Head of Fire Safety | UAL | Full Time | £60,484 – £73,058

University of the Arts London is looking for an experienced Head of Fire Safety to lead fire safety management across its sites.

This is a senior role with a clear purpose. You will shape fire safety strategy, lead compliance and help protect students, staff and visitors across UAL’s estate.

You will act as the university’s lead competent adviser for fire safety. That means giving clear advice, setting standards and making sure fire risk is managed in a careful and consistent way. In other words, the role where “that should probably be fine” is correctly treated as a threat to civilisation.

About UAL

UAL is one of the world’s leading creative universities.

Its colleges have helped shape creative education since 1842. Today, UAL is ranked second in the world for Art and Design and has a global community of more than 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries.

UAL is made up of six colleges:

• Camberwell College of Arts
• Central Saint Martins
• Chelsea College of Arts
• London College of Communication
• London College of Fashion
• Wimbledon College of Arts

The university also includes institutes, research centres, a pre-degree school and specialist companies.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Head of Fire Safety, you will provide strategic leadership across UAL’s fire safety work.

You will:

• Lead fire safety strategy: Shape and deliver the university’s Fire Strategy.
• Manage compliance: Make sure UAL meets fire safety law and statutory duties.
• Develop systems: Lead the Fire Safety Management System.
• Oversee risk assessments: Manage the fire risk assessment programme.
• Advise leaders: Give clear advice to senior staff and key stakeholders.
• Lead assurance: Build strong governance, audit and assurance processes.
• Support major projects: Advise on capital projects and estate changes.
• Respond to incidents: Lead responses to fire safety issues, incidents and regulatory matters.
• Work with authorities: Build strong links with external regulators and fire authorities.
• Lead a team: Manage, support and develop a high-performing fire safety team.
• Promote good practice: Build a strong fire safety culture across the university.
• Improve standards: Help UAL meet and exceed legal and sector expectations.

Fire Safety Leadership

This Fire Safety role is about more than compliance paperwork.

You will help create safe, welcoming and inspiring spaces for people to learn, teach, create and work. That means clear policy, strong systems, honest assurance and practical advice that people can understand.

You will also support a diverse estate with creative spaces, studios, teaching rooms, offices and public-facing areas. Naturally, creative environments come with their own building risks, because apparently imagination needs square footage, wiring and escape routes.

About You

You will be an experienced fire safety professional with strong technical knowledge and senior leadership skills.

You will bring:

• Fire safety expertise: Strong experience in fire safety management and compliance.
• Recognised qualification: A relevant fire risk assessment qualification.
• Professional membership: Membership of a relevant body, such as IFSM.
• Legal knowledge: Strong knowledge of fire safety law and guidance.
• Building safety knowledge: Understanding of the Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Act.
• Systems knowledge: Knowledge of passive and active fire safety systems.
• Strategic leadership: The ability to set direction and improve practice.
• People management: Experience leading, motivating and developing a team.
• Stakeholder skills: Confidence advising senior leaders and external authorities.
• Clear communication: The ability to explain complex technical issues in simple terms.
• Collaboration: A practical and inclusive working style.
• Resilience: The ability to lead well in complex or high-pressure situations.

Desirable Experience

It would be useful if you have worked in:

• A large estate
• A complex organisation
• A multi-site setting
• Higher education
• Public-facing buildings
• Cultural, creative or specialist learning environments

Key Fire Safety Skills

UAL is looking for someone with strong skills in:

• Fire safety strategy
• Fire safety management systems
• Fire risk assessment
• Compliance leadership
• Governance and assurance
• Active fire safety systems
• Passive fire safety systems
• Capital project advice
• Regulatory engagement
• Incident response
• Team leadership
• Stakeholder management
• Policy development
• Culture change

Why Join UAL?

This is a strong opportunity to shape fire safety across one of the world’s most respected creative universities.

You will influence policy, systems, projects and culture across a diverse estate. Your work will help students, staff and visitors use UAL’s spaces with confidence.

You will also join a university that values creativity, inclusion and fresh thinking. Which is pleasant, since the world has not exactly suffered from too much thoughtful leadership.

Culture and Inclusion

UAL wants people to feel able to be themselves and reach their full potential.

The university is proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter. It is also a member of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers. UAL is a Disability Confident employer and a Living Wage employer.

UAL welcomes people from different backgrounds, cultures and identities.

Application Process

UAL uses a fair and open anonymous selection process.

You will need to create an account and apply through the university’s job board. As part of the application, you will need to provide a supporting statement or answer competency questions.

The process includes:

• Application
• Shortlisting
• Interview and assessment
• Offer
• Onboarding

UAL understands the use of AI in work. However, candidates are encouraged to use their own voice and show their own knowledge, skills and experience in the application.

Important Information

The role closes on 13 May 2026 at 11:55pm.

If UAL receives a high number of applications, the closing date may move forward. The university aims to give at least 24 hours’ notice of any change.

Application Tips

Use your application to show clear examples of Fire Safety leadership.

Focus on strategy, governance, fire risk assessments, compliance systems, incident response, capital project advice and work with regulators.

It will also help to show how you have led teams, improved culture, managed complex estates and explained technical risks to senior leaders. Keep your examples clear, specific and linked to safer outcomes.