Building Safety Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Building Safety ManagerContract Type: Fixed-Term contract 12 monthsSalary: £59,952.70 per annum Working Hours: 35 hours per weekWorking Pattern: Monday - Friday Location: Arlington in London (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.

 The difference you will make as Building Safety Manager

In this role you will support the Head of Property Management ensuring our high risk buildings within a specified geographical area comply with the requirements of the Building Safety Act. Manage the day-to-day building safety functions and requirements on behalf of the Group, controlling all building activities to ensure full compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations, including the implementation of an effective resident engagement strategy to ensure our building are safe. undertake the role of Appointed person in relation to the Group’s statutory obligations for Building Safety Act. Nominated Building Safety Manager for identification of building safety risk, assessment and decision maker on key controls and risk mitigation and providing assurance buildings are safe for customers, including introduction of a proportionate safety management system (SMS) to the hazards of your building, Monitoring the individual performance of each building separately of your SMS including risk-based Building safety inspections, fire risk assessments, and internal intrusive surveys, statutory servicing and inspection and planned program of remedial works as well as day to day activities which impact on safety of your buildings.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Diploma in asset and building management compliance ( Level 4 VRQ) or NEBOSH Fire Certificate/Diploma or Certified in Applied Fire Risk Assessment (previously FRA and Fire Safety Management) or equivalent.
• 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), Fire Safety Bill 2020.
• Significant experience / proven track record of managing building safety and delivering effective fire & structural safety services to large and diverse portfolio of mix tenure properties.
• Experience of successfully leading, managing and motivating teams, including managing team performance.
• Clear understanding of risk management, property management and property related compliance requirements.
• Effective stakeholder co-ordination and management, both internally and external to the organisation, including the ability to successfully persuade and influence others.
• Customer focused with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work at all levels within the business.

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.

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 

Support the Head of Property Management ensuring our high risk buildings within a specified geographical area comply with the requirements of the Building Safety Act. Manage the day-to-day building safety functions and requirements on behalf of the Group, controlling all building activities to ensure full compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations, including the implementation of an effective resident engagement strategy to ensure our building are safe. undertake the role of Appointed person in relation to the Group’s statutory obligations for Building Safety Act. Nominated Building Safety Manager for identification of building safety risk, assessment and decision maker on key controls and risk mitigation and providing assurance buildings are safe for customers, including introduction of a proportionate safety management system (SMS) to the hazards of your building, Monitoring the individual performance of each building separately of your SMS including risk-based Building safety inspections, fire risk assessments, and internal intrusive surveys, statutory servicing and inspection and planned program of remedial works as well as day to day activities which impact on safety of your buildings.

Role requires you to:

Job Purpose

Support the Head of Property Management ensuring our high risk buildings within a specified geographical area comply with the requirements of the Building Safety Act. Manage the day-to-day building safety functions and requirements on behalf of the Group, controlling all building activities to ensure full compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations, including the implementation of an effective resident engagement strategy to ensure our building are safe. undertake the role of Appointed person in relation to the Group’s statutory obligations for Building Safety Act. Nominated Building Safety Manager for identification of building safety risk, assessment and decision maker on key controls and risk mitigation and providing assurance buildings are safe for customers, including introduction of a proportionate safety management system (SMS) to the hazards of your building, Monitoring the individual performance of each building separately of your SMS including risk-based Building safety inspections, fire risk assessments, and internal intrusive surveys, statutory servicing and inspection and planned program of remedial works as well as day to day activities which impact on safety of your buildings.

Role requires you to:

