Jobs

Oxford Colleges Fire Safety Advisor (Ref: GTC-163)

£17,505 p.a. to £18,565 p.a. (University Grade 6)
For 22.5 hours per week

View Oxford Colleges Fire Safety Advisor job description (Word)
Application form (Word)
Application form (PDF)

Green Templeton College is the employer for this post, and is a graduate community at the heart of the University of Oxford. It brings together students, academics and practitioners with a particular focus on business and management, health and medicine, and social sciences.

With around 600 students from 79 countries and more than 250 fellows, we are international, family friendly and future focused within a traditional Oxford setting.

An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual to work across the Oxford Colleges as a Fire Safety Advisor. This senior role requires specialist and up to date knowledge to promote and facilitate support in a number of ways, such as preparing for fire audits, delivering fire safety, event and risk management training and interpreting and evaluating fire risk assessments.

This role is based from home but will involve travelling to different Colleges within the city of Oxford on a regular basis. In return we offer an excellent benefits package including a contributory pension scheme and 38 days holiday per year (pro rata).

To apply, view the information on this page and download an application form. Further details of the post can be obtained by e-mailing hr@gtc.ox.ac.uk or telephone (01865) 284589. For an informal chat, please e-mail Teresa Strike on Teresa.Strike@gtc.ox.ac.uk or call (01865) 284548.

Closing date: Monday 15 March 2021 at 12 noon.

Interviews will take toward the end of March 2021.

About the post

Reporting to the Domestic Bursar at Green Templeton College, the Oxford Colleges’ Fire Safety Advisor (CFSA) is employed by Green Templeton College on behalf of the Domestic Bursars of the subscribing Colleges of Oxford University.  The postholder will be responsible for advising College Bursars on fire safety and related issues throughout the estates of all of the subscribing Colleges.

In the course of carrying out these duties he or she will be expected to liaise with College employees, agents and suppliers of professional services, at all of the Colleges that are served.

On many occasions the information which the Fire Safety Advisor has to communicate will be relevant to all Colleges and will be disseminated on an “all to know” basis. At other times the CFSA will be working specifically for one College and the report will be submitted to that College alone.

Main contacts will be:

• Bursars/Domestic Bursars
• Clerks of Works and College Surveyors
• Accommodation Managers
• Surveyors/architects under contract
• Local Authority – HMO team, EHO
• Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Main purpose of job

To provide fire safety advice and guidance to all of the subscribing Oxford Colleges.

Key tasks

1. Provide Colleges with proactive fire safety advice, maintain a close watch on regulatory / legal changes and advise Colleges on their implications
2. Carry out basic fire safety training for staff in Colleges and regular courses on such things as Fire Marshall training, and College Fire Officer’s initial training
3. Assist in preparing a College for a fire audit as required
4. Advise on the priorities for essential and/or desirable fire precaution work
5. Carry out specific fire safety audits and inspections and provide written reports on the findings on request. This to be undertaken on a rotational basis around all Colleges
6. Prepare detailed reports for Bursars on fire safety and make recommendations on fire safety which can be presented within Colleges, to Governing Bodies etc, as requested
7. To offer advice, guidance and support to enable Colleges to create and update fire risk assessments – especially on reliable contractors to undertake this work
8. To offer advice, guidance and support to enable Colleges to maintain testing and safety procedures and routines and associated record keeping
9. Advise events organisers on best practice in relation to their event – e.g. Ball Committees, producers of musical or dramatic productions and be in attendance as required including on the day of set up
10. Attend, investigate and report on any fire-related incident in the Colleges
11. When requested, represent a particular College in discussions on fire precaution with other agencies such as the local planning department, Houses in Multiple Occupation team and the Environmental Health Office
12. Represent the Oxford Colleges at meetings with enforcing authorities or other bodies when requested
13. Keep up to date with relevant legislation and best practice, interpreting regulations and informing Bursars of changes which may affect their Colleges
14. Provide induction training for new Bursars / Domestic Bursars and support with all relevant legislative information
15. Regularly update Colleges on the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005, its amendments and successor legislation
16. Maintain a liaison with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Fire Protection Team in order to advise Colleges on trends and issues emanating from them
17. Attends termly meetings of the Building Managers Committee
18. Be able to work flexibly in terms of hours worked – i.e. some hours may be worked at weekends and in the evening depending on events.

Selection criteria

• The post requires an individual with a collaborative and supportive manner and someone who has proven experience of working at a Senior level
• Fire safety experience within a statutory fire authority
• Experience of providing training to non-fire safety personnel
• Experience carrying out fire inspections and risk assessments
• Experience in developing fire safety policies and procedures along with Knowledge and understanding of principles of building construction in relation to fire safety
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish priorities and manage a demanding and varied workload
• Experience of clear and concise report writing.

Terms and conditions of employment

* Free lunches, tea and coffee are provided when the kitchens are open

** Car parking is available on a first come, first served basis. This is not a contractual entitlement and the right may be removed should the needs of the College change.

How to apply

All applications must be made on an application form and sent by email to hr@gtc.ox.ac.uk.  It is possible, but not preferred, to send applications by post to Human Resources Department, Green Templeton College, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HG.

Application form (Word)
Application form (PDF)

If you are unable to access the application forms and require further assistance, please e-mail hr@gtc.ox.ac.uk or telephone (01865) 284589.

Recruitment timetable

The closing date is Monday 15 March 2021 at 12 noon.  Interviews will be held at the end of March, and as there are several staff members involved in the selection process it will not be possible to alter the interview date, once agreed.

In the interests of economy we will only contact those candidates who have been shortlisted for interview and they will be informed by telephone or email.  Applicants are welcome to telephone or e-mail to check the progress of their application.

Data protection

All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post, and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the University’s Data Protection Policy.

Travel expenses

The College will reimburse receipted travel expenses to interview at the rate of a second class rail fare, within the UK.

Charity number 1142297.

Green Templeton College values diversity and aspires to reflect this in its workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.