Associate Director Fire Engineering - Fire Engineering & Fire Safety Job in North West - £70,000 - £90,000

Build and lead a new Fire Engineering service, Hybrid and flexible working, Share options opportunity

Job Summary

Associate Director Fire Engineering Job North West offers a new leadership role within an established national built environment consultancy. The position sits within Fire Engineering & Fire Safety and will develop a new fire engineering service with senior-level responsibility. You will focus on fire strategies, fire design and technical compliance rather than fire risk assessment activity. Projects include healthcare, sheds, warehouses, schools, residential, commercial, mixed-use and high-rise developments across the UK.

The role combines hands-on technical delivery, client engagement, strategic growth and team development from an early stage. You will have support from wider consultancy teams and an established client base when developing new work. This Associate Director Fire Engineering Job North West also provides autonomy to shape service standards, recruitment priorities and future delivery. The position suits an experienced fire engineer seeking responsibility for technical quality, commercial development and leadership.

About the Company

The employer is an established national built environment consultancy operating since 2012. The business historically delivered construction health and safety services, including CDM and Principal Designer work. Recent Building Safety Act changes have supported significant growth in Building Regulations Principal Designer services and wider building safety work.

The consultancy employs around 100 people and works with clients across healthcare, education, logistics, warehousing and other sectors. The head office is in St Helens, with additional offices supporting hot-desking when required. Part of the business is owned through an Employee Benefit Trust. The company is also exploring acquisitions and other growth activity as it expands its service offering.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the development and growth of a new Fire Engineering service across varied UK projects
• Produce and oversee fire strategies, technical reports, design advice and compliance guidance for clients
• Build and develop a high-performing Fire Engineering team as the service grows over time
• Support and mentor colleagues across technical delivery, professional development and project decision making
• Develop strong client relationships and secure repeat work through high-quality technical and commercial delivery
• Identify opportunities for service growth and support wider business development across existing client relationships
• Collaborate with Building Safety and Construction Safety teams to deliver coordinated consultancy solutions
• Act as a senior technical representative for the business with clients and industry stakeholders

Skills & Experience Required

• Demonstrable Fire Engineering experience with responsibility for leading complex projects and technical delivery
• A degree in Fire Engineering, Structural Engineering or another closely related technical discipline
• Chartered Engineer status is preferred, with candidates close to completing chartership also considered
• Strong knowledge of current fire safety legislation, relevant guidance, industry standards and PAS 9980
• Experience developing client relationships, supporting business development and contributing to new work generation
• Ability to build, lead and develop technical teams within a growing consultancy environment
• Collaborative and solutions-focused approach when working across disciplines, clients and internal support functions
• Commercial awareness and leadership capability suited to shaping a new technical service from inception

Salary & Benefits

• £70,000 – £90,000 salary depending on experience
• 10% car allowance and share options opportunity
• Hybrid and flexible working with approximately two to three nights per month at the St Helens head office
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, holiday purchase scheme and birthday leave
• Private healthcare, contributory pension scheme, life assurance and employee ownership participation
• Electric vehicle scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, company phone and IT equipment

Who Is This Role Ideal For?

This role suits a senior fire engineer ready to lead a new service within an established consultancy. It is appropriate for Principal, Associate or Associate Director level candidates with strong technical fire engineering experience. The position requires confidence producing fire strategies, leading complex projects and building trusted client relationships. It will also suit someone motivated by team building, business development and long-term service growth.

Chartered status is preferred because of professional indemnity considerations as the function develops. Candidates close to chartership, around six to nine months from completion, may also be considered. The working pattern particularly suits North West based candidates, although the business recognises the specialist market requires wider geographic flexibility.

About Hunter Dunning

Hunter Dunning is a specialist property and built environment recruitment consultancy established in 2004, focused on quality and long-term partnerships in the UK and Ireland property and construction market.

We specialise in full lifecycle property recruitment, covering architecture, interior design, surveying, land and planning, fire safety and wider construction roles. We offer informed and confidential discussions for both clients and candidates and welcome conversations about this opportunity and your wider career plans within the built environment.

Apply

If you meet the criteria above, send us your CV and portfolio. We receive a large number of applications so if you do not hear back within 7 days consider your application unsuccessful this time.

We will keep a copy of your details on file for future vacancies. In accordance with GDPR, by applying for this position you give us your consent to process your data in-line with our Privacy and Data Protection Policies which can be read on the privacy policy page on our website.

Referral

Did you know we run a referral scheme? We pay a £1000 referral bonus if you introduce us to anyone who we then successfully place into a new job role. Just send us their information and we’ll do the rest.

Terms: A candidate is deemed to have been successfully placed once they have started a new job as a result of an introduction made by Hunter Dunning and when they’ve successfully completed the probation period. See website for full terms & conditions.

Associate Director Fire Engineering job in North West – Your Property Recruitment Specialists ( Job Ref: 1368098) #LI-Hybrid