Fire Risk Assessor

About this role

At Pennington Choices, we are recognised as building providers' trusted expert. We deliver large-scale, high-quality fire risk assessments, compartmentations surveys, and fire safety advice to the social housing sector, NHS, and private sector nationwide. We help building providers ensure the occupants of their buildings are safe and support them in maintaining compliance with regulations, legislation, and approved codes of practice. 

To develop our fire safety offer, we are looking for a Fire Risk Assessor to join our fire safety team. The principal focus of the role is to provide demonstrable technical competence when carrying out and producing fire risk assessments, compartmentation surveys, fire door audits, and when validating fire risk assessments in accordance with the BAFE SP205 certification scheme. Working collaboratively with our Head of Fire Safety, Operations Managers, and the fire safety team, you will support the delivery of fire safety programmes for our clients. 

About you  

We are ideally looking for individuals with a proven track record in fire safety, but we will also consider recently certified Fire Risk Assessors are keen to further themselves professionally and we have an established development plan in place to support you, which will include undertaking recognised professional qualification and ongoing support and validations. 

Role Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the role of a fire risk assessor are set out as follows: 

• Fire Risk Assessments – you will carry out fire risk assessments to a variety of building types and residential properties across several sectors (Housing, NHS, Education and Commercial). You will ensure we deliver ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessments with a high degree of quality and consistency. 

• Fire Risk Assessment Reports – you will provide fire risk assessment reports (using our internal platform) detailing the risks, significant findings, timed remedial actions and other non-timed recommendations in a timely manner, and no later than five days after the site visit. 

• Fire Safety Action Plans – along with the fire risk assessment report you will provide a fire safety action plan detailing the risks, significant findings, timed remedial actions and other non-timed actions. 

• Validation of Fire Risk Assessments – you will validate fire risk assessment reports in accordance with the BAFE SP205 scheme, to challenge and scrutinise findings and to ensure the quality of fellow fire risk assessor’s work. 

• Compartmentation Surveys – dependant on your level of knowledge, skills and experience, you may be required to deliver compartmentation surveys. If you wish to do so, relevant training and development will be provided to enable this. 

• Fire Door Audits – you will carry out fire door audits to a variety of building types and residential properties across several sectors (Housing, NHS, Education and Commercial). You will ensure we deliver ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire door audits in accordance with the requirements, with a high degree of quality and consistency. Relevant training and development will be provided if required to enable this. 

• Health, Safety and Well-being – you will help contribute to embedding a strong health, safety and well-being culture, by operating safely on site, within the parameters of the risk assessment for a fire risk assessor, and by reporting issues of concern early.  

• Key Account Management and Client Relationships - you will foster positive, productive and long-lasting relationships with each of our clients and support the Fire Safety Manager and Operations Manager with the mobilisation and pilot phases of new projects as required. 

• Consultancy Projects – you will assist, as required, the Consultancy Team and other Senior Managers in providing fire safety advice and technical support on fire related consultancy projects. 

• Personal Competence and Development – whilst Pennington Choices will support your development through the stages of our established development plan (as required) you will be expected to be pro-active in managing your own development by completing the relevant phases of the development plan in a diligent and timely manner. Pennington Choices will support the funding of this development, subject to the terms of a ‘training agreement’. 

Role requirements, skills and/or experience  

Essential: 

• Level 3 / Level 4 qualification in a fire related subject
• NEBOSH / IOSH qualification or similar.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Energetic towards team working, collaboration and company growth.
• Conscientious towards the health and safety of colleagues, customers and others.
• Accountable for high volume projects and services.
• Ability to manage financial budgets and forecasts.
• Experienced in developing and implementing BAFE SP205 accredited quality management procedures. 

Desirable:  

• BSc / BEng / MSc / MEng in a fire safety / compliance / surveying related subject.
• Level 4 Fire Risk Assessment Diploma.
• CFPA Europe Diploma in Fire Prevention.
• Professional Accreditation e.g., MIFSM, GIFireE/AIFireE/MIFireE.
• Fire Risk Assessor Register – NAFRAR, IFE Life Safety Register, FRACS etc.
• 2 years experience providing fire safety services to residential property owners and managers.
• Excellent Project Management skills.  

Personal Specification – required competencies 

Collaboration and teamwork 
 •  Effective communication skills
 •  Participate in group projects
 •  Confident in sharing ideas, asking questions, and taking on tasks
 •  Keen on developing interpersonal and communication skills   

Communication
 •  Refining skills through interactions with colleagues, superiors, and customers. Feedback from these interactions is crucial for growth 

Time management and organisation
 •  Use time management skills to manage multiple projects and responsibilities 

Leadership
 •  Start to refine your skills and expand your responsibilities
 •  Professional development in leadership including education, workshops, self-directed learning and feedback from colleagues  

Adaptability
 •  Focus on developing specific skills that contribute to adaptability 

Conflict resolution
 •  Communicate effectively to prevent misunderstandings that can lead to conflict
 •  Active listening, empathy, and clear, respectful expression during conflict 

Benefits

Pennington Choices has been recognised by Best Companies as being a very good employer each year since 2018. We offer a working environment that is stimulating, where our people are given the tools they need to help shape their careers. With approachable and supportive line management and a proven track record of promoting from within, we encourage our people to be the best they can be, and we provide them with training, variety and support to help them grow.

We also provide colleagues with:

• Competitive salary and transparent salary bands 
• Commitment to super flexible and remote hybrid working where applicable 
• 37.5-hour working week  
• 26 days annual leave plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata) 
• Additional leave for length of service up to 31 days each year 
• Opportunity to buy additional annual leave or sell surplus leave 
• Enhanced employer pension contributions of 4% when you contribute 6% 
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay 
• Regular Learning and Development opportunities 
• Regular company social events including an annual summer BBQ  
• Cycle to work scheme, offering savings of at least 32%* on a new bike and cycle safety accessories 
• Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme, saving 30-60% on an electric car (subject to eligibility)
• Access to an online platform providing employee discounts on hundreds of high street brands 
• Access to private healthcare, Employee Assistance Programme, and Wellness programmes including annual flu jab 
• Paid sick leave allowance each year 
• Free eye tests and contribution towards new glasses/frames
• Referral programme offering up to £2,000 
• Option for personal use of company vehicle (subject to eligibility)
• Access to paid volunteering days in support of local charities/initiatives
• Length of service reward
• Welcome goodie bag  

About us

Pennington Choices is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.  

Pennington Choices provides property surveying and consultancy services to organisations nationwide. We have a wealth of experience working with more than 800 public and private sector organisations across social housing, NHS, education, and rail since 2000.

At the heart of what makes Pennington Choices special is our people. We live by our values of being fun, resilient, brave and treating each other with respect. We also know there’s more to life than work, which is why we will encourage you to stay active, nurture your mental health, and create a fulfilling work/life balance. 

Our head office is a converted barn in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, located just 3 minutes from M56 Jct10, and we have regional offices in Bromley, Kent and Sheffield. We are a close-knit organisation with people at our very core, and we strive for excellence in everything we do. As winners of Employer of the Year at both the Warrington Business Awards and the South London Business Awards, we've been recognised by Best Companies as a very good employer each year since 2018. 

If successful, you will be joining us at a very exciting time. The business has already been through a period of substantial growth, concluding its current 5-year business plan in April 2024 which will achieve a turnover of £17.5m. A further 5-year plan through to 2029 is being developed with a projected growth to £40m.