INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Fire Safety Manager
Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Hybrid Working
The Fire Safety Team support the Council & other stakeholders to fulfil their statutory obligation in relation to Fire Safety and liaise with external organisations such as the HSE and the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.
About you
As Fire Safety Manager you will bring to the role:
1. You will have extensive knowledge of the Building Safety Act, the Building Regulations, social housing legislation and health & safety legislation.
2. You will have Chartered Membership of IOSH or equivalent fire safety qualification, such as NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or IFE course.
3. You will have extensive experience of providing complex reports detailing budgets, contract progress and compliancy targets.
4. A strong focus on accuracy, organisation and attention to detail.
5. 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 repairs, planned works, compliancy, regeneration schemes. Work in collaboration and co-operation with the HRB Building Safety Coordinator and HSE.
In this role you will be required to manage on a day-to-day basis the Fire Safety Management functions within Asset Management and corporately. Taking responsibility for the implementation, reviewing and auditing of policies. You will be expected to support the Council & other stakeholders fulfil their statutory obligation in relation to Fire Safety and liaise with external organisations such as the HSE and the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.
You will have Chartered Membership of IOSH or equivalent fire safety qualification, such as NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or IFE course. Have extensive knowledge of social housing and Health & Safety legislation. You will be required to provide complex reports detailing budgets, contract progress and compliancy targets.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
6. a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
7. membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
8. flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
9. a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
10. a range of to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
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 Description
Job Purpose
The role of the Fire Safety Manager is to provide the lead on fire safety advice throughout the Council. Acting as a Business Partner for fire safety matters, they will work closely with directorate management/ leadership teams, chief officers, high rise risk board working in co-operation with the HRB Building Safety Coordinator, Capital Programme Managers, and Service Managers to identify issues and provide appropriate fire safety solutions through strategic planning. They will help them to improve and ensure compliance with fire safety legislation and good practice, through the provision of effective guidance, advice, monitoring, audit, and review.
Most importantly, this role fulfils that of one of the organisation’s ‘competent people’, pursuant to the statutory requirement to have access to professional and technical fire safety advice.
This will be done through.
11. Building a rapport and establish credibility with service managers and other stakeholders across the council on all fire safety matters.
12. Establishing and maintaining a good working relations / rapport with West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, in a partnership approach.
13. Work in collaboration and co-operation with the HRB Building Safety Coordinator and HSE.
14. Managing the delivery of the fire safety service, as part of the Health and Safety Team, to support service managers and other stakeholders - anticipating, influencing and ultimately delivering against defined business needs;
15. Providing advice, guidance and support to managers on all fire safety and related matters, identifying risks and opportunities and working to produce creative and pragmatic solutions to issues raised.
16. Supporting the Head of Health and Safety to deliver health and safety services across the council;
17. Championing / leading on organisation-wide fire safety (and related) projects and initiatives
Responsibilities
18. To act as the lead, competent fire safety professional for the Council,
19. To act as a business partner on fire safety matters, working closely with senior managers to identify issues and provide appropriate solutions through effective planning.
20. To work with Corporate Fire Safety Manager to help ensure the authority’s compliance with all Fire Safety Legislation and guidelines.
21. To inspect and assess premises, as necessary, to help managers ensure premises comply with current Fire Safety Legislation.
22. To identify appropriate training for staff responsible for completing fire safety risk assessments in all authority premises.
23. To liaise pro-actively with The Fire Service and the Local Authority Building Control, as required, on all the above matters.
24. To provide advice on emergency evacuation procedures.
25. To assist in the development and maintenance of the organisation’s fire safety management system, including proactive and reactive monitoring.
26. To lead on the identification of fire safety development needs and to undertake ad-hoc training interventions around fire safety.
27. To effectively communicate and present information on a range of Fire Safety issues and project areas to a range of audiences.
28. To lead on the development of appropriate and effective management of fire safety, taking into account best practice, legislation and specific business needs.
