Fire & Flood Restoration Technician – Fire & Smoke
£27,500–£34,500 per year
Full-time, Permanent
Based from Bromsgrove, B61 0QY
We are looking for a Fire & Flood Restoration Technician to join our Fire Restoration team at DisasterCare East Midlands.
This vacancy is primarily focused on fire and smoke restoration.
You will attend homes and properties affected by fire, smoke, soot and associated damage, assess what has been affected, record accurate evidence and carry out specialist restoration work once the required works have been authorised.
Fire restoration is not general cleaning.
Smoke, soot and contamination can travel beyond the visibly damaged area. Different materials need different treatment, and odour can remain long after the obvious signs of a fire have gone.
Good technicians are practical, methodical and take pride in doing the work properly. You will also be entering people's homes following what may have been a serious and distressing event, so professionalism, empathy and good communication are essential.
If you already have experience in fire and flood restoration, fire and smoke damage, specialist restoration cleaning or a related field, we would particularly like to hear from you. We will also consider strong practical candidates from relevant backgrounds who have the ability and attitude to develop technically.
The role
- Attend properties affected by fire and smoke damage.
- Carry out initial inspections and assess the extent of fire, smoke, soot and associated damage.
- Capture accurate photographs, notes and digital reports.
- Identify areas requiring restoration, specialist cleaning or authorised removal.
- Explain findings, works and next steps clearly to policyholders.
- Carry out authorised fire and smoke restoration work.
- Remove soot and contamination from affected areas.
- Complete specialist fire and smoke cleaning.
- Carry out deodorisation and odour-control work.
- Use H-type vacuums and other specialist fire-restoration equipment in accordance with training and safe-working procedures.
- Use ozone, fogging and other specialist equipment where appropriate, authorised and safe to do so.
- Safely remove damaged materials where authorised.
- Support contents restoration where required.
- Complete accurate progress notes, photographs and digital job records.
- Carry out final cleaning and quality checks before handover.
- Work within the authorised scope and raise unexpected findings or variations promptly.
- Follow RAMS, COSHH, PPE, manual-handling and company health and safety procedures.
- Maintain company vehicles, tools and specialist equipment properly.
- Support Water Restoration, authorised Strip-Out, Logistics and Contents activities when operationally required by the business.
- Participate in on-call arrangements and support surge and major-loss work when required.
Working hours and flexibility
The core contracted hours are 40 hours per week, normally based around 08:00 to 16:30.
It is important to be clear that restoration work does not always finish neatly at 16:30.
Travel, emergency losses, the condition of a property and the work required on site can mean earlier starts, later finishes or additional hours when necessary.
If essential restoration work still needs to be completed, a property needs to be left safe or a job needs to be properly finished and handed over, we expect our technicians to take ownership rather than stop simply because the core working day has ended.
Your primary role will be Fire Restoration, but you are joining the wider restoration operation. When the needs of the business require it, you will also be expected to assist Water Restoration, authorised Strip-Out, Logistics and Contents work where appropriate.
The role also requires flexibility to support on-call, surge, major-loss and other operational requirements.
We value people's time and do not expect unnecessary additional hours. We do, however, need people who understand the nature of operational field work and are genuinely flexible when customers and jobs require it.
If you are looking for a position where you will only ever work 08:00 to 16:30, this is unlikely to be the right role for you.
Additional hours will be managed in line with your employment terms and working-time requirements. Where appropriate, a separate voluntary 48-hour Working Time opt-out agreement may also be discussed.
What good looks like
You notice details other people miss.
You understand that removing visible soot is not the same as completing a proper restoration.
You work methodically and do not take shortcuts.
Cleaning, restoration and decontamination are thorough rather than cosmetic.
Your photographs and reports clearly show what you found, what you completed and anything that still needs attention.
You understand the agreed scope and raise anything unexpected rather than making assumptions.
Specialist equipment is used safely and correctly.
You take pride in achieving a Right First Time result.
Customers are kept informed and treated with patience, professionalism and respect.
You take ownership of your work and understand that supporting the wider restoration team when needed is part of the role.
Experience and qualifications
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following:
- Fire and flood restoration
- Fire and smoke restoration
- Soot and contamination removal
- Specialist fire cleaning
- Odour control and deodorisation
- Contents restoration
- Property restoration
- Specialist cleaning
- Construction or property maintenance
Experience using H-type vacuums, fogging systems, odour-control equipment or other specialist restoration equipment would be a strong advantage.
Relevant industry qualifications are desirable, including:
- IICRC Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician or equivalent
- BDMA Technician or Senior Technician
- Fire, smoke or odour restoration training
- Relevant specialist-cleaning or property-restoration qualifications
A full UK driving licence is essential.
A DBS check may be required for client and property access.
Direct fire-restoration experience and relevant qualifications are preferred, but strong candidates from related restoration, specialist-cleaning, construction or property-maintenance backgrounds will also be considered.
Salary and progression
Starting salary is £27,500, with progression linked to experience, technical competence and relevant certification.
The Fire Restoration pathway currently progresses to £34,500 per year for an experienced technician.
Additional technical development is available across areas including:
- Fire & Smoke Restoration
- Odour Control
- Water Restoration
- Mould Restoration
- Carpet and Upholstery Restoration
- BDMA qualifications
Relevant technical qualifications and specialist skills are recognised within the progression pathway.
Benefits you'll receive
- 28 days' annual leave, including Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 confidential support
- Workplace pension
- Annual pay review
- Bright Exchange discounts across a wide range of UK shops, restaurants, gyms and cinemas
- Free eye tests
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Access to e-learning and skills development
- Ongoing professional and technical training
- Regular team events and social activities
Why this role is worth considering
Fire restoration is specialist work.
You will develop technical skills that go well beyond general cleaning while helping customers recover from some of the most disruptive events they are likely to experience.
You will have a clear Fire Restoration specialism while also working as part of the wider restoration operation, giving you the opportunity to broaden your experience across Water, Strip-Out, Contents and Logistics.
There is a genuine progression route for people who become technically capable, dependable and consistently deliver a high standard.
How to apply
Apply through Indeed with an up-to-date CV.
Please make your relevant experience clear, particularly any experience in fire and flood restoration, fire and smoke damage, soot removal, specialist cleaning, odour control or property restoration.
Please also include any IICRC, BDMA or other relevant technical qualifications you hold.
A full UK driving licence is essential.
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,500–£34,500 per year
Work Location: In person, with regional travel from our Bromsgrove B61 0QY base.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £27,500.00-£35,750.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- How much relevant experience do you have in fire and flood restoration, fire and smoke restoration, specialist cleaning, property restoration, construction or a similar practical field-based role?
- Do you hold any relevant restoration qualifications, such as IICRC Fire & Smoke Restoration, BDMA, fire/odour restoration training or an equivalent technical qualification?
- Do you have practical experience with fire or smoke damage, soot removal, specialist cleaning, odour control or specialist fire-restoration equipment?
- This is a field-based restoration role contracted for 40 hours per week, normally based around 08:00 to 16:30. Earlier starts, later finishes, additional hours and on-call or surge support will be required when operationally necessary. You will also be expected to support Water Restoration, authorised Strip-Out, Logistics and Contents work when the needs of the business require it. Are you comfortable with these requirements?
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
