| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of EHS |
| Direct reports | Fire Safety Officer, Fire Operator, Safety Officer |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in fire and safety |
Fire and Safety Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Fire and Safety Manager
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Head of EHS
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Fire and Safety Manager leads fire protection and general safety at a plant, building or site. They manage fire systems and equipment, run drills and training, ensure fire and safety compliance, and lead emergency response. The role reports to the Head of EHS or Plant Head. A good fire and safety manager keeps fire systems always ready, runs regular drills so people know how to respond, prevents fire and safety incidents, and leads a calm, effective response when an emergency does happen.
Key responsibilities
- Manage fire detection, suppression and hydrant systems and keep them always ready.
- Plan and lead fire and emergency drills across the site and review the response.
- Ensure fire and safety compliance with the fire authority and statutory requirements.
- Maintain fire equipment, extinguishers, alarms and the pump house on schedule.
- Train staff and fire crew on fire prevention, evacuation and firefighting.
- Lead emergency response and coordinate with the fire brigade and hospitals.
- Assess fire risk across the site and implement prevention measures.
- Investigate fire and safety incidents and implement corrective actions.
- Manage the fire crew roster so fire cover is available on every shift.
- Keep fire and safety records, permits and inspection reports up to date.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in fire and safety engineering
- Advanced Diploma in Industrial Safety is an advantage
- Fire service or industrial fire experience
- 6 to 10 years in fire and safety
KRAs and KPIs for a Fire and Safety Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| System readiness | Fire systems and equipment tested and ready with no critical gap |
| Drills | Fire and emergency drills conducted to plan with response times on target |
| Compliance | Fire and safety statutory compliance maintained with no violation |
| Incident prevention | Fire incidents kept within the target with hazards closed on inspection |
| Crew cover | Trained fire crew available on every shift as rostered |
| Training | Fire and evacuation training coverage meeting the annual target |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Fire hydrant and sprinkler systems, Fire alarm panel, Extinguishers and breathing apparatus, Fire pump house, Drill and inspection records.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Fire and Safety Manager, Head of EHS, Safety Manager
Interview questions for a Fire and Safety Manager
- How do you make sure fire systems are always ready when needed?
- How do you plan and evaluate a site wide fire drill?
- How do you lead the response to a real fire emergency?
- How do you assess fire risk across a plant?
- How do you keep the site compliant with fire authority requirements?
- Tell me about a fire emergency or drill you managed.
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What does a fire and safety manager do?
A fire and safety manager leads fire protection and general safety at a plant, building or site. They manage fire systems and equipment, run drills and training, ensure fire and safety compliance, and lead emergency response. They keep fire systems ready, prevent incidents, and lead a calm, effective response when an emergency happens.
What qualifications do you need to be a fire and safety manager?
Most fire and safety managers hold a diploma or degree in fire and safety engineering, and an Advanced Diploma in Industrial Safety helps. Fire service or industrial fire experience is valued. Employers look for knowledge of fire protection systems, emergency response leadership, fire risk assessment, and the ability to run drills, training and compliance.
What is the difference between a fire and safety manager and a safety manager?
A fire and safety manager specialises in fire protection and emergency response, alongside general safety. A safety manager focuses on occupational safety broadly, such as machine, process and behavioural safety. In many plants the roles overlap, but the fire and safety manager owns fire systems, drills and emergency response specifically.