29. To provide performance information to senior managers and the Head of Health and Safety to enable an assessment as to whether fire safety is being managed effectively in line with legal requirements, council standards and good practice. This will be done through developing a robust active and re-active monitoring framework.
30. To provide professional and technical support to Health and Safety Managers and Advisers on fire safety matters.
31. To manage and develop staff as appropriate.
32. To provide professional, flexible, timely and high-quality fire safety advice and support to service managers and staff across the council.
33. To lead on the investigation of accidents and incidents, specifically in relation to fire safety, across the Council, ensuring that improvements to prevent a recurrence are identified and shared with service managers.
34. To meet performance objectives and standards as agreed with the Head of Health and Safety.
35. To ensure consistent implementation and interpretation of the Fire Safety Performance Standard across the council, but with the ability to think creatively wherever possible and to share approaches to accrue wider benefit.
36. To build the competency and confidence in terms of the provision of fire safety services.
37. To develop excellent relationships with key stakeholders, in particular managers at all levels, Trade Unions and the Business Support Centre. This would also include liaising with HM Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive, West Yorkshire Fire Service and other enforcement bodies as necessary.
38. To input into the Health and Safety Management Team to establish effective networks with peer groups across the Council to ensure that developments in relevant functional areas are shared, and best practice and learning is disseminated.
39. To input into both corporate and local health and safety committees and local Trade Union consultation and negotiation, as relates to fire safety.
40. To take a corporate lead on fire safety projects.
41. To support the Head of Service in developing and maintaining a robust health and safety management system across the council and taking a directorate lead on the proactive and reactive monitoring in relation to fire safety matters.
42. To support the Head of Service in developing the Council’s Health and Safety Strategy and Health and Safety Plan.
43. To keep abreast of legislation, case law and developments in fire safety and professional practice and communicate developments and relevant information within the Directorate as required.
44. To co-ordinate and/or contribute to council wide change initiatives and projects, especially as it relates to the fire safety agenda.
45. To carry out active and reactive monitoring to assess compliance with corporate and local procedures.
46. To be responsible for ensuring and promoting the health, safety and well-being of team members.
47. To be responsible for promoting equality and diversity through this role and that as a line manager.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.
Qualifications
Hold or are working towards a NEBOSH Fire certificate or equivalent fire safety qualification
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
48. Chartered Membership of IOSH or equivalent fire safety qualification, such as NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate or IFE course.
49. Contribute towards Trade Union, key partner or stakeholder discussions and negotiations on health and safety issues
50. Strong knowledge of landlord’s responsibilities in relation to repairs & maintenance
51. Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector
52. Strong knowledge safe construction Health & Safety procedures
53. Able to plan and organise own workload in a busy environment
54. Able to communicate with managers across the council confidently, persuasively and authoritatively
55. Able to manage staff to ensure work is carried out efficiently and effectively and that deadlines are met
56. Able to analyse and interpret varied and complex information or situations and produce appropriate fire safety solutions or strategies to difficult problems
57. Able to communicate orally or in writing complex and contentious information with a wide range of audiences
58. Able to work using discretion and initiative and deal with problems confidently
59. Able to work flexibly and demonstrate a commitment to developing a ‘One HR’ approach across the Council
60. Produce clear and concise, basic reports in relation to the service in a timely and accurate manner.
61. To actively promote and support the Council’s policies and practices on Equal Opportunities in relation to employment issues
62. Able to develop timely and cost-effective solutions to operational problems
63. To be able to engage managers and employees in considering fire safety issues making change happen using change management skills and tools
64. Experience of interpreting and applying fire safety legislation and / or best practice in a large, complex organisation.
65. Experience of developing and implementing health and safety management systems – including producing performance standards and guidance – specifically as it relates to fire safety.
66. Experience of reactive and pro-active management / monitoring in a large, complex organisation – including serious accident/incident investigations.
Desirable requirements
67. Experience of working within social housing
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
68. Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
69. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
70. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
71. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
72. Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
73. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
74. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
75. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
76. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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