• Property Management
  • Manage the building in accordance with the SMS and the safety case report and monitor the individual performance of each building separately of your SMS for each building. Proactive - checking maintenance tasks are completed on time, reactive - incident investigations and provide regular update to senior managers on the performance.
  • Undertake review our SMS to ensure the measures in place remain effective annually and following any incidents, changes in law or to the building. Notify the accountable person if the if there is a reason to suspect that the SMS is no longer valid, or further steps should be taken.
  • Monitor our records of all the relevant safety standards which were in place when your building was built and following any later refurbishments.
  • Provide assurance the building safety measures in place work as Planned are maintained and inspected.
  • Develop an understanding of fire and structural risks for the buildings and take appropriate steps and actions to mitigate and manage 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. Ensure we keep and update information on prevention and protective measures.
  • Ensure if the building undergoes any changes or refurbishment, it does not affect building safety.
  • Ensure the appropriate fire evacuation strategy is in place and check that the measures designed to support the evacuation strategy being used are in place and working as intended. review the emergency arrangements to make sure they are still fit for purpose following PCFRA, PEEPS, fire service visits, FRAs or changes to the building.
  • Ensure we retain records of maintenance, inspection, and remedial works.
  • Ensure any issues that need attention through maintenance and inspection or risk assessments that require attention are addressed to ensure our equipment and control measures continue to work effectively.
  • Review reports, certificates, and maintenance documents to see if action required and put process in place to track. Were actions cannot or will not be completed as recommended, ensure we record the reasons why and consider whether you put any temporary or alternative measures in place.
  • If you find a control measure is not working as it consider what additional measures, you can take until repair or replacement can be completed.
  • Take all reasonable steps to prevent major incident occurring because of a building safety risk materialising and reduce the severity of the incident.
  • Engage with group health and safety team to investigate any incidents, non-compliances including the production of specific action plans to address the original issue and avoid future recurrences
• Building Safety Regulator
  • Ensure the building has a “Building Registration Certificate” for all in scope high risk buildings with the Building Safety Regulator on behalf of the Groups Licenced Duty Holder and Accountable person and ensure no buildings are occupied without the appropriate certification issued by the regulator.
  • Ensure a copy of the Building Registration Certificate is displayed in a prominent area of the common parts of the building so that it is readily accessible to residents.
  • Support the development of individual safety cases for each in scope building, including a written explanation and justification of the approach being taken to manage risks, referencing the supporting evidence in the safety case. Keep the safety case up to date to provide assurance that we understand the fire and structural risks in our buildings and are taking appropriate steps and actions to mitigate and manage risks.
  • Support the creation and maintenance of 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.
  • Ensure any mandatory, special or voluntary conditions attached to the Building Registration Certificate are complied with to the satisfaction of the Accountable Person and the Building Safety Regulator;
  • operate an effective mandatory occurrence reporting system including reviewing any reported building safety incidents from residents and stakeholders which have caused, or if not remedied are likely to cause the death of a significant number of people, serious injury to a significant number of people.
  • Assess the reported incidents and liaise with registration officer to submit a mandatory occurrence notice and prepare a report where required.
• Stakeholder & Resident Engagement
  • 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 is received; 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 team has appropriately engaged with residents.
  • Develop relationships with customers and introduce appropriate communication to ensure all customers cooperate with the Building Safety team in the fulfilment of their functions and ensure all customers are aware of their legal responsibilities to avoid actions that could pose a risk to the fire and structural safety of the building including introduction of appropriate approval procedures.
  • Lead all engagement with residents in the safe management of their building through producing and implementing a Resident Engagement Strategy including holding annual events and regular communications.
  • Give each resident a copy of the building customer engagement plan and other related safety information and provide customers with key building safety information.
  • Manage the Building Safety complaints process and ensure decisions are communicated, within expected timescales for initial response, investigations and a final resolution of the complaint and manage any escalated issues with the Building Safety Regulator. Manage escalated customer safety concerns, enquiries, and complaints and manage the overall safety of the building.
  • Support provision of information tor residents following request for a copy of prescribed information or a prescribed document.
  • Serve contravention notices on tenants who fail to comply with their obligations under the building safety act.

Person specification

Essential

• Diploma in asset and building management compliance ( Level 4 VRQ) or NEBOSH Fire Certificate/Diploma or Certified in Applied Fire Risk Assessment (previously FRA and Fire Safety Management) or equivalent.
• 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), Fire Safety Bill 2020.
• Significant experience / proven track record of managing building safety and delivering effective fire & structural safety services to large and diverse portfolio of mix tenure properties.
• Experience of successfully leading, managing and motivating teams, including managing team performance.
• Clear understanding of risk management, property management and property related compliance requirements.
• Effective stakeholder co-ordination and management, both internally and external to the organisation, including the ability to successfully persuade and influence others.
• Customer focused with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work at all levels within the business.
• Results driven with strong analytical and quality assurance skills, including the ability to co-ordinate and critically analyse complex information, and experience of providing meaningful management information.
• Excellent team player with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Proficient in the use of IT systems including MS Office.
• Commercially aware with a focus on continuous improvement and the ability to drive change.

Desirable 

• Experience of successfully undertaking the role of Building Safety Manager/Compliance Manager in similar organisation.
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems for Buildings BS 5839 Part 1: Code of Practice for System Design, Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance, or equivalent.
• 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.
• Relevant building, maintenance, compliance or facilities management qualification e.g. HND in Building or NEBOSH General, or equivalent.
• Professional membership of a relevant construction industry body.