Head of Building Safety & Compliance

HEAD OF BUILDING SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
There are compliance roles in residential property and there are building safety roles in residential property. There are few roles that allow you to build something from the ground up, inside a business that genuinely understands why it matters.
The Building Safety Act has changed the landscape for managing agents permanently. Many are still working out how to respond. This highly regarded team has decided to get ahead of it not by adding a tick-box function, but by bringing in a senior position with the authority, the access and the backing to build a compliance and governance framework that will define how the business operates for years to come.
This is a newly created role inside a well-regarded residential block management business operating across London and the South East, with a strong reputation for specialist client service and quality of delivery. The postholder will serve as the internal authority on building safety, risk and compliance; a genuinely strategic position, not a day-to-day property management post, with the authority to direct corrective action across operational teams where required.
If you have spent your career building expertise in building safety and governance and you are looking for a role where that expertise shapes something lasting rather than maintains something existing, this is worth a conversation.
Responsibilities
* Designing and implementing the firm's risk, governance and compliance framework across the portfolio
* Providing strategic oversight of building safety compliance, with particular focus on higher-risk buildings and obligations under the Building Safety Act 2022
* Acting as senior internal lead on regulatory compliance across fire safety, leasehold, landlord and tenant legislation, and company law
* Producing board-quality risk reporting, governance dashboards and strategic advice for senior leadership
* Horizon scanning for regulatory and legislative change and advising on business readiness
* Providing independent assurance across operational teams, identifying control weaknesses and directing corrective action where compliance or governance issues arise
* Advising on governance matters for RMCs, RTM companies, freeholder entities and associated client boards
* Supporting defensible positions on service charge recoverability, contractor assurance and commercial risk
Essential Experience:
* Significant experience in residential block management, building safety or compliance leadership
* Strong working knowledge of the Building Safety Act 2022, fire safety legislation and the leasehold governance framework
* Experience building or leading governance and compliance frameworks in a residential property setting
* Ability to challenge operational teams constructively and require corrective action where needed
* High standards of judgement, integrity and professional discipline
Preferred Experience:
* Prior experience in a building safety or compliance role within a residential managing agent
* Familiarity with higher-risk buildings, safety case requirements and Golden Thread obligations
* Experience with tribunal, ombudsman or regulator-facing matters
* NEBOSH General Certificate, NEBOSH Fire Safety or equivalent
* Membership of IRPM, TPI, MRICS, CIH, CABE, IFE or equivalent
Benefits:
* Competitive salary - up to £75k
* Private healthcare
* Pension
* Enhanced holiday package
* Hybrid working (1–2 days office/on site per week)
* Senior leadership visibility and influence
For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact Alex Parsons at 1st Select
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed