Head of Fire Safety

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Fire Safety to lead fire safety management and compliance across Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL). As the University’s competent lead adviser, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors across the college’s estate.

Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will develop and implement our Fire Safety Management System and Fire Strategy, lead governance and assurance, and build a culture of excellence in fire safety across UAL. You will advise on major capital projects, oversee our fire risk assessment programme, and lead responses to regulatory matters and incidents, ensuring we meet and exceed statutory obligations.

This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the strategic direction, policy and culture of fire safety across one of the world’s most renowned creative universities, influencing ambitious projects and environments where our community can flourish.

About you

You will be an established fire safety professional, holding a recognised qualification in fire risk assessment and membership of a relevant professional body (such as IFSM). With deep knowledge of current fire legislation, including the Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Act, you bring strong technical expertise across both passive and active fire safety systems, alongside a commitment to compliance and best practice.

You are an influential and confident leader who can build trusted relationships, guide senior colleagues and external authorities, and communicate complex technical requirements in a clear, inclusive and practical way. You will also be an experienced people manager, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team.

Experience working within a large, complex or multi-site organisation is desirable, and your strategic, collaborative and resilient approach will ensure you can help shape safe, welcoming and inspiring environments for everyone who learns, works and visits our sites at UAL.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ 34 days of annual leave and 2 days off to volunteer plus bank holidays
▪ Flexible and Dynamic working options available from the first day
▪ Discounted Medical Insurance including Digital GP service, therapies, in-patient and day-case treatment
▪ Free counselling and advice via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
▪ Sector-leading Equal Parental Leave policy (6 months full pay for both parents) 
▪ Defined-benefit LGPS pension scheme
▪ In-house training and development including apprenticeships and free places on creative courses
▪ Interest free loans on travel and tech, discounts on gym memberships, nursery fees, eye care and much more
▪ Various opportunities to attend student shows and exhibitions

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University, we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That's why we are proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter (REC), are members of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers, and maintain our status as a Disability Confident Scheme and Living Wage employer.