Building Fire Safety - Enforcement Team Lead (14 month Maternity Cover)

Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service 

Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

Being a ‘Enforcement Team Lead’

As a Fire Risk Inspection Team Lead you will oversee and ensure consistency in all matters associated with the enforcement and subsequent legal proceedings where failings under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO), as amended, The Fire Safety Act 2001, The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, The Building Safety Act and have the potential to lead to formal enforcement action, including prosecution.

Making certain that the Fire Risk Inspection Team work to the principles set out in Kent Fire and Rescue Services Intervention and Enforcement Policy and that all legal processes and procedures are met.

You will advise and support Fire Risk Inspection Tema Leads and Inspectors countywide to ensure consistency in all day-to-day enforcement processes, including the management of the Enforcement Coordinator and Enforcement Senior Inspector. Supporting the Fire Risk and Inspection Team Leads and Fire Risk and Inspection Team Manager by being the enforcement subject matter advisor.

If signatory status and competency allow, this position will also require you to undertake the role of Duty Fire Safety Manager (DFSM) including being on the rota outside of core hours.  This function is to provide advice and guidance to operational crews as well as respond to out of hours alleged risk s and complete enforcement activity. 
 

What you’ll do

• Lead and support to the Enforcement team, by managing workload, providing feedback and direction to achieve team and organisational objectives.
• You will be accountable for the performance and professional standards of the Enforcement team, including oversight and quality assurance across all regulatory building safety activities.
• Support the risk-based intervention programme in completing High Risk Inspections and mentoring other inspectors in their regulatory inspections to achieve the RBIP.
• Contribute to continuous department and organisation improvement through feedback, learning, and sharing of best practice across the service.
• Lead on an enforcement activity though investigation and prosecution case building work with the Fire Risk Inspection team.  
• Provision of legal technical support and advice to other regulators, partners and stakeholders in relation to the RRFSO and other legislative matters that fall within the remit of the service.
• Liaison with other regulators, partners and stakeholders to ensure service adherence to regulatory requirements on information sharing and consultation prior to Enforcement Activity Required under the RRFSO.
• To quality assure the management all enforcement cases, to protect the reputation of the service and ensure successful outcomes within judicial arena in the context of enforcement and prosecution of matters under the RRFSO and other legislative matters that fall within the remit of the service. 

What you’ll bring

• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide enforcement while fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of current fire safety legislation, regulatory compliance, and relevant fire safety British Standards.
• Practical experience in the application of risk assessment methodologies, particularly within the context of fire safety regulation and compliance.
• Knowledge of the diverse business communities across the Kent and Medway area, with a clear understanding of their operating context, including the commercial, environmental, and political pressures they face.
• Working knowledge and practical application of relevant HR policies and procedures, such as supporting management and supporting performance processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence in engaging a wide range of audiences, sometimes in challenging situations.
• Awareness of current national issues and developments in fire safety, including engagement with relevant discussion forums and bodies such as the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
• Exceptional organisational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• A commitment to personal and professional development, continuous improvement, and public service excellence.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Demonstrated proficiency in English and Maths at Level 2 (Functional Skills or equivalent).
• Holds a minimum of a Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety (or equivalent), obtained through a competency-based framework for Business Fire Safety Regulators.
• Hold additional Fire Safety Qualifications, such as BB100 and HTM
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification
• A full UK driving licence.
• Experience of working collaboratively across teams and with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership and experience in a related field such as fire safety, building safety, or a regulatory role.

Benefits

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Blue light card discount scheme
• A range of family friendly policies including promoting work life balance
• Access to health and wellbeing services and advice

How to apply

Please complete an on-line application form and CV by midnight on 24^th May 2026.

Interviews will take place on 5th June 2026. A presentation will form part of the interview.

Any queries, please contact the Kent Fire & Rescue Service Talent Acquisition team by e-mail at: [email protected]

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.

As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.