Building Safety Regional Manager

Building Safety Regional Manager Group Manager/Manager 1 Publish date: 7 May 2025 Closing date: 29th May 2025 at 12pm Salary: Manager 1 Hours: Fulltime permanent Overview

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) is the secondlargest fire and rescue service in England serving an area of 902km square and a population of more than 2.9 million people.

Our vision is Making the West Midlands safer stronger and healthier.

This vision and the strategic goals outlined in Our Strategy are what drives the people professionalism and pride with which we serve our communities.

We are seeking a Regional Manager to lead the West Midlands Region Building Safety Team (WMBST). This role will involve reviewing analysing challenging and managing fire safety solutions of buildings in scope of the Building Safety Act 2022. The regional manager will lead the fire and rescue service element of the WMBST delivering the Health and Safety Executives Building Safety Regulator (BSR) function.

Responsibilities The regional manager will recruit lead and manage a team of Fire Safety Inspectors (FSIs) and Fire Safety Engineers (FSEs) to deliver the WMBST function via a multidisciplined approach. This to ensure fire safety is considered at the outset of building projects and in existing premises in accordance with the Building Safety Act 2022 and other legislation. They will also line manage West Midlands Region building safety team staff manage the performance of the team and BSR associated budget responsibilities. The role will be embedded within the Protection department of WMFS reporting to the Head of Protection BSR National Coordinator and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop BSR service delivery from the fire and rescue service (FRS) perspective to improve efficiency and effectiveness of new systems and processes
• Work directly with representatives of the BSR across its functions Gateways 2 and 3 In Occupation and the Investigations and Intelligence Unit to develop implement and improve processes to support delivery. Including the provision of guidance.
• Receive process monitor and report on BSA Section 13 requests for assistance from the BSR
• Monitor workloads of team members and allocate/coordinate resources to meet the demands of the BSR
• Where competent to do so peer review technical reports prepared by team members
• Monitor interrogate and provide information on the recharging of costs to fund FRS BSR activity to stakeholders
• Carry out quality assurance work within the regional team both desktop and on site
• Collation of data resulting from the work of the regional team and submission of data returns to Protection Hub
• Manage regional BSR budget including provision of financial returns to NFCC and Home Office
• Ensure there is a valid Building Safety Act 2022 Section 13 request from the BSR that is recorded with the National Coordination Hub prior to any chargeable work being carried out. Without this request no charge for work can be made.
• Provide quarterly totals to West Midlands Region Heads of Protection for rechargeable work undertaken for the Building Safety Regulator
• Reconcile figures (hours and associated charging rate) provided by the BSR from their online portal against the NFCC led task/hours spent record
• Maintain a record of any additional costs experienced by FRS staff in providing resource to the BSR
• Maintain a team of technical officers to undertake BSR work within the region including recruitment and development of new staff and organise CPD for all team members. This is a shared responsibility with employing FRSs
• Regional BSR managers could be required to travel to any location within the FRS region as well as national meetings with the BSR NFCC and other Regional Managers
• Provide resilience as part of the national team of regional managers.
• Give advice on protection matters to statutory bodies planners architects other building professionals and members of the public attend internal and external meetings as a representative of the BSR and West Midlands Fire Service and to ensure effective communications within the Protection departments across the region
• Ability to work in multidisciplined teams with other agency staff such as HSE Inspectors Building Control Surveyors structural engineers and Housing/ Environmental Health Officers Building Safety Regulators etc
• Fact finding tasks processes system to support the BSR development systems.
• Keep fully apprised of national BSR developments and be committed to continuous learning and improvement. Provide evidence of development when required focusing on achieving outputs defined through professional or other competence standards
• Provide leadership and peer support as a member of the wider WMFS Protection Leadership Team.

Experience and skills The Regional BSR Manager needs to be technically competent to be able to quality assure the work by the region. They will provide professional advice on enforcement fire safety and technical queries and where necessary enforcement of fire safety regarding our statutory duties. Additionally you must demonstrate goodleadership skills to effectively guide and support the team while establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including regulatory bodies industry professionals and fire service colleagues. Your ability to lead influence and drive performance will be critical to ensuring the successful delivery of fire safety within the BSR framework.

Education and qualifications

• Competent Fire Safety Manager in line with the NFCC Competency Framework for Fire Safety Regulators (minimum Level 4 Fire Safety Diploma)
• Registered or working towards registration on the Contextualised Auditors Register.

Specialist knowledge and skills

• Good understanding and working knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) Fire safety Act 2021 Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 Building Safety Act 2022 and other current relevant fire safety legislation especially in relation to legal enforcement.
• Working knowledge and understanding of enforcing or advising on fire safety legislation within public sector departments other than fire and rescue (eg Building Control)
• Working knowledge of current fire safety guides and codes of practice issued to support the enforcement of the current legislation understanding their respective scope and limitations
• Practical experience of directing and undertaking projects and research analysing information and preparing concise summaries of research undertaken
• Experience of using a range of software applications and other technical packages together with an understanding of how IT systems can be utilised in relation to the duties of the post
• Highly effective communication skills in order to liaise with and advise staff at all levels to summarise management and technical information for nontechnical recipients and to draft complex reports and deliver complex presentations to aid others in decision making
• A commitment to and evidence of continuous professional development.

Interpersonal and communication skills

• To support partnership working relationships with other organisations and sector professionals locally regionally and nationally to ensure the provision of services to the community of the West Midlands region while contributing to the national picture
• Leadership is essential in this role requiring the ability to influence collaborate and build effective relationships with both internal teams and external stakeholders
• You must be able to drive strategic initiatives engagement and ensure alignment with regulatory objectives
• Excellent communication skills: verbal written and presentational to convey varied and technical information to a wide variety of stakeholders.

Relevant experience

• Excellent understanding of service delivery across the public sector with a political awareness and understanding of local government
• Ability to lead develop motivate and manage staff performance effectively
• A credible and resourceful individual who can encourage others by example and inspire confidence through what they do and how they do it
• Represent the West Midlands Region on BSR Committees and Working Groups. Carry out associated work and provide information in support of implementation project work as directed
• Conduct local regional and national meetings with sector stakeholders as required.

Benefits

We offer a friendly working environment and benefits including:

• flexible and agile working arrangements
• free onsite gym facilities
• free onsite parking.

We also offer access to an inhouse occupational health (OH) facility including OH health and fitness advisors sports therapists physiotherapists cognitive behavioural therapy practitioners and counsellors.

In addition employees have access to:

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• wellbeing programmes
• blue light discounts across many retailers through partner schemes
• Sports and Welfare scheme (for a small fee) with access to discounted products and services.

Diversity

We welcome applications from all eligible candidates. However as women and Black and minority ethnic employees are currently underrepresented in our service we particularly encourage applications from these groups.

WMFS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and adults. We expect the same of every staff member. Successful candidates will be subject to necessary preemployment checks including where applicable relevant level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check qualifications medical clearance identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references. How to apply

The role is open to both Grey and Green book employees who are Station Manager or equivalent and performing in role.

Given that the BSR is a new regulatory regime this role may evolve over time in terms of required skill sets responsibilities and anticipated workload.

Applicants should register their interest by submitting a CV supported by a personal statement (max 1000 words).

Closing date: 29th May 2025 12:00 noon

Questions

If you have any questions about the role or would like an informal discussion please contact Nigel Sowden onor by email at

Job Description