Fire Safety Manager Job Description
Hire an experienced Fire Safety Manager to lead fire safety and compliance across your estate. This role combines technical risk assessment, contractor and stakeholder management, training delivery and incident investigation to ensure buildings and people are protected and compliant with UK fire safety law.
What does a Fire Safety Manager professional do?
Leads fire safety compliance, carries out fire risk assessments, manages remedial activity and delivers training across a property portfolio.
Fire Safety Manager job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Fire Safety Manager
About the role
We are seeking a Fire Safety Manager to join [EMPLOYER NAME] in [LOCATION]. You will be responsible for carrying out and reviewing fire risk assessments, developing and maintaining fire safety policies, managing contractors and service providers, delivering staff and tenant training, and acting as the principal point of contact for fire safety compliance. This role will involve regular site visits and may include an on-call rota; reporting line: [REPORTING LINE].
Key responsibilities
- Plan, complete and review Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) for buildings in the portfolio and produce clear, prioritised action plans.
- Develop, update and implement fire safety policies, procedures and evacuation arrangements in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and relevant British Standards.
- Manage day-to-day compliance activities including fire alarm, detection, emergency lighting, extinguishers and suppression systems inspections and remedial works via contractors.
- Schedule and deliver staff, tenant and contractor fire safety training and evacuation drills; maintain training records.
- Audit compliance across sites, carry out site inspections and follow up on corrective actions to closure.
- Investigate fire incidents and near misses, prepare incident reports and recommend preventive measures.
- Liaise with the fire and rescue service, enforcing authorities and external consultants as required.
- Maintain up-to-date statutory records, certificates and logbooks; ensure document control for FRAs, maintenance records and training registers.
Essential skills and experience
- Proven experience delivering Fire Risk Assessments and managing fire safety across multiple buildings or a sizeable estate.
- Practical knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the ability to apply it to building management and operational controls.
- Experience specifying, managing and monitoring maintenance and remedial works carried out by contractors.
- Able to produce clear technical reports, action plans and compliance documentation.
- Strong communication skills with experience delivering training and engaging colleagues, tenants and external agencies.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to travel regularly to sites within the employer's area of operations.
Desirable
- Formal fire safety or health & safety qualifications (for example NEBOSH Fire Certificate or equivalent) or membership of a recognised professional body.
- Experience in the specific sector of the employer (residential landlords/housing associations, healthcare, education, commercial offices, industrial or retail).
- Experience with fire safety management software or electronic compliance systems.
- Full UK driving licence for regular site visits.
- Understanding of building services (electrical, HVAC) and compartmentation principles.
What we offer
- Pension scheme (details to be confirmed by employer)
- Annual leave entitlement (to be specified by employer)
- Hybrid or flexible working options (employer-defined)
- Professional development and training budget
- Home/field-based working allowance or travel reimbursement
- Paid on-call allowance where applicable
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Fire Safety Manager role?
A Fire Safety Manager directs and coordinates fire safety measures across buildings and estates. The role focuses on risk assessment, compliance with UK fire safety legislation, contractor oversight, technical record keeping and delivering training and evacuation procedures. It requires the ability to translate technical findings into practical, prioritised actions and to liaise with enforcement bodies and stakeholders.
Compliance & Risk
Ensure buildings meet legal duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order through assessed controls and documented actions.
Policies & Procedures
Develop and maintain fire safety management systems, policies, evacuation plans and training records.
Systems & Contractors
Specify and manage maintenance, installation and remedial works for detection, alarm and suppression systems.
Typical Fire Safety Manager responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Plan, complete
Plan, complete and review Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) for buildings in the portfolio and produce clear, prioritised action plans.
Develop
Develop, update and implement fire safety policies, procedures and evacuation arrangements in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and relevant British Standards.
Manage day-to-day compliance activities including
Manage day-to-day compliance activities including fire alarm, detection, emergency lighting, extinguishers and suppression systems inspections and remedial works via contractors.
Schedule
Schedule and deliver staff, tenant and contractor fire safety training and evacuation drills; maintain training records.
Audit compliance across sites
Audit compliance across sites, carry out site inspections and follow up on corrective actions to closure.
Investigate fire incidents
Investigate fire incidents and near misses, prepare incident reports and recommend preventive measures.
Liaise with the fire
Liaise with the fire and rescue service, enforcing authorities and external consultants as required.
Maintain up-to-date statutory records
Maintain up-to-date statutory records, certificates and logbooks; ensure document control for FRAs, maintenance records and training registers.
