Job Title: Assistant Director of Building Safety
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £Competitive
Working Hours: Full Time – 35 Hours
Working Pattern: Monday - Friday
Location: London/Liverpool - Hybrid
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.
The difference you will make as a Assistant Director of Building Safety
You will be accountable for setting Building Safety strategic approach and operational responsibility for ensuring our buildings are safe and well maintained, with a key focus on fire and structural safety, Duty Holder and Principle Accountable Person under the Building Safety Act and the Responsible person under the Fire safety order. Providing strong, clear and expert leadership, promoting a culture of safety ensuring that customers feel safe in their homes, drive performance, delivering statutory, regulatory and legal requirements as well as commercial targets.
You will lead a large national team delivering high-quality service services which meet the requirements of the regulators ‘Consumer Standards’ and ensuring full compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations. Operational responsibility for building safety risk, assessment and decision maker on key controls, risk mitigation and remediation, which is proportionate and targeted at our highest risks, mitigating impacts on long term financial plan. Providing assurance to leadership group, governance community and regulators our buildings are safe for customers and colleagues.
About you
We are looking for someone with
- CIOB Level 6 Diploma in Building Safety Management or Diploma in construction, building surveying, asset and building management compliance (Level 4 VRQ) or Fire Certificate / Diploma or Certified in Applied Fire Risk Assessment (previously FRA (Fire Risk Assessment) FRA (Fire Risk Assessment) and Fire Safety Management) or equivalent at degree level with ability to meet the proposed Accountable Person role competence requirements under the Building Safety Act.
- Recognised industry memberships ideally to the IFE at GIFireE or above, similar memberships such as RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), IFSM or CIOB or equivalent working experience
- Substantial experience in an asset management leadership position within a large, dispersed organisation, undertaking the role of organizational lead (Accountable Person) leading landlord and regulatory compliance managing building safety and delivering effective fire & structural safety services to a large and diverse portfolio of mix tenure properties within the Housing or Health and Safety sector.
- Outstanding leadership skills and strategic thinker, able to engage, influence and transform to drive safety compliance and lead significant change, with proven record of accomplishment of strong leadership, staff engagement, translation of strategic priorities to team to understand business direction and keeping your teams informed.
Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive pay & generous pension
- 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Flexible working options available
- Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
- A wide range of benefits
Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.
Role Profile
- Lead the approach across the Group for Building Safety, controlling all building activities to ensure full compliance with the Building Safety Order including any secondary legislation, ensuring all statutory and regulatory obligations are met.
- Act as the Accountable Person with responsibility for understanding fire and structural risks in our buildings and taking appropriate steps and actions to mitigate and manage those risks on an ongoing basis so the building can be safely occupied, specific responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the structure and outside of the building, and the plant room and common parts.
- Lead on engagement with key strategic external stakeholder including local government, building safety regulator, housing ombudsman, fire and rescue service.
- Lead a team of heads of service responsible for Fire safety inspections, day to day management of fire safety risk including servicing, maintenance and remediation, property management function managing our national shared spaces portfolio and undertaking regular site functional testing and safety inspections and service charges for contracted services to shared spaces and building safety registration and management of our high risk portfolio.
- Lead our strategic approach to evacuation and emergency plans are in place for the building and business continuity and recovery plans and scenario planning and testing to plan for an emergency, attending site as required.
- Lead health and safety investigations any incidents, non-compliances including the production of specific action plans to address the original issue and avoid future recurrences
- Lead our customer engagement approach through development and implementation of customer engagement strategy and introduce individual customer engagement plans for our High-Risk Buildings. Embed our minimum customer offer across all shared spaces.
- Provide specialist professional and technical advice to effectively coach and mentor to improve knowledge and understanding of fire safety, resident engagement and compliance aspects relating to property management.
- Oversee the design, planning, scheduling, and implementation of an effective and timely risk-based program of Safety inspections on behalf of the Group, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory, statutory and compliance frameworks.
- Design and scope all relevant statutory compliance contracts in conjunction with procurement colleagues, ensuring contracts include clear quality and performance standards and measurement requirements for the Group to support effective contract management and service improvement.
- Lead our Fire & Structural Safety assessment programs including fire risk assessment, intrusive fire investigation through type 4 FRA (Fire Risk Assessment), compartmentation surveys, external wall surveys and ensure appropriate action and controls are implemented and recorded to mitigate risk impacting customer safety.
- Commission internal departments, external suppliers, and in-house delivery vehicle to introduce control measures, undertake remedial actions and complete safety critical work. Providing guidance, support and ensure competence of all appointments
- Work with colleagues and stakeholders across the business to ensure consultants are validated, materials are appropriate and delivery of works to our buildings are appropriately managed, quality checked and tasks and works undertaken within building do not compromise the safety of customers.
