Fire Safety Assurance Officer

Job title: Fire Safety Assurance Officer

Directorate: Chief Financial Officer

Closing date: 26/11/2025

Important information

We currently have 2 Fire Safety Assurance Officer positions available:

• Position 1 will cover North regions, including Midlands, North East, North West and Scotland.
• Position 2 will cover South regions, including South East, South West, Wales and London.

As part of your role, you will be expected to attend multiple HMCTS sites located throughout your region on a regular basis with occasional travel to other locations in the country. Travel and accommodation costs incurred for official duties will be fully funded by HMCTS in line with departmental policy.

You will have the opportunity to discuss and agree your preferred base location within your region with your line manager at onboarding stage. 

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About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the role

As a Fire Safety Assurance Officer within the HMCTS HQ, National Security and Safety Team, you will be a key player in providing competent professional fire safety services including audit and inspection work (advice and assurance) to senior duty holder roles across either the North or South of the UK.

These roles may also be of interest to competent Health and Safety practitioners who may be wishing to develop their current areas of expertise into the Fire Safety discipline as training will be provided if required.

These roles will proactively seek to reduce fire safety incidents through delivery of competent fire safety advice and by utilising wider behavioural skills (communication, stakeholder management, working with others) and core skills - leadership, management abilities to influence key stakeholders and embed an enhanced HMCTS’s fire safety culture. This will require engagement with stakeholders on technical policies and standards in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure consistency of the new HMCTS Fire Safety Strategy 2024 – 2027 and MoJ Corporate Fire Safety Policy.

Your role as the Fire Safety Assurance Officer encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to):

• To undertake an ongoing annual programme of HMCTS Fire Safety Management Audits and if required, occasional, PAS 79 Fire Risk Assessments and develop a full report on the findings with an accompanied Action Plan.
• Demonstrate leadership and tact to control and manage audit and assurance processes by offering effective communications with stakeholders throughout the process to ensure Safety and Security remains a priority in a demanding environment.
• To continually review the HMCTS Fire Safety Management Audit process and carrying out of targeted Level 2 assurance checks of Fire Safety Management performance.
• To develop and in collaboration with the HMCTS National Fire Safety Officer assist in the implementation of Action Plans and monitor their progress.
• To monitor corporate fire, security and health and safety policies, practices and systems and advise the HMCTS National Fire Safety Officer of any areas requiring change.

Please refer to the attached role profile for a comprehensive overview of the role.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The skills and experience required for this role are:

Essential

• You will either be willing to work towards or already hold the NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety or Level 4 fire safety certificate.
• Hold or willing to work towards membership of the ‘Institution of Fire Engineers’ (IFE) and/or ‘Institute of Fire Safety Managers’ (IFSM)
• Evidence based and ongoing commitment to Fire Safety related Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills to be able to explain complex safety procedures clearly to an external audience in concise and accurate terms.
• Highly organised with proven experience of managing your own workload and diary, and the flexibility to travel within your region to attend sites as required.

Desirable

• Experience of completing PAS 79 type Fire Safety Audits/Fire Safety Inspections
• ISO 45001 accreditation would be an advantage.
• Previous experience of working in a senior Fire Safety audit/assurance or management role, delivering, and reporting on Fire Safety issues.
• Previous experience in engaging with senior managers and other senior stakeholders to develop and review policies and procedures and audit and assess the effectiveness of management arrangements, providing expert feedback and recommendations for improvement when necessary.
• Experience in line management as the role includes the management of a small team which will include managers and administrative staff.
• Full UK driving licence.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Learn more about the application process and the role on the Ministry of Justice website.