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Job description

About the Department of Finance: DoF provides the NICS and other public bodies with money, staff, professional services and business support systems, helping them to deliver excellent, value for money public services. The department is committed to deliver effective and efficient public services. DoF has approximately 3,500 permanent staff. The Department’s overall aim is to help NICS departments make the most appropriate and effective use of resources and services for the benefit of the community. It does this by managing public money, supporting our people, transforming and innovating, providing evidence and insights and delivering public services. More details on the role of, and services provided by DoF can be found at www.finance-ni.gov.uk. Construction and Procurement Delivery: Construction and Procurement Delivery CPD is a business area within DoF. CPD plays a leading role in providing value for money procurement solutions for construction works, supplies and services across the NICS and the wider public sector. CPD comprises six divisions: Procurement Policy Division Commercial Delivery Division Supplies and Services Division Construction Division Property Services Division Properties Division More information about CPD can be found at Construction and Procurement Delivery CPD Department of Finance finance-ni.gov.uk Organisational Structure: Property Services Division PSD: Property Services Division’s role is to provide a range of high quality, professional property and hard facilities management services i.e. reactive maintenance requests, planned preventative maintenance PPM and associated remedial works cyclical, scheduled and planned maintenance as well as teams delivering small and micro projects up to a value of £500,000. These services are delivered to NICS and ALBs in accordance with NIPPP and other relevant guidance. The Division comprises 70 professional and technical staff from various construction related disciplines, across the following branches. Multi-Disciplinary Team 1 including the Asbestos Unit Multi-Disciplinary Team 2 including the Building Energy Management Unit Multi-Disciplinary Team 3 including the Fire Safety Section, and Supplies and Stores Property Maintenance Team Quantity Surveying Team Quality, Customer and Business Operations PSD works to support clients to achieve compliance and meet their statutory obligations with regard to Fire Safety. The HPTO Fire Officer reports to a Senior Professional and Technical Officer SPTO Fire Surveyor and will assist the SPTO in the areas of activity within the Fire Safety Section to deliver fire safety services to Client Departments and other public bodies. An organisational chart showing the HPTO Fire Officer within the PSD structure is shown on page 8.

Responsibilities

• Assisting line management with the provision and management of appropriate and cost-effective Fire Safety services to clients.
• including the use of CPD information management and related business management systems to manage and update FSS workload, clients, properties, and related technical records.
• Completion of Fire Risk Assessments, ensuring they comply with appropriate, current standards.
• Provision of appropriate and cost-effective fire safety advice to design and construction teams undertaking public sector construction and maintenance projects.
• This may include NICS Departments, other client bodies, internal and external design teams and property maintenance teams.
• Conducting, or assisting third parties with, fire incident investigations including the preparation of reports and recommendations.
• Advising DoF and other clients on a variety of fire safety related matters which may include researching relevant legislation, advisory documents, fire reports.
• manufacture’s literature etc. and giving reasoned opinions in relation to fire safety and related matters.
• Working with others to ensure that fire safety advice and related services are appropriate, robust and comply with statutory requirements.
• Monitoring, assessing and reporting on the quality of contractor service delivery by various means including on-site inspections, reviewing contractual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), consultation with clients etc.
• Directing and supervising contractors in undertaking works. Directing and supervising Fire Safety Section staff in undertaking fire safety duties
• Carrying out regular visits to a wide range of sites (sometimes several sites in one day) which are spread across Northern Ireland, many of which are inaccessible by public transport.
• Inspections will include areas such as above ceilings, below floors and in areas of restricted space, including the transporting, carrying, and making use, of any equipment provided i.e. access steps, ladders, Personal Protective Equipment etc.
• Liaising with other professional and technical staff in the division and with client representatives to ensure satisfactory use for intended purpose & provide value for money.
• Compliance with current industry standards, legislation and associated regulations.
• Maintaining staff performance and client delivery in compliance with all statutory, health and safety policy, good practice requirements and associated guidance.
• Compliance with public sector procurement policy.
• Maintaining and continuously developing professional knowledge and competence to provide a leading source of expertise and authoritative advice and ensure high professional standards and decision making.
• Creating, maintaining and enhancing effective working relationships.
• Any other relevant duties as required by line management.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, have: Please note: You are required to complete either: Section 1a, 1b and Section 3 OR Section 2a, 2b and Section 3
• 1a. A Level 4 qualification in a relevant Fire Safety, Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Engineering, or Construction subject, or equivalent.
• Applications will also be considered from applicants with relevant formal qualifications considered by the selection panel to be of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated above including relevant professional...
• ...or vocational fire prevention qualifications achieved during employment with a recognised Fire and Rescue Service.
• AND 1b. A minimum of 3 years’ experience in: i. establishing requirements for fire safety in buildings during construction and in service or ii. providing specialist advice on fire safety in buildings during construction and in service...
• ...or iii. a combination of (i) and (ii)
• It is essential that candidates provide evidence they have been responsible for establishing fire safety requirements / providing specialist advice on fire safety, and interpreting and implementing Fire Safety legislation...
• ...regulations and guidance, not just relying on the fire safety expertise of others.
• OR 2a. A Level 5 qualification in a relevant Fire Safety, Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Engineering, or Construction subject, or equivalent.
• Applications will also be considered from applicants with relevant formal qualifications considered by the selection panel to be of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated above including relevant professional...
• ...or vocational fire prevention qualifications achieved during employment with a recognised Fire and Rescue Service.
• AND 2b. A minimum of 2 years’ experience in: i. establishing requirements for fire safety in buildings during construction and in service...
• ...or ii. providing specialist advice on fire safety in buildings during construction and in service or iii. a combination of (i) and (ii).
• It is essential that candidates provide evidence they have been responsible for establishing fire safety requirements / providing specialist advice on fire safety, and interpreting and implementing Fire Safety legislation...
• ...regulations and guidance, not just relying on the fire safety expertise of others.
• AND 3. Access to a form of transport so that the post holder can meet the full requirements of the post.
• Note that this includes regular visits to a wide range of sites (sometimes several sites in one day) which are spread across Northern Ireland, many of which are inaccessible by public transport.

Desirable Skills

• If it is necessary to prepare a shortlist from the list of eligible candidates, the Panel will shortlist those candidates who are registered as a Fire Risk Assessor with a UKAS approved body.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 22nd May 2026 at 12 noon. Salary: £37,694 to £38,990 per annum (under review) Location: Clare House, 303 Airport Road West, Belfast. As young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are currently under represented in NICS, we would particularly welcome applications from these groups. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC321976).