Senior Fire Safety Engineer

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

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Job Description - Senior Fire Safety Engineer () Job Title: Senior Fire Safety Engineer

Job Number:

Position Details Accommodation & Commercial Services

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Grade: Grade 8

Working arrangements: Full time (nominal 35 hours). Hybrid working - minimum of two days per week onsite, depending on business needs, after the initial training/induction period.

Evenings and weekend working may be required, as business needs. A requirement to participate in an out of hours on call rota may also apply.

Closing date: 04-Jan-2026, 11:59:00 PM (shortlisting and interviews will take place throughout the advertising period and the advert will be closed immediately if filled). Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

About the University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.

Further information about the University can be found here.

The Role and Department As Senior Fire Safety Engineer, you will be responsible for applying advanced fire engineering principles in the design and assessment of buildings across a diverse estate. This includes the technical delivery of fire safety services, design and drawing appraisals, and ensuring compliance with Approved Document B, BS9999, BS9991 or performance based fire engineering solutions. You will provide expert advice on a wide range of fire safety issues such as compartmentation, passive and active fire protection systems, occupancy levels, fire escape strategies, emergency lighting, alarms, fire suppression systems, fire fighting equipment, and specialist systems.

You will also assess fire safety arrangements for disabled occupants, fire appliance access, and construction phase fire safety. You will produce and review Fire Safety Manuals and provide technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle. Extensive experience in fire dynamics and delivering fire engineering consultancy across complex projects is essential.

In addition to technical expertise, you will lead the Fire Safety team, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and professional development, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. You will also lead on policy development, internal governance, and quality assurance, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and institutional standards. By promoting a deep understanding of fire safety policy and external developments, you will play a key role in shaping the future of fire safety provision within the University.

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses.

Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University, you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 days annual leave, in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme. As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS) which the University will also add contributions to.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24 7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and children's clubs in the summer holidays.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values. Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It's important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under represented in our workforce including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Where a criterion has an asterisk next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.

Your application should cover the following criteria:

1. Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or substantial equivalent experience in a similar role.
2. MFireE and IFE Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design, or equivalent.
3. Chartered, or working towards chartered status, as a Fire Safety Engineer.
4. Professional practitioner with specialist up to date fire safety law, building codes and best practice and expertise to influence service delivery and activities within the organisation.
5. Experience of participating in networks to share and discuss good practice and develop strong and productive working relationships.
6. Experience of delivering and developing specialist fire safety advice, guidance and oversight for buildings and estates.
7. Experience of developing and implementing fire safety management systems.
8. Experience of auditing fire safety management systems against a recognised standard.
9. Experience of providing specialist fire safety advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
10. Experience of implementing fire safety policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

1. Knowledge of fire modelling simulation.
2. Knowledge and familiarity on computer aided design (CAD) packages, building information management (BIM), active fire protection (AFP) and passive fire protection (PFP).
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