Head of Fire

Ark Workplace Risk | Hybrid with occasional travel to our London office | All Business Expenses | Competitive Benefits and Healthcare

Ark Workplace Risk is a market leading provider of operational risk, compliance and safety solutions, and work with a prestigious and diverse range of over 500 clients.

We are a leading safety consulting company dedicated to providing comprehensive safety solutions to our clients. Our mission is to help organizations ensure a safe and secure working environment for their employees.

Role Summary

We are seeking an outstanding fire safety professional to lead our fire safety service line. This is a pivotal, high-impact role designed to enhance the technical excellence, strategic development, and commercial success of Ark’s fire safety offering.

Reporting directly into the Professional Services Director, the Head of Fire will serve as the technical authority for fire safety across the business, acting as a senior advisor to consultants, the Customer Success Team, and senior leadership. You will be responsible for the development and upkeep of fire safety products, frameworks, and templates, as well as overseeing quality assurance and professional competence within the fire team.

This role requires a candidate with deep technical fire safety knowledge, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to support both operational excellence and business growth. The Head of Fire will play a key role in supporting the tender process by providing technical input, developing robust fire safety delivery models, and helping to shape compelling proposals that align with client requirements and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Act as Ark’s lead technical authority on fire safety matters.
• Lead the development, implementation, and upkeep of fire safety service products including:
• Fire risk assessments
• Fire strategies
• Fire management plans
• Compartmentation surveys
• Monitor legal, regulatory and best practice updates (e.g. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Safety Act 2022, Gateway 2 & 3) and advise stakeholders accordingly.
• Support the business in responding to serious fire-related incidents or enforcement actions.
• Undertake fire strategies and fire risk assessments for high-risk and complex buildings when required.

Quality & Competence

• Lead peer reviews of internal priority processes.
• Manage the competence framework and CPD schedule for fire safety consultants.
• Support the management of the QA / validation process for all fire-related reports, ensuring both quality and efficiency.
• Investigate and resolve fire-related non-conformances and systemic issues.

Client & Commercial Support

• Provide strategic and technical input into client tenders and proposals.
• Act as a senior point of contact for technical fire queries from clients and colleagues.
• Support business growth by delivering insightful thought leadership seminars/webinars.
• Build strong relationships with external bodies such as the Fire Authority, Building Safety Regulator, IFSM, IFE etc.
• Help shape the long-term growth and innovation strategy of Ark’s fire safety function.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Outstanding technical fire safety knowledge.
• Deep understanding of UK fire legislation, supporting standards and approved guidance.
• Comfortable with providing confident and calming advice in high-stakes scenarios.
• Approachable, collaborative and respected by peers and external stakeholders.
• Commercially aware with an understanding of resource allocation, fee proposals and margin protection.
• Strategic thinker capable of aligning technical delivery with business goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• Full membership with the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) or IFE.
• Registered on the IFSM Tiered Register of Competent Fire Risk Assessors (Tier 3) or eligible.
• Ideally holds (or working towards) a Fire Engineering degree.
• Holds a minimum Level 5 fire safety qualification.
• Experience within consultancy or client-facing fire advisory roles is essential.
• Minimum of 8 years in a senior fire safety role, with proven experience in managing complex fire safety assessments and compliance projects.

What We Offer

• Competitive & tailored salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• A collaborative and supportive work environment focused on achieving excellence in compliance, risk, and health & safety
• Working with our diverse range of clients within the built environment, including residential and commercial.
• A wide range of benefits including Private Healthcare plan, 5% matched pension plan, 4x salary life cover, 25 days holiday with option to increase via salary sacrifice, and Perkpal - perks and reward program.
• Social events with your colleagues.
• Professional Membership reimbursement

The business is committed to creating a safe and compliant environment for our clients. As our Head of Fire Safety, you will play a crucial role in delivering trusted compliance solutions and positioning Ark as a leader in fire safety.

Apply today to be part of our mission in “Creating a Better World by Delivering Trusted Compliance Solutions.