Director of Fire - Secondment

Location: National (Travel required across UK operational sites)

Reporting To: Managing Director – Air & Fire

Join HSL Compliance

Reporting directly to the Managing Director – Air & Fire, you will hold overall operational, commercial, and technical accountability for the Fire operating unit.

You will lead the end-to-end lifecycle of our passive fire portfolio - from surveys, compartmentation, and fire stopping to fire door maintenance, remediation, and large-scale installation projects.

Working in close partnership with Central Operations, Sales, HSEQ, Finance, and HR, you will establish high-performing field delivery standards, champion digital asset tracking, and build a high-caliber workforce capable of delivering long-term margin and growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership & Operating Model

• Operating Unit Creation: Build and lead the unified Fire operating unit, establishing clear reporting lines, accountability frameworks, and common ways of working across legacy entities.

• Acquisition Platform: Design a repeatable, scalable operating model and governance structure capable of efficiently integrating future Fire business acquisitions.

Field Delivery & Technical Governance

• Field Execution: Direct surveyors, inspectors, installers, project managers, and subcontractors to ensure safe, high-quality, and profitable service delivery.

• Technical Assurance: Establish strict technical standards and quality controls across passive fire surveys, compartmentation, fire stopping, and fire door installations.

Commercial Management & Portfolio Growth

• P&L & Budget Ownership: Hold full accountability for annual Fire budgets, revenue targets, margin protection, WIP, and financial forecasting.

• Commercial Strategy: Partner with the Head of Sales to convert survey findings into scoped remedial projects, grow recurring maintenance contracts, and evaluate new service lines (e.g., FRA, fire curtains).

Technology, Data & Asset Information

• Digital Transformation: Partner with Central Operations to define requirements for digital asset registers, photographic evidence capture, defect tracking, and live customer reporting.

• Efficiency: Utilize field data to optimize scheduling, eliminate operational waste, improve resource utilization, and ensure complete work traceability.

People, Leadership & Values

• Talent Development: Attract, recruit, and retain technical talent; build succession pathways and robust onboarding/competence frameworks.

• Value Alignment: Lead with clarity and respect, embedding HSL’s core values (Integrity, Expertise, Quality, People, Partnership) across the division.

What We’re Looking For

Experience & Attributes

• Senior Operational Leadership: Proven track record leading passive fire, fire compliance, or building safety operations at scale with full P&L accountability.

• Field & Subcontractor Management: Significant experience managing multi-site field teams, project managers, surveyors, and specialist subcontractors.

• Commercial & Technical Depth: Deep understanding of passive fire standards (compartmentation, fire stopping, fire doors), technical assurance, and contract profitability.

• Change & M&A Experience: Experience building operating models, transforming service lines, or integrating acquired businesses is highly desirable.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Relevant technical qualification in fire safety, passive fire, engineering, construction, or operational management (Desirable).

• Leadership, HSEQ, or process improvement credentials (Desirable).

• Full UK Driving Licence with total willingness for national site and office travel (Essential).

Why Work for HSL?

• Full training and clear career development pathways
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Company pension scheme & sick pay scheme
• Free eye test every 2 years
• Access to Kinhub (wellbeing & financial support)
• Discounts with hundreds of retailers via Reward Gateway

About Us

HSL Compliance is one of the UK’s leading compliance specialists, helping organisations keep people safe. We work with local authorities, housing associations and businesses across the UK, providing essential services including water safety, fire safety and wider compliance solutions.

Our success is built on the dedication of our people, and we’re proud to offer a supportive workplace where employees can grow, develop and make a real impact.

Ready to Apply?

If you're looking for a varied role with real impact, and you enjoy working in a fast-moving environment, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply online today with your latest CV.