Fire Designated Individual

We are seeking to hire a highly skilled Fire Chief Engineer to join our Technical Excellence Leadership Team, reporting directly into the Group Chief Engineer. This is a high profile role and the successful candidate will be driving all aspects of fire expertise across the business, including construction operations, compliance, risk, design management, compliance, and upskilling. Our increasing portfolio means significant growth is expected in this technical discipline so agility, vision, leadership and accountability will be key.

The Technical excellence team provides support across the whole project lifecycle and across all sectors, so you will be working in an engineering led team who drive a right first and safe by design ethos. The role focus is on engineering so you will need to be a Chartered Fire Engineer or be very close to achieving it. A delivery mindset is required to support our projects and clients and ensure we achieve excellence in all aspects of fire safety. You will also develop / own the corporate processes, play a key role in determining supplier / staff competence and be able to react to priority events.

As the lead technical expert in fire in Costain, this Designated Individual (Fire) role will drive understanding and competence in fire across design / construction operations / built works / legacy. This leadership role is required to reflect increased focus in all aspects of fire and ensure we have the competency to deliver.

The Group Chief Engineer’s team includes technical leadership, compliance and assurance and across all Costain’s operations including design, design management, technical construction delivery, quality. This Designated Individual (Fire) role would be embedded in this team and support multiple projects / sectors / developments.

This role is as the lead technical expert in fire in Costain and will drive understanding and competence in fire across design / construction operations / built works / legacy. This role is required to reflect increased focus in all aspects of fire and ensure we have the competency to deliver.

This role will own all Costain processes and will provide proactive and hands on support, leadership, signposting across Costain and into our supply chain.

Location: Hybrid WFH / Costain Office (target 60% in office/site) London or Manchester, visits to projects across UK, especially aviation Heathrow / Gatwick.

Responsibilities

• Be the primary point of contact for all aspects of fire engineering in the business, working closely with the SHE design / temporary works and construction delivery teams in particular.
• Own and drive all fire related aspects on the Costain Way, including on construction fire safety, fire risk assessments and similar. Ensure compliance to published guidance, BS / PAS, Regulations and recognised best practice, including emerging requirements.
• Provide expert support to projects in the tendering, design, pre-construction, implementation and legacy remedial stages, signpost to other technical fire experts as required.
• Ensure internal / external / third party competence of supply chain – design / inspection / products / methods, working with projects and P&SC on selection.
• Establish and deliver an assurance framework for all works to enable reporting of fire related performance. Identify any fire related trends from in Costain / external and develop plans
• Represent Costain at industry groups and events, support standards development.
• Develop and deliver fire related training modules, signpost people to courses and similar to ensure sufficient fire upskilling across Costain, competence in roles and support our supply chain
• Be the technical expert on any fire related investigations, including fire events and design / construction failings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Recognised expertise in fire engineering – including built environment, PFP, active systems, temporary conditions, construction sites etc
• UK construction / building sector knowledge
• Agile and flexible approach, able to support a wide breadth of project types / topics, reach back into industry groups / peers
• Detailed knowledge of the UK fire Regulations, Building safety Act and industry best practice
• Able to deliver training, confident presentation skills
• UK safety training records – such as CSCS or similar
• Skilled in auditing / risk assessment

Desirable

• Risk management training
• Knowledge of fire testing
• Line management skills
• Budget awareness

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree qualified in appropriate technical subject
• UK Chartered Fire Engineer – ideally Member of IFE
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC level)