Principal Consultant – Fire Safety & Housing Compliance

Hybrid | North West based clients

A specialist housing and property consultancy is expanding its fire safety and compliance services within the social housing sector and is now seeking a Principal Consultant – Fire Safety & Property Compliance to lead a major long-term client contract and build a dedicated Fire & Compliance business unit.

This is a senior, high-profile role working closely with the Managing Director to develop and grow a stand-alone fire safety and housing compliance division, with the opportunity to take an equity stake as the business unit matures.

This role offers far more than delivery — it provides a genuine route into ownership, leadership and long-term value creation.

The Role

You will take ownership of fire safety and property compliance across large, complex housing portfolios including:

• High-rise and higher-risk residential buildings
• Care homes and supported housing

You will act as the senior fire safety and compliance lead, providing governance, assurance and strategic leadership to social housing clients while building and leading a new Compliance & Fire Safety division.

You will be trusted to shape the direction, commercial model and growth of this service line, with a clear pathway to equity participation as it becomes a separate business unit.

What you’ll be doing

You will:

• Lead fire safety and housing compliance consultancy services across the North West
• Act as the Responsible Person and senior advisor for fire and building safety governance
• Provide strategic assurance to Boards, Executives and senior housing leaders
• Build and oversee a new Fire & Compliance division, including systems, governance and delivery models
• Drive commercial growth, tenders and long-term client relationships
• Oversee delivery of a flagship 18-month+ housing contract
• Develop reporting, audit and assurance frameworks for high-risk residential portfolios
• Recruit and grow a specialist compliance and fire safety team as the division expands

What we’re looking for

You will be a senior fire safety and housing compliance leader, likely coming from:

• Social housing or housing association environments
• Fire safety consultancy
• Local authority or ALMO property compliance
• Building safety or regulatory compliance leadership

You will bring:

• NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate (or equivalent)
• Degree or professional qualification in a relevant property, compliance or building safety field
• Senior-level experience managing fire safety, building safety and statutory compliance
• Experience of high-risk residential buildings, care or supported housing
• Strong understanding of housing regulation, fire safety law and building safety frameworks
• Confidence operating at Board and Executive level
• Experience of contract management, service improvement and organisational change
• Commercial, consultancy or business development experience is highly desirable.

What’s on offer

• Generous annual leave plus public holidays
• Funded CPD and professional memberships
• Equity participation linked to growth of the Fire & Compliance business unit
• Fully hybrid, home-based working

Location

Home-based with travel to client sites once or twice a week.

If you are a senior fire safety and housing compliance professional who wants to lead, grow and ultimately own part of a specialist compliance business, this role offers a rare opportunity to do exactly that while improving safety for thousands of residents.