Our Client is looking for an industry-leading professional to establish and lead a dedicated fire engineering division. The Fire Engineering Director will oversee the recruitment of new team members, the expansion of the company’s fire engineering service offering, and the development of internal fire safety expertise across the business.
Current fire engineering commissions include fire strategy reports for design projects in collaboration with the architectural and building services engineering teams, as well as working with the building surveying team on EWS-1 Form surveys. The Director will drive innovation, best practices, and compliance within fire engineering, ensuring the firm remains at the forefront of the industry.
Our Client provides architecture, building services engineering, building surveying, interior design, project management, quantity surveying, town planning, urban design, structural and civil engineering, and principal designer services from its offices in Sevenoaks, Bristol, Exeter, St Austell, and Plymouth. With a strong desire to further develop its fire engineering division as part of its multidisciplinary offering, the company is now actively seeking a highly experienced and strategic leader to direct and expand its fire engineering capabilities.
The successful candidate will be a senior figure responsible for the leadership, growth, and strategic direction of the fire engineering team. They will drive business development, ensure technical excellence, and foster strong client relationships. Travel will be expected as part of this leadership role to support business growth and project delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and develop the fire engineering team, overseeing recruitment, training, and mentoring of staff.
Define and implement the strategic direction for the fire engineering division, aligning it with the company’s wider goals.
Drive business development and client engagement, identifying new opportunities and securing high-value contracts.
Ensure high technical standards and compliance with fire safety regulations across all projects.
Manage complex fire engineering projects from inception to completion, ensuring successful delivery within agreed timeframes and budgets.
Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and professional networks to promote the company’s fire engineering expertise.
Collaborate with other disciplines within the business to provide integrated multidisciplinary solutions to clients.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of fire safety legislation, standards, and best practices.
Oversee the preparation of fire safety reports, risk assessments, and technical documentation.
Person Specification
The ideal candidate will demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, a strong commercial acumen, and a deep understanding of fire safety engineering principles. They will be passionate about driving excellence in fire safety and committed to developing a leading fire engineering team within a multidisciplinary environment.
Proven leadership experience within fire engineering, ideally at a senior management or director level.
Extensive knowledge of fire safety regulations, risk assessment methodologies, and industry best practices.
Strong business development skills with a track record of winning and delivering high-value projects.
Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of fire engineers.
Excellent client relationship management skills with a focus on delivering exceptional service.
Strong project management capabilities, with experience in managing large-scale and complex fire engineering projects.
Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities and drive business growth.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with strong report writing abilities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google software.
Full and clean UK driving licence, with access to own vehicle.
Key Benefits Summary
Highly competitive salary reflective of the seniority of the role.
Profit-sharing and performance-based bonus potential.
Opportunity to lead and shape the fire engineering division of a growing consultancy.
Payment of relevant professional subscription memberships.
Private healthcare.
Up to 30 days of holiday per annum plus Bank Holidays, with the option of holiday buying or selling.
Enhanced pension contributions.
Enhanced family-friendly benefits.