Fire Safety Manager in Suffolk

Suffolk | Hybrid Working
£53,051 – £55,224+ Local Government Pension & Benefits
Permanent

This is more than a compliance role.

We're looking for an experienced Fire Safety professional to own fire safety across a varied housing portfolio and help shape the future of building safety within a progressive local authority.

You'll act as the Council's lead expert and principal Duty Holder, influencing strategic decisions, driving a £10m+ investment programme, and ensuring residents are safe in the places they call home.

If you want a position where your expertise carries real weight, your advice directly influences senior leaders, and your decisions leave a lasting legacy, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

This role is focused on outcomes, leadership, and assurance rather than simply maintaining compliance.

You will:

• Take overall responsibility for fire safety compliance across the Council's housing stock.
• Act as the designated Duty Holder and trusted subject matter expert for all fire safety matters.
• Lead and develop a team of Fire Safety Surveyors, driving performance, consistency, and technical excellence.
• Design and implement fire safety strategies tailored to sheltered housing, temporary accommodation, and general needs homes.
• Ensure Fire Risk Assessments are robust, actioned, monitored, and fully auditable.
• Lead delivery of a £10m+ capital improvement programme, managing budgets, consultants, and contractors.
• Champion Building Safety Act compliance and embed the Golden Thread across all relevant assets and systems.
• Manage relationships with Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, supporting inspections, audits, and regulatory engagement.
• Oversee procurement and delivery of major fire safety projects through RIBA stages and public sector frameworks.
• Lead resident engagement initiatives, ensuring fire safety communication remains clear, transparent, and effective.
• Report performance, risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership teams and elected members.

• Strong experience leading fire safety compliance within social housing, local government, housing associations, NHS estates, or similarly regulated environments.
• Detailed understanding of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, Building Safety Act, and associated fire safety legislation.
• Experience managing Fire Risk Assessment programmes and ensuring remedial actions are effectively delivered.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and provide expert advice on high-risk and complex fire safety matters.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors, and specialist service providers.
• Strong programme and budget management skills.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop, and motivate technical teams.

• Membership of a recognised fire safety professional body.
• Experience acting as Responsible Person, Duty Holder, or equivalent accountable role.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement and contract management.
• Experience delivering major capital works programmes within occupied residential buildings.
• Understanding of resident engagement approaches in social housing environments.

This opportunity may be particularly attractive if you're currently working as a:

• Fire Safety Manager
• Senior Fire Safety Surveyor
• Building Safety Manager
• Head of Fire Safety
• Compliance Manager (Fire)
• Fire Risk Manager
• Building Safety Compliance Lead
• Senior Building Safety Surveyor

within a Local Authority, Housing Association, ALMO, NHS Trust, University estate, Defence estate, or other large residential portfolio.

Disclaimer: Any remuneration stated in this advertisement is indicative and will be dependent on the successful candidate’s experience, skills and qualifications. Final remuneration will be agreed with the successful candidate and will be subject to the terms of the contract.