Fire Safety Officer

Leeds Safe Roads Partnership; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council organization in Leeds is seeking a Fire Safety Officer to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations across council assets. You will conduct risk assessments, provide training, and manage contractors to promote safe living environments for residents. The ideal candidate will have a NEBOSH Fire Safety qualification and strong project management experience within social housing. This role offers competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave entitlement

Membership of West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fire safety management.
• Strong knowledge of building defects and landlord responsibilities.
• Experience in project management within social housing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fire safety inspections and risk assessments.
• Provide training and advice to colleagues on fire safety.
• Manage contractors and internal service providers for fire safety.

Skills

Management of priorities

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Project management

Education

NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate

Membership of IFSM

Job description

Overview

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a forward- thinking, experienced and motivated Fire Safety Officer within Asset Management (Housing).

The role is responsible for undertaking inspections, risk assessments and retrospective fire safety strategies to council assets to manage the corporate risk arising from fire safety. You will determine stock condition, defects, and risk, then identify, diagnose, and develop solutions to assist the overall asset management of the authorities housing stock in line with legislation, internal policies and procedures.

About you

As Fire Safety Officer, you will bring to the role:

• The ability to provide advice, training, and expertise to divisional colleagues with regards to actions to take to improve fire safety
• The ability to produce specifications and schedules of work where required.
• A passion for supporting staff, customers and communities.
• A strong focus on accuracy, organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise work to ensure that deadlines are met.

About the role

Leeds City Council manages approximately 54,000 Council Properties; we deliver services to a diverse community and work in close partnership with agencies and organisations in the City.

The Asset Management division is part of Housing Leeds, responsible for the management and delivery of all Asset Management related services, including fire safety, repairs, planned works, compliancy and regeneration schemes.

Reporting to the Senior Fire Safety Officer you will be required to work across different geographical locations around the city in-order to ensure that residents can live safely and comfortably in their homes. You will liaise with residents and local teams in-order to respond to problems, and assist with the design and implementation of solutions, as well as working jointly with teams across the Housing Service to facilitate joined up working.

You will be responsible for the effective day-to-day management of contractors and Internal Service Providers and appropriate maintenance of council housing commercial assets and in particular within High Rise multi occupancy buildings.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Patrick Gibbons, Corporate Fire Safety Manager, Call 07891 272407 or email [e-mail]

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job purpose

The purpose of your role is to support the management of the corporate risk arising from fire safety. Your role will be carried out across different geographical locations around the city in order to ensure that residents can live safely and comfortably in their homes.

Responsibilities

• Undertake inspection, risk assessments and retrospective fire safety strategies to council assets.
• Determine stock condition, defects and risks, then identify, diagnose and develop solutions to assist the overall asset management of the authorities housing stock, in line with legislation, internal policies and procedures.
• Provide advice, training and expertise to divisional colleagues upon actions to take to improve fire safety, produce specifications and schedule of works where required.
• Liaising with residents and local teams in order to respond to problems, assist with the design and implementation of solutions.
• Ensure effective day to day management of contractors and internal service providers and appropriate maintenance of council housing commercial assets, in particular within high rise multi occupancy buildings.
• Frontline delivery of the service and collection of asset related information in-line with council and departmental performance standards, values, policies, and priorities.
• Manage all activities in compliance with legal, regulatory, contract and internal requirements.
• Support the delivery of service plans in-line with council objectives to achieve excellence.
• Continually drive a value for money, customer focused service.
• Take ownership for operational issues and manage relationships with all stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
• Ensure the ordering and delivery of works within individual delegated budgets and agreed budget profiles, including the prioritisation, and planning of work.
• Take accountability for the outputs of all duties.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• Support the delivery of service plans in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the continuous and on-going innovation and improvement of the service in-line with council objectives in order to achieve excellence.

Qualifications

Technical Qualification in the field of fire safety management, such as NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or IFE course or working towards.

Membership of a professional body i.e., IFSM

Essential Requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Ability to manage priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Developing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and report to a wide range of audiences.
• Considerable experience of using Microsoft packages and IT systems.
• To support on driving a culture through the team that is focussed both on customers and quality.
• Completion of reports in a diligent and accurate manner.
• Considerable experience of project management.
• Support on engagement with managers and contractors in order to effectively progress change.
• Technical Qualification in the field of fire safety management, such as NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or IFE course or working towards.
• Membership of a professional body i.e. IFSM
• Strong knowledge of building defects / construction techniques
• Strong knowledge of landlord’s responsibilities in relation to repairs & maintenance.
• Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector.
• Strong knowledge safe construction Health & Safety procedures
• Experience of working within a fire safety management field, preferably within domestic property refurbishment.
• Experience of carrying out Fire Risk Assessments of in an asset management related service area.
• Experience of working jointly with staff and contractors from different teams/organisations to achieve common goals.
• Experience of working within social housing.
• Considerable experience of working within social housing.
• Considerable experience of working within a complex political environment.
• Working with an Internal Service Provider.
• This post requires the holder to hold a current driver’s licence and have access to a car

Essential Behaviour and other characteristics

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters