Technical Lead – Fire Engineer (Band 2 / Grade 7)

Job summary

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is the Government's technical authority on buildings. As part of its duties to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review the regulator develops the technical standards for buildings including the full suite of Approved Documents. This role is in the Technical Policy Team of the Building Safety Division and will focus on the fire safety of buildings.

We are looking for a construction professional to work on development of technical policy relating to Building Regulations and building standards. They will have a broad base of relevant fire safety experience as well as a strong practical experience of the Building Regulations. Candidates need to be willing to work flexibly in relation to more than one area of technical expertise.

Working Pattern

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Travel

This post can be based in any of the advertised locations however there will be the need for occasional travel to other HSE offices as and when required.

Job description

The government announced on 30 June 2025 that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is to become an Arm's Length Body (ALB) of Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and will be moved out of HSE. This is the natural next step in the development of the regulator and was always a likely outcome once BSR was established.

It has been confirmed that the ALB will be a Non-crown, Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and as such its employees will be Public Servants, rather than Civil Servants.

Any successful candidates that are currently Civil Servants should note that they will be onboarded directly into the new NDPB. This will mean that candidates will become public servants. Candidates will retain access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Further details of the impact on existing Civil Servants applying for new roles within BSR are being finalised, and we will communicate these updates to any applicants via their application on Civil Service Jobs throughout the recruitment process.

As part of your responsibilities, you will be contributing to the development of both Approved Document B (fire safety). Your role will include developing and managing research, working with other technical expert in the area, and representing the Building Safety Regulator with industry groups.

This post requires a good understanding of technical matters but also capacity to work within the broader policy and political context of Government. The post holder will work closely with other government departments and provide technical advice to support development of new policy which is both deliverable and technically sound. Candidates will be good communicators, able to present technical issues clearly and succinctly and to represent BSR with other departments, industry and standards making bodies.

Key Responsibilities

• Line management, oversight and responsibility on technical projects
• Maintaining relationships with industry partners and stakeholders in addition to forging lasting relationships with industry sectors to ensure government policy is effectively communicated and considers industry practice
• Represent the technical policy unit internally and externally as required at relevant meetings, committees and panels
• Work as part of a team with responsibility for work related to Approved Documents for the Building Regulations, in particular fire safety
• Maintenance of technical guidance related to fire safety in buildings; keeping relevant technical guidance under review identifying opportunities to improve Building Regulations statutory guidance
• Represent the BSR with industry groups, professional groups and at national and international standardisation
• Help develop, commission and oversee research projects providing suitable evidence bases to inform decisions on current and future technical challenges
• Work with MHCLG officials to develop policy proposals and implement them

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and clearly convey complex information to non-technical audiences
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, applying evidence, science, and technology to develop sustainable, practical solutions
• Confident decision‑making, demonstrating initiative and sound judgement based on evidence
• Effective planning and organisational skills, taking ownership of delivering high‑quality outcomes on time
• Proven ability to collaborate within multi‑disciplinary teams and build strong, positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Solid understanding of statutory guidance, industry codes of practice, and building design and construction processes, with a commitment to ongoing professional development

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Qualifications

Degree level qualification or equivalent in one of the following: Fire Safety Engineering, Fire Investigation, Building studies

Memberships

Membership of an appropriate professional association such as the Institution of Fire Engineers, or Society of Fire Prevention Engineers. Please note that you will need to provide evidence at onboarding of your ability to gain chartered status. Failure to do so may result in your application being withdrawn.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Technical Oversight and Management - Overseeing Technical Work

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,898, Health and Safety Executive contributes £18,221 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

We invest in our people with;

• Competitive rates of pay
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than in the private sector
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards, and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications. Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

You will also be asked to complete an anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 750 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Sift Information

The sift will take place from 5th May when you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Please note in the event of a high number of applications we will conduct the sift on the CV only.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place from 1st June when you will be assessed against the behaviours and technical skill detailed within the job advert.

You will also be asked to prepare a 10 minute technical presentation, further details will be provided if invited to interview.

This vacancy is using the Government and Science and Engineering Career Framework, for further information on the Career Framework, please follow this link.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Charles-Elie Romeyer
• Email : Charles-Elie.Romeyer@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address: HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)