Accommodation & Commercial Services

Grade 6: - £26,715 - £32,817 per annum

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Closing Date: 30-Nov-2020, 7:59:00 AM 

Job Family: Business Process and People Services

The Department and role purpose    

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

• maintaining and regularly reviewing a maintenance programme which takes account of short, medium and long term needs of all buildings and University grounds;
• implementing the works identified and funded within the various maintenance programmes and operating a system for dealing with day-to day requirements, including the provision of an out-of-hours emergency service;
• providing a professional, technical service to the University for the design, construction and procurement of new buildings and adaptation works to existing buildings;
• identifying and recording the use of space and advising on ways of increasing space utilisation;
• property and asset management;
• acquisition and disposal of built environment related assets;
• procuring and managing utilities and services;
• providing postal, delivery and security arrangements and advice to the University; and
• the delivery of a wide-range of customer-facing services, including: contract management; estates and facilities relationships management; housekeeping and cleaning, business resilience, event management; reception helpdesk; university retail; business support; health and safety; and management information.

The Assistant Fire Safety Manager will be one of a team of two supporting the Senior Fire Safety Engineer with the provision of professional, frontline fire safety services, each with responsibility for an agreed geographic location across the University estate. 

The post-holder will contribute to the development of standards and the provision of fire safety training, as well as taking responsibility for specific elements of the Health and Safety Service proactive workload.

Core responsibilities:

• Experienced fire safety practitioner, planning and co-ordinating of projects and work streams with inter-related activities.
• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.
• Provide specialist fire safety support with problem solving and query handling, acting as the first point of contact for enquiries relating to fire-related incidents.
• Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience.
• Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills.
• Engage with external peers and specialists to exchange knowledge and information.
• Interpret data, and present information to relevant stakeholders.
• Implement and monitor protocols, procedures, processes and regulations, as appropriate.
• Investigate, monitor and report fire related incidents and complaints, making recommendations as appropriate, including reporting to the relevant statutory authorities.
• Carry out more in-depth investigations, searches and research information and data to identify trends and patterns.
• Take responsibility for day-to-day decision-making within own area of responsibility for operational aspects of fire safety, translating external requirements into practical application and advice.
• Implement and monitor recognised procedures to ensure compliance and meet University values of inclusion, diversity and participation.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
• Involved in the purchase and return of goods, services and fire safety-related contracts.
• Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.

Role responsibilities:

• Manage and organise professional fire safety service processes, activities, and/or resources to achieve defined targets and outcomes.
• Develop, implement and enforce recognised procedures to ensure compliance, co-ordinate effort and contribute to team goals.
• Provide professional guidance and advice to staff and students with fire safety, processes, data and information recording and assessment data.
• Ensure fire safety projects, activities, budgets and documents comply with internal University and external regulation, policy and procedures.
• Ensure accuracy by instituting recognised and routine checks, assessment criteria and techniques.
• Record data and information accurately, provide reports and distribute information to key stakeholders in the process or service.
• Use a range of digital media and tools to communicate fire safety information, with a diverse range of key stakeholders, both verbally and in written format.
• Develop, plan and deliver internal fire safety activities/training for stakeholders, liaising with, and overseeing external training contractors.
• Establish, maintain and develop productive and ongoing relationships with stakeholders to influence perception of the University.
• Carry out more specialist fire risk assessments, keeping them up-to-date and in accordance with the fire risk assessment plan.
• Respond to requests for advice on fire safety matters, dealing with those issues within their span of experience and working jointly with others in the HSS to deal with more complex issues.
• Work with, and support the training of, the network of Fire Safety Coordinators, Fire Marshalls and Fire Wardens, in Departments, Colleges and Services.
• Monitor operational fire safety checks conducted by Departments, Colleges and Services to ensure that fire safety matters raised are actioned by the responsible area, and checks are conducted at the required frequencies.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

• Will be expected to provide absence cover for their counterpart Assistant Fire Safety Manager, and can expect the same in return.
• May be required to work evenings and weekends, as business demands.
• Attend all training and development, as required.

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below (including those listed in the section ‘Realising Your Potential Approach’). 

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application. 

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Please Note:  Candidates applying via Redeployment are only eligible to apply for a post at the same Grade or one Grade lower.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV.
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in all of the requirements set out in the Person Specification.
3. The completed questions requested as part of the application.

For external applicants, when evidencing the Realising Your Potential Behaviour Approach elements, please use examples from your current/previous organisations in instances where the ‘University’ is referenced.

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application will not be considered.

Contact details

For further information please contact: Andy Mulligan, andrew.mulligan@durham.ac.uk.

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
• A relevant and recognised fire safety qualification e.g. Fire Safety Adviser’s and Engineering Course modules at the Fire Service College or equivalent.
• Possess, or be eligible for, full or graduate membership of the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) or an equivalent professional fire safety body.
• Professional fire safety experience, ideally as a fire safety specialist adviser, fire safety engineer, fire safety officer with a fire brigade, or similar role.
• Thorough up-to-date knowledge of fire legislation, building codes and best practice and other relevant fire safety guidance.
• Experience of carrying out fire risk assessments in a wide range of buildings and providing fire safety advice and guidance for a range of customers and colleagues.
• Experience of investigating fire events with the ability to derive realistic, practical and workable solutions.
• Experience of reviewing means of escape, fire alarms, fire-fighting equipment, emergency lighting, etc. on building plans/drawing.
• Regulatory, local and national professional knowledge and experience of compliance.
• Demonstrable ability to proactively work with team members to ensure the delivery of high-quality services.
• An understanding of audit systems and experience of conducting audits against a recognised standard.
• Experienced service provider with knowledge and expertise to support infrastructure projects, relating to fire safety.
• Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.

Desirable Criteria

• Degree, or equivalent, in a relevant fire safety-related subject area, or relevant, equivalent experience.
• Evidence of personal development to maintain skills.
• Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes. 
• Health and Safety Compliance knowledge and/or a general health and safety qualification, e.g. NEBOSH certificate, or equivalent.

Realising Your Potential Approach

Providing Excellent Student Services and Professional Support: Providing the best quality service to all our students, customers and stakeholders. Building genuine and long-term relationships, through every day interactions, in order to drive up service standards and to enhance their experience:

1. Using feedback to drive improvements.
2. Tailoring communication to meet students’, customers’ and stakeholders’ needs.
3. Fostering a continuous improvement philosophy.

Embracing Change: Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an opportunity and being receptive to new ideas:

1. Encouraging others to initiate and embrace change.
2. Articulating the purpose of change and the context within which change is happening.
3. Adapting approach to respond to changes outside University/Organisation.
4. Communicating change in a positive manner through influencing and persuasion.

Finding Solutions: Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation:

1. Supporting others to find their own solutions rather than giving all the answers.
2. Sharing learning and experience to facilitate others’ decision making.
3. Seeking input from others to develop team solutions.

Using Resources Effectively: Making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University:

1. Drawing on others’ knowledge, skills and experience.
2. Liaising outside of immediate work area to maximise use of resources within the University/Organisation.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.