- Sustain strong relationships with our internal Development function to inform the specification of new buildings and ensure that all relevant information is provided on completion to meet our statutory obligations.
- Support the Groups duty-holders to understand their legal responsibilities at each stage of the building’s lifecycle including occupation to ensure the building is safe for its residents at different stage of the building life.
- Register and maintain appropriate “Building Registration Certificate” for all in scope high risk buildings with the Building Safety Regulator on behalf of the Groups Licensed Duty Holder and ensure no buildings are occupied without the appropriate certification issued by the regulator.
- Ensure any mandatory, special, or voluntary conditions attached to the Building Registration Certificate are complied with to the satisfaction of the Building Safety Regulator.
- Develop and implement appropriate mandatory inspections and occurrence reporting regime both internally and externally with the Building Safety Regulator
- Evolve our Building Intelligence Model (BIM) and create and maintain a digital golden thread of building information related to fire and structural safety to ensure that the original design intent and any subsequent changes to the building are captured, preserved, and used to support safety improvements.
- Liaise with group stakeholders and submit any applications for building work to the Building Safety Regulator. Ensure no building works start before Building Safety Regulator approval, lead on any engagement with the building safety regulator including any inspections or agreement to change and provision of all relevant information to demonstrate that residents’ safety can be assured throughout, and that the Building Safety Manager has appropriately engaged with residents.
- Monitor statutory and regulatory inspections to buildings and work with the group compliance managers and supply chain partners to ensure all inspections and risk mitigation works are completed in line with policy timescale and appropriate risk level, to high quality and to the satisfaction of customers and ensure appropriate stakeholder engagement to ensure the building is always safe for occupation.
- Develop, implement, and monitor the operational effectiveness of Building Safety policies, procedures, and guidance on behalf of the Group, including the provision of training considering up to date legislation, amendments to codes of practice, health and safety requirements and industry best practice, proactively adopting new and innovative ideas and solutions to ensure continuous improvement of the service.
- Lead Repairs and Maintenance service to shared spaces contractor's work for their impact on building safety, inspect completed works and ensure standards are to the highest quality
Additional Information
- The Group has offices across the UK and on this basis, there may be the requirement to travel to other locations to effectively perform this role, albeit that regular support will be required to teams in Camden and Dartford
- The role will be exposed to sensitive information; therefore, the role holder is expected to maintain levels of confidentiality at all times.
- In order to fulfil the requirements of this role, you will be required to work flexibly during the hours of operation.
- The role holder is expected to be committed to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
Person specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- CIOB Level 6 Diploma in Building Safety Management or Diploma in construction, building surveying, asset and building management compliance (Level 4 VRQ) or Fire Certificate / Diploma or Certified in Applied Fire Risk Assessment (previously FRA (Fire Risk Assessment) FRA (Fire Risk Assessment) and Fire Safety Management) or equivalent at degree level with ability to meet the proposed Accountable Person role competence requirements under the Building Safety Act.
- Recognised industry memberships ideally to the IFE at GIFireE or above, similar memberships such as RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), IFSM or CIOB or equivalent working experience
- Substantial experience in an asset management leadership position within a large, dispersed organisation, undertaking the role of organizational lead (Accountable Person) leading landlord and regulatory compliance managing building safety and delivering effective fire & structural safety services to a large and diverse portfolio of mix tenure properties within the Housing or Health and Safety sector.
- Outstanding leadership skills and strategic thinker, able to engage, influence and transform to drive safety compliance and lead significant change, with proven record of accomplishment of strong leadership, staff engagement, translation of strategic priorities to team to understand business direction and keeping your teams informed.
- Excellent people management skills, able to inspire, influence and embed a motivating performance culture. Not afraid to have challenging conversations and make difficult decisions.
- In depth knowledge of Fire & Building / Structural Safety within Social Housing, including government and industry guidance, British standards, building regulations and the requirements of Fire Safety Order 2005 (RRO), Building Safety Act 2022 and impacts for housing sector.
- Sound knowledge of key business risk, sector risk, building safety / compliance risk to customers and ability to horizon scan and assess impact on business and customers, with a clear understanding of risk management, property management and property related compliance requirements.
- Customer focused with effective stakeholder management, both internally and external to the organization, including the ability to successfully persuade and influence others.
- Experience of successfully managing budgets in line with agreed financial protocols and producing clear, well-structured reports for senior leadership teams, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work at all levels within the business and Effective presentation skills to a variety of audiences to successfully inform decision making and High attention to detail
Desirable
- Knowledge of Compliance Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems including Housing Management Systems e.g., Academy/Open Housing management, C365, Promaster.
- Experience of implementing innovative solutions and exploitation of new opportunities resulting from changes within the regulatory and legal framework.
- Understanding the context of social housing and the challenges it faces.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