Fire Safety Manager skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Proven experience delivering Fire Risk Assessments and managing fire safety across multiple buildings or a sizeable estate.
- Practical knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the ability to apply it to building management and operational controls.
- Experience specifying, managing and monitoring maintenance and remedial works carried out by contractors.
- Able to produce clear technical reports, action plans and compliance documentation.
- Strong communication skills with experience delivering training and engaging colleagues, tenants and external agencies.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to travel regularly to sites within the employer's area of operations.
Useful where relevant
- Formal fire safety or health & safety qualifications (for example NEBOSH Fire Certificate or equivalent) or membership of a recognised professional body.
- Experience in the specific sector of the employer (residential landlords/housing associations, healthcare, education, commercial offices, industrial or retail).
- Experience with fire safety management software or electronic compliance systems.
- Full UK driving licence for regular site visits.
- Understanding of building services (electrical, HVAC) and compartmentation principles.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Fire Safety Manager job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Specify the portfolio
State the types and number of buildings the role will cover (e.g. 50 residential blocks, 10 schools) so candidates can judge scope and travel requirements.
Be clear about on-call and travel
If the role includes an on-call rota, frequent site visits or significant travel, place that information near the top of the advert.
List measurable outputs
Describe expected deliverables such as a yearly programme of FRAs, percentage reduction in outstanding remedial actions, or number of training sessions per year.
Use realistic essential criteria
Keep mandatory requirements to what you genuinely need day-to-day; move desirable qualifications and sector experience into the 'desirable' section.
Fire Safety Manager salary considerations
Salary for a Fire Safety Manager varies significantly depending on the employer, property types and responsibilities. Rather than quoting a single figure, consider the factors below when setting a salary band for this position.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Fire Safety Manager candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What types of buildings will I manage?
Candidates expect to know whether the role covers residential blocks, schools, hospitals, retail units or mixed portfolios as this affects technical and practical workload.
How much travel or site time is required?
Provide typical weekly site visit expectations and whether travel expenses or a company vehicle are provided.
Is there an on-call rota?
State if the role includes on-call duties, the rota frequency and whether there is an additional allowance.
Who will I report to and who reports to me?
Clarify reporting lines and any direct reports so candidates understand their level of autonomy and seniority.
What support and budgets are available for remedial works?
Candidates want to know whether they will manage budgets, have project teams and how much capital or revenue funding is typically available.
What training and professional development do you provide?
Experienced applicants will check for CPD support, access to specialist courses and assistance with professional memberships.
Where to post a Fire Safety Manager job
This role attracts candidates with technical fire safety experience and those from estates, facilities or property management backgrounds. Advertise on national job boards to reach general health and safety professionals, and on sector-specific sites and membership forums (housing, healthcare, education or facilities management) to target applicants with relevant building-type experience. Use professional networks and trade association channels to reach qualified fire safety practitioners.
Related health & safety / facilities / property job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Fire Safety Manager job description FAQs
Do Fire Safety Managers need a specific qualification?
There is no single legally required qualification, but employers should seek candidates with demonstrable competence. Relevant qualifications such as a NEBOSH fire certificate, fire safety management diplomas or equivalent experience are commonly used to evidence competence.
How should I assess a candidate's competence?
Ask for recent examples of completed Fire Risk Assessments, evidence of managing remedial projects, references from previous employers and technical answers to scenario-based interview questions that test practical judgement.
Should the job advert mention on-call duties?
Yes. On-call obligations significantly affect availability and pay expectations, so include rota frequency, response expectations and any on-call payment arrangements in the advert.
How do I check a candidate's technical understanding during interview?
Use a short written or practical exercise such as reviewing a sample FRA summary, identifying prioritised actions, or discussing how they would approach compartmentation or means of escape issues.
What background candidates should I target?
Target experienced fire safety practitioners, health & safety managers with fire remits, and estates/facilities managers who have managed compliance programmes for similar building types.
How often should a Fire Risk Assessment be reviewed?
Frequency depends on risk level and change. High-risk sites or premises with significant alterations should be reviewed annually or sooner after incidents or major works; lower-risk buildings may be on a longer cyclical review, but employers must keep assessments up to date and proportionate.
Ready to advertise your Fire Safety Manager vacancy?
Use this template to create a clear, targeted advert and publish through the channels above. If you need help reaching the right candidates, consider specialist job boards and professional networks for fire safety practitioners.
