fire risk assessments and technical solutions.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels and manage competing workloads and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to demonstrate understanding in Approved document B, Fire Strategies, BS9999 and other relevant guides and a strong understanding of UK Fire related regulatory requirements as applicable to the built environment RRFSO, BS5839
• Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) or equivalent.
• Demonstrable knowledge of fire protection design/building regulations.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK's role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK's security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.

Alongside your salary of £46,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £13,326 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service Pension.
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
• Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached candidate pack. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.