Fire Safety Auditor

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities.

The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

Home Office Property Services (HOPS) manages a large, diverse, and complex national estate, comprising offices, operational sites, residential accommodation, and high-risk premises. Ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation and maintaining effective fire risk management arrangements across this portfolio is critical to protecting our people, assets and operations.

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically competent Fire Safety Auditor to join our Health, Safety and Fire (HSF) team. This role is central to providing independent assurance on fire safety compliance across the Home Office estate, supporting continuous improvement and helping ensure that statutory and departmental requirements are consistently achieved.

Job description

As a Fire Safety Auditor, you will deliver fire safety audits, inspections and assurance activities across a diverse property portfolio, assessing compliance with fire safety legislation, organisational policies and recognised standards.

Working closely with Fire Safety Management Business Partners (FSMBPs), Health and Safety Management Business Partners (HSMBPs), Facilities Management (FM) teams, property managers, contractors and other stakeholders, you will review fire safety arrangements, documentation and performance information to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.

You will undertake both planned and reactive assurance activities, including site inspections, audits and desktop reviews, responding to incidents, emerging risks and operational changes where required.

The role involves producing clear, evidence-based reports, tracking remedial actions and supporting continuous improvement in fire safety performance. Through effective stakeholder engagement, you will provide assurance, promote a positive fire safety culture and help ensure the organisation meets its statutory and corporate fire safety responsibilities.

The current building locations for this role are:

Bedford - Franklin Court; Belfast - Law Society House; Dover - Channel House or Priory Court; Folkestone - Martello House; Glasgow - HMPO Northgate; Peterborough - HM Passport Office Quay House; Liverpool - The Capital; Salford - Soapworks; Sheffield - Vulcan House; Solihull - Sandford House; Stoke on Trent - Smithfield Two.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fire safety audits, inspections and assurance reviews across the estate to assess compliance with legislation, policy and recognised standards.
• Review fire risk assessments, compliance records, action plans and supporting documentation to evaluate fire safety management arrangements.
• Produce clear, evidence-based reports identifying good practice, risks, non-compliance and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor and validate progress against agreed actions, ensuring remedial measures are implemented and evidenced appropriately.
• Analyse audit findings, performance data and compliance trends to identify emerging risks and recurring issues.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of fire safety assurance processes, standards and methodologies.
• Assist with internal and external audits, inspections and assurance activities, including those undertaken by regulatory and government bodies.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders, providing advice, assurance and support to strengthen fire safety governance and culture.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working.

Travel

Frequent overnight travel will be required to other Home Office locations, UK wide. Travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed in line with standard Home Office policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in conducting fire safety audit activities, compliance reviews or assurance activities within complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge of UK, Scotland, and Northern Ireland fire safety legislation, fire risk management principles and recognised fire safety standards.
• Experience reviewing fire risk assessments and assessing the effectiveness of fire safety management systems and controls.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple audits and competing priorities while maintaining quality standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex fire safety issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience building effective relationships with stakeholders and influencing improvements in compliance and risk management.

Desirable Criteria

• Level 4 Fire Safety Diploma (or equivalent) in Fire Safety, or willingness to work towards it.
• ISO 45001 Auditor or Lead Auditor qualification, or willingness to undertake it.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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