Director of Fire Engineering

The Director of Fire Engineering provides strategic, technical, and commercial leadership for the fire engineering function across the business. This role is responsible for setting the vision and standards for fire engineering delivery, leading multidisciplinary teams, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving innovation, quality, and growth within the practice.

The Director will act as a technical authority, trusted advisor to clients and stakeholders, and a key contributor to the company’s leadership team.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic & Leadership

• Lead and develop the fire engineering strategy in line with the organisation’s business objectives.
• Provide senior leadership and mentorship to fire engineering teams, including managers, senior engineers, and technical specialists.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, best practices, and governance frameworks across all fire engineering work.
• Represent the fire engineering discipline at board level and contribute to wider business strategy and decision-making.

Technical Excellence

• Act as the technical authority for complex and high-risk fire engineering projects.
• Oversee the development, review, and approval of fire strategies, performance-based designs, and fire safety solutions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and guidance (e.g. Building Regulations, BS standards, international codes where applicable).
• Lead technical assurance processes, including peer reviews and independent checks.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, regulators, approving authorities, and industry bodies.
• Provide expert advice to clients on fire safety, risk management, and regulatory pathways.
• Support business development activities, including bids, proposals, and client presentations.
• Act as a public-facing ambassador for the business at industry events, conferences, and forums.

Commercial & Operational Management

• Oversee project delivery to ensure quality, programme, and financial performance.
• Contribute to fee setting, resource planning, and workload forecasting.
• Support the growth of the fire engineering team through recruitment, succession planning, and skills development.
• Monitor market trends, emerging risks, and regulatory changes to inform future service offerings.
• Hold full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility for the Fire Engineering function, including revenue, cost control, and profitability.
• Develop and manage annual budgets, forecasts, and financial plans in line with business targets.
• Monitor financial performance across projects and portfolios, taking corrective action where required to protect margins.
• Work closely with commercial and finance teams to ensure accurate reporting, invoicing, and cash flow management.
• Drive sustainable growth by balancing technical excellence with commercial performance.
• Support fee proposals, bid pricing strategies, and contract negotiations to ensure commercially sound outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, utilisation, and return on investment within the fire engineering team.

Quality, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure robust quality management systems are in place and effectively implemented.
• Identify and manage technical, commercial, and professional risks.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ethical approach to fire engineering practice.

Skills & ExperienceEssential

• Degree (or equivalent) in Fire Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or equivalent professional registration.
• Extensive experience in fire engineering, including leadership of complex projects.
• Proven experience managing and leading technical teams.
• Strong understanding of fire safety legislation, codes, and performance-based design.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at senior levels.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in Fire Engineering.
• Experience working with regulators, approving authorities, and international codes.
• Track record of growing a technical discipline or business unit.
• Active involvement in professional or industry bodies.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness.
• Credible technical leader with high professional integrity.
• Collaborative and people-focused leadership style.
• Confident decision-maker able to manage risk and complexity.
• Passionate about improving fire safety outcomes and industry standards.