About the role

Head of Fire Compliance

At Balfour Beatty, safety is fundamental to everything we do. As our Regional Buildings business continues to deliver high‑quality, complex projects across the UK, we are seeking a Head of Fire Compliance to provide expert leadership and assurance across our portfolio.

This senior role can be based anywhere in the UK, with travel as required to support our regional teams and projects. You’ll play a critical role in overseeing fire safety compliance, ensuring buildings are safe, compliant and performing as intended throughout their lifecycle.

Working closely with operational, technical and supply chain teams, you’ll embed best practice, provide clear direction and act as a trusted authority on fire compliance—helping to protect occupants, clients and our reputation, while supporting the long‑term success of our buildings.

What you'll be doing

The Head of Fire Compliance will sit within the Technical Function and report to the Head of Construction Compliance.

The role will provide technical expertise to the organisation on Fire Safety Compliance to help ensure our Building projects meet statutory requirements. As Balfour Beatty’s subject matter expert (SME) on Fire Safety related matters the individual will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure the business delivers to current standards and Regulations as well as identifying and preparing the business for future changes.

Technical Assurance

Own and maintain the Fire Safety strategy for the Regional Buildings business unit.
Develop and implement clear guidance enabling project teams to meet industry design standards.
Define processes to ensure regulatory compliance and the selection of certified, test-backed products.
Track legislative change and update organisational procedures and guidance accordingly.
Support development of systems to record, verify and maintain compliance across the project lifecycle (the Golden Thread).
Engage project teams at all levels to ensure understanding and consistent application of technical standards.
Review competency requirements and oversee fire safety training programmes.
Manage Fire Engineering Specialist relationships, defining requirements for reports, assessments and testing.
Provide regular reporting on project issues, competence, Golden Thread visibility and legislative change, highlighting risks and mitigation actions.

Procurement

Lead technical engagement with the supplier framework to agree resourcing and a catalogue of compliant, tested products and solutions.
Identify gaps in test evidence and influence suppliers to expand testing programmes.
Evaluate innovation and fire-engineered solutions prior to adoption across Balfour Beatty projects.

Preconstruction

Undertake bid-stage technical reviews to identify fire safety risks, client culture, designer capability and overall business risk.
Engage clients to reinforce the importance of fire safety where cost, design or procurement constraints challenge best practice.
Review and audit Fire Strategies and related design prior to contract award, supporting management of Technical Risk Registers covering evacuation, firefighting, and active and passive fire protection.
Support engagement with fire authorities and building control to achieve aligned and approved designs.
Monitor Passive Fire Protection design and coordination to ensure compliant, buildable solutions.

Construction

Provide or procure technical support and peer reviews as part of the technical due diligence programme.
Support project teams and the Passive Fire Protection Lead in developing, delivering and recording inspection and test plans to demonstrate compliance.
Support supply chain partners in developing compliant passive and active fire protection solutions, including certification and design guidance.
Support engagement with third parties to achieve a consistent interpretation of Building Regulations and the Fire Safety Bill.

Post-Construction

Provide technical input into reviews of potential fire-related defects, advising on compliance against standards in force at construction and the extent of remedial works.
Support post-completion dispute resolution with the Post-Construction Team, including recommendations for specialist third-party input.
Assist in appointing consultants to prepare detailed technical reviews and responses to fire-related defect claims.

Who we're looking for

Minimum of 10 years working in a related environment working around Fire Engineering and passive and active fire safety measures.
Knowledge of current codes, regulations and standards pertaining to fire safety and protection and the links between Fire Strategy and Regulatory Requirements and granular activity in design and construction.
Excellent communication skills.
Experience of working openly and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to engage and influence.

Preferably:
Degree in fire engineering.
Membership of a relevant professional body.
Evidence of continuing professional development.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Operating across England and Wales, our buildings teams create places where people live, are cared for, work, learn, meet and have fun, with a focus on the aviation, health, defence, education and development sectors.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com

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