Overview
Fire Safety Manager role within the joint Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust partnership. This is a senior specialist position leading fire safety management, compliance and assurance across a large healthcare estate to ensure safe environments for patients, staff and visitors.
The closing date is 06 August 2026
NHS Band 8a Salary: £57,528 – £64,750 per annum
Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Across sites, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (frequency of visits to each site, to be agreed locally)
Main duties of the job
The Fire Safety Manager is the Trust’s designated professional lead and competent advisor for fire safety matters. You will provide specialist advice and assurance to senior management and governance committees, ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation, NHS guidance and Trust policies.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing expert advice on fire safety legislation, prevention and compliance.
- Leading the development and implementation of the Trust Fire Safety Management System.
- Managing and overseeing the fire risk assessment programme.
- Ensuring compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, NHS Firecode and Building Regulations.
- Developing and delivering fire safety training and evacuation procedures.
- Coordinating fire drills and emergency preparedness exercises.
- Investigating fire incidents and unwanted fire signals, identifying trends and preventative actions.
- Providing specialist fire safety advice on capital and estates projects.
- Leading the Fire Safety Team and supporting workforce development.
- Preparing audit reports, KPIs and assurance reports for senior leadership and Trust Boards.
- Liaising with Fire and Rescue Services, regulators and external partners.
About us
Working as a partnership, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust have a shared vision for excellence in care for our patients and communities, with a set of strategic aims underpinning how we will achieve this. The single corporate service is delivered across both organisations. You may be based at either site and individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staff across multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in-person leadership. Arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is central to everything we do. We offer benefits including on-site Nursery, Beach Hut access for summer days, on-site Wellness Centre (gym and swimming pool), staff networks (LGBTQ, Race Equality and Disability), and awards ceremonies to recognise achievements. We support staff when they need it most.
We welcome the unique contributions you bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans’ status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
Job responsibilities
This post forms part of the Single Corporate Services model, which provides shared corporate services across Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. The role is primarily site-based; collaboration across both organisations is essential and travel between sites may occasionally be required. Our Estates and Facilities teams play a critical role in supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. This role offers the opportunity to influence fire safety strategy across a large and complex healthcare estate.
Specific Core Functions:
- Fire Safety Leadership and Professional Advice: Provide authoritative specialist advice on fire prevention, response, and compliance, maintaining expert knowledge of legislation, NHS guidance, and best practice.
- Statutory and Regulatory Compliance: Interpret and apply the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Regulations (Approved Document B), NHS Firecode, Trust policies, and related standards, ensuring compliance through governance arrangements.
- Fire Safety Policy and Specialist Strategy: Lead the development, review, and implementation of the Trust Fire Safety Policy and associated specialist fire safety strategies.
- Fire Safety Management System: Develop, implement, and maintain the Trust Fire Safety Management System to provide specialist assurance to senior management and governance committees.
- Fire Risk Assessment Programme: Plan, lead, and monitor the fire risk assessment programme, including specialist areas, ensuring actions are prioritised, tracked, completed, and reported.
Both organisations are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive working environment, and to contributing to the NHS ambition for a Greener NHS.
For full job details please refer to enclosed Job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Recognised qualifications relating to fire safety.
- Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent level of fire safety management competency.
- Evidence of ongoing knowledge attainment including CPD and training in fire safety.
- Training in healthcare fire safety.
- Membership of professional organisation (Institute of Fire Engineers; Institute of Occupational Safety and Health).
Experience
- Extensive experience and knowledge in providing technical direction with regard to fire safety management.
- Experience and knowledge in managing and ensuring building compliance according to fire safety regulations and good practice.
- Experience of managing professional staff, including staff development and performance management.
- Experience of undertaking relevant audits/inspections, fire risk assessments and providing solutions.
- Experience of working within a large public sector organisation.
- Experience of Private Finance Initiative contracts and compliance management from a client perspective.
- Experience in the preparation and presentation of reports to Senior Managers and Board members.
Skills and Knowledge
- Knowledge and experience in the application of Firecode.
- Knowledge of risk management techniques.
- Ability to process highly complex information into meaningful formats appropriate for the intended audience.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
- Ability to produce procedural documentation and protocols.
- Understanding of complex fire safety issues and risks which impact facilities management, construction and building services.
- Overall understanding of current health service sector issues.
- Understanding of Private Finance Initiative contracts and contract management from a client perspective.
Employer name
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr…