Senior Associate, Fire Engineer - Expert Witness Advisory Services

Locations: London, Birmingham, Bristol or Manchester

Due to the success of the current team, we are looking to expand by recruiting an experienced Fire Engineer with a proven track record of fire engineering and practical experience on existing buildings.

This is an opportunity for someone wishing to work as part of an established specialist team on a range of technical disputes. Previous experience as an Expert Witness is preferred such that the candidate will be able to immediately take on their own instructions with support as required. As part of the recruitment process, the relevant experience you have gained will be covered during your interview discussions and we will require redacted examples of your report writing.

The role is hybrid in nature with a mixture of working from home and the office. The office location for this role is flexible with the successful appointee being able to be based in any of our office locations, but preferred to be: London, Manchester, Birmingham or Bristol. Please note, that due to the nature of this role, the prerequisite for applying to this opportunity is that you have achieved a minimum of 10 years’ professional experience working as a fire engineer and with some experience of acting as an Expert Witness.

Who are we?

Ridge Expert Witness Advisory Services (EWAS) is a specialist team of construction experts providing support to solicitors in respect of property litigation. The team includes established Fire Engineering experts, as well as Building Surveying, Architectural, Structural, and Services experts.

What you need to do to be effective in this role

This Role Will Include

• Building inspections, primarily cladding and internal fire compartmentation, and expert report writing (training will be given in respect of the later even if you are an established expert)
• Desktop reviews of information
• Attending expert meetings and writing joint statements
• Provision of oral and written evidence in Court or other tribunals, including cross examination

Wider details of the role will be discussed in depth during interview.

The skills and experience you need to have for this role

To be considered for this role you will have gave gained extensive experience in your career of working in a related role which will be discussed / evidenced during the interview process.

You Will Possess / Be

• Experienced Fire Engineer ideally Chartered or Incorporated with a strong technical background in the practical aspects of construction.
• Focused, confident, decision maker, but one who recognises when they have insufficient information to reach a conclusion.
• Have a sound knowledge of past/current industry standards, regulations, and guidance and who recognises the limit of their knowledge.
• A problem solver able to assimilate large amounts of technical information and identify its relevance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical matters to the non-technical in both written and oral forms.
• Strong interpersonal skills and willing to take instruction and training from the established team.
• Flexible working attitude with the ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
• Flexible to travel regionally for site visits, etc.