Fire Alarm Commissioning Manager
Location: Site Based / Visiting Sites across the UK (London & South-based)
Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 per annum
Package: Company Car Provided (no car allowance uplift)
Working Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm (Standard Contract)
Start Date: Ideally January / February
Reporting To: Contracts Manager
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Fire Alarm Commissioning Manager to oversee the commissioning of Life Safety, Fire Detection, Fire Suppression, Sprinkler, Security, and Data Infrastructure systems across large-scale Industrial, Commercial, Residential, and Data Centre projects.
This is a senior, site-focused role requiring strong technical leadership, programme control, and the ability to manage multi-discipline commissioning teams. The successful candidate will ensure all systems are fully integrated, tested, validated, and handed over in line with British, European, BAFE, BRE, NACOSS, and project-specific standards, while meeting demanding client timescales.
Due to compliance requirements, candidates must have a strong Fire Alarm background and relevant training.
Key Responsibilities
Planning & Coordination
Develop and manage detailed commissioning plans, programmes, procedures, and schedules for ELV and Life Safety systems (Fire Alarm, PAVA, CCTV, Access Control, Intruder, Disabled Systems, etc.).
Review designs, specifications, and scopes to identify commissioning requirements and risks.
Coordinate with design teams, project managers, subcontractors, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure commissioning readiness.
Lead commissioning meetings, integration workshops, and progress reporting to senior management and clients.
Plan and manage resources across multiple projects to avoid programme conflicts or overruns.
Coordinate system integration workshops between life safety, security, sprinkler, fire suppression, and data systems.
Commissioning Execution
Lead and supervise commissioning engineers on site in line with the approved commissioning plan.
Carry out weekly progress and resource reviews to ensure programme adherence.
Oversee system programming, configuration, and integration (e.g. Fire Alarm interfacing with Access Control, BMS, and Data systems).
Ensure all commissioning issues are logged, rectified, retested, and closed prior to handover.
Manage commissioning gateways, punch lists, and close-out activities.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
Ensure full compliance with specifications, BAFE, BS, EN standards, and internal policies.
Support the standardisation of commissioning processes across multiple projects.
Coordinate third-party inspections, testing, and approvals.
Maintain comprehensive QA/QC documentation including test sheets, witness statements, and reports.
Review and validate commissioning scripts, method statements, and integrated test plans.
Documentation & Handover
Prepare and manage complete commissioning records, logs, defect reports, and evidence.
Support the production of as-built drawings, O&M manuals, and client training.
Oversee FAT, SAT, and final system handover.
Ensure all commissioning evidence is captured via approved digital platforms (e.g. Dalux, BIM360, Cx Software, ATP).
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
Lead, mentor, and develop commissioning engineers and teams.
Drive project close-outs with a strong focus on quality, safety, and zero defects.
Communicate risks early, escalate blockers, and protect key milestones.
Coordinate closely with M&E, BMS, electrical, mechanical, and other trades to ensure seamless integration.
Provide expert technical support and troubleshooting throughout project delivery.
Essential Requirements
Minimum 5+ years’ experience commissioning medium to large-scale projects, ideally within Data Centres or large commercial environments.
Proven experience commissioning Fire Detection, Voice Alarm (PAVA), Disabled Refuge Systems, Access Control, CCTV, and Intruder systems.
Strong knowledge of British, European, BAFE, BRE, and NACOSS standards.
CSCS Card and SMSTS certification.
Deep understanding of fire strategies, redundancy philosophy, data hall uptime commissioning, and integrated systems testing.
Experience managing multi-discipline commissioning teams and running commissioning workshops.
Ability to work across multiple projects to tight deadlines.
Strong communication, reporting, and client-facing skills.
High attention to detail, strong organisation, and a proactive, delivery-focused mindset.
IT-literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Desirable
FIA / NACOSS Advanced Installer & Advanced Commissioner training.
First Aid certification.
Experience with systems including:
Fire Alarms: Gent, WINMAG, DRAX, Advanced, Siemens, FAAST, Xtralis, Apollo
PAVA: Honeywell, Baldwin Boxall
Disabled Systems: Baldwin Boxall, C-TEC
Security Systems: Milestone, Xplan, CCure, AMAG, Lenel, Hikvision, Axis, Galaxy, Comelit, Commend
M&E coordination experience.
Previous experience within Fire, Security, or Data Infrastructure sectors