Fire Officer

Job Purpose

The Fire Officer will develop, implement, maintain, and monitor effective fire safety management systems, policies, and procedures across the University to ensure the safety of all staff, students and visitors, compliance with legal standards and protection of the University Estate.

This will involve conducting fire risk assessments in accordance with the provisions of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations. The post holder will build a strong rapport with Estates colleagues, who review, evaluate, and implement the findings of the fire risk assessment.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a specialist role in developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive fire safety policies, procedures, and arrangements across the University.
2. Work within the university fire team, to ensure that effective systems for fire safety management exist across the organisation.
3. Fire Risk Assessment

• Plan and conduct a programme of fire risk assessment ensuring that required assessment review frequencies are met.
• Apply specialist technical expertise and knowledge to prepare legally compliant written fire risk assessments.
• Prepare and issue written reports, including appropriate action plans and recommendations based on the findings of fire risk assessment surveys.
• Advise and support units across the University on implementation of required actions.

Training

• Identify fire safety training needs and develop effective programmes of fire safety training including practical and online provision.
• Take a lead role in delivering trainer-led fire safety training to university staff across the organisation.
• Deliver fire safety training and support to Fire Safety Coordinators, Fire Wardens, security staff and other staff groups with identified special fire safety training needs.
• Participate and action the delivery of a statutorily required programme of regular fire drills in all University properties.

Fire Incidents

• Assist in maintaining a record of all fire-related incidents and in conjunction with other Safety and Resilience staff, undertake periodic analysis of the overall causes.
• Investigate selected incidents and prepare reports and recommendations on the findings.
• Support the development and implementation of measures to avoid, or minimise, unwanted alarm activations and genuine fire incidents.
• Provide specialist fire safety advice and support to Security to facilitate their day-to-day management of fire alarm activation incidents and building evacuations.
• Assist in the preparation and implementation of emergency evacuation plans and arrangements for disabled staff and students.

Policy, Management and Liaison

• Prepare policies, procedures and guidance aimed at Heads of University management units and staff within the units to enable them to understand the legal and policy constraints concerning fire safety and ensure they operate within these constraints.
• Keep up to date with relevant current and forthcoming developments in fire safety legislation and guidance and prepare reports and recommendations on these matters. Identify areas of shortcoming in existing fire safety arrangements and bring forward practical and achievable proposals to improve working practice.
• Provide specialist fire safety advice to the Estates department regarding fire safety arrangements within new and existing University occupied properties.
• Consult with the Fire Service and external stakeholders.

Engage in continuous professional development activities identified as relevant to the role as appropriate and necessary. Knowledge/Qualifications, Skills, Experience Knowledge/Qualifications Essential:

A1 Either: Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Professional level (VQ3/4) qualification in fire safety (e.g., TechIFE or equivalent Fire Service qualifications) with experience as noted below.

A3 Demonstrable up-to-date knowledge of fire safety and fire safety legislation and Scottish Fire Safety Guides.

A4 In-depth professional level understanding of fire risk assessment and fire prevention principles and practice.

Desirable:

B1 A Health and Safety qualification (NEBOSH Certificate).

B2 Qualification/Experience in delivery of Training.

Skills Essential:

C1 Proven ability to exercise reasoned and sensible judgement and work effectively to problem solve within a risk assessment-based framework.

C2 High level of presentation skills and a high level of ability as a trainer.

C3 Proven ability to time-manage, prioritise and meet deadlines.

C4 Proficient in the use of IT with ability to use the Microsoft Office package, in particular Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, competently.

C5 Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels and provide specialist/professional advice.

C6 Articulate and persuasive and the ability to persuade clients at all levels, within the University on a range of matters, some of which may not be popular or within the experience of the audience.

C7 Ability to use initiative to achieve successful outcomes in investigations and circumstances.

C8 Ability to lead and direct change and implement new policies and procedures.

C9 Ability to produce and revise comprehensive documentation including policies and procedures.

C10 Highly motivated with the ability to work independently but with the flexibility to contribute across professional boundaries and contribute as a team player.

Experience Essential:

E1 Demonstrable practical experience in fire prevention/fire risk assessment/fire safety management and of developing policy and guidance documents and systems.

E2 Experience of conduction and/or auditing fire risk assessments.

E3 Experience of developing and presenting fire safety training courses.

Desirable:

F1 Experience within an enforcing authority environment preferably SFRS.

F2 Experience in a fire safety management role outside an enforcing authority environment, preferably within the HE sector or comparable environment.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

Closing date: 16 September 2026

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route. Candidates must therefore have an existing right to work in the UK or be able to secure this independently prior to commencing employment. For further information on alternative immigration options, please visit University of Glasgow's UKVI Website.

Benefits and Perks

• 1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• 2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook , benefits and discount packages.
• 3 A flexible approach to working.
• 4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community

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