Strategic Lead - Fire & Building Safety (Private Sector)

London Borough of Tower Hamlets; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave (29–33 days)

Flexible working

Staff money-saving schemes

Learning Academy

Job summary

London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking a seasoned programme leader to drive delivery of a high-profile, multi-agency safety and housing standards programme in London. You will steer a multi-disciplinary team, manage critical stakeholder relationships, and ensure robust data and reporting to Government bodies.

The role reports to the Director and requires extensive experience in high-risk residential buildings, policy compliance, and effective escalation for residents’ safety.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Building Safety Act 2022 and Housing Act 2004.
• Understanding of high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings.
• Strong understanding of risk governance, compliance, and enforcement in high-risk residential buildings, with a focus on external wall systems and systemic building defects.
• Proven ability to lead a sensitive and high-profile programme.
• Experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team in a high-pressure environment.
• Extensive experience negotiating compliance outcomes with freeholders, agents, developers, and leaseholders.
• A commitment to improving housing standards and resident safety.

Responsibilities

• Leadership of the team's programme of work and its resources.
• Stakeholder relationship management.
• Installation of robust data management.
• Submission of statutory and other returns to government, GLA or others.
• Solution focussed strategic advice.

Skills

Programme leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data management

Risk governance

Enforcement knowledge

Housing safety focus

Job description

Tower Hamlets is rebuilding its team dedicated to deliver the London Remediation Acceleration Action Plan to keep residents safe in their homes. This role will at the heart of leading that work.

The role does not require technical qualifications but is moreover about programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and a commitment to resident safety.

Reporting directly to the Director this role will provide effective programme management and strategic advice.

As well as strong and inspirational leadership working closely with MHCLG, GLA, Homes England, LFB, JIT on prioritisation and escalation.

You'll implement a resources plan and effectively and manage a high-profile, multi-disciplinary technical team delivering inspections, assessments, enforcement, and legal casework.

You'll act as the main senior escalation point for buildings of concern and be an active listener to resident concerns.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership of the team's programme of work and its resources
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Installation of robust data management
• Submission of statutory and other returns to government, GLA or others
• Solution focussed strategic advice

About You

You will have:

• Knowledge of Building Safety Act 2022 and Housing Act 2004.
• Understanding of high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings
• Excellent understanding of risk governance, compliance, and enforcement in high-risk residential buildings, with a focus on external wall systems and systemic building defects.
• Proven ability to lead a sensitive and high-profile programme.
• Experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team in a high-pressure environment
• Extensive experience negotiating compliance outcomes with freeholders, agents, developers, and leaseholders
• A commitment to improving housing standards and resident safety

This is a fixed term contract for 24 months.

• Generous annual leave: 29 days, rising to 33 with 5+ years service, plus bank holidays and 3 additional days at Christmas.
• Flexible and agile working to support work-life balance.
• Staff money-saving schemes (e.g., rent deposit loans, season ticket loans).
• Learning and development opportunities through our Learning Academy, with clear career development and leadership pathways.