Job Description
Head of Preconstruction (Fire Protection)
Kilnbridge
Office Based, London/ Birmingham or Runcorn
Fire Protection
The Opportunity
This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for defining and leading the preconstruction function within Kilnbridge Fire Protection at a time of significant growth and regulatory change.
You will shape how the business secures and delivers complex, compliance-critical projects - driving strategy, strengthening technical capability and improving commercial performance - while reporting directly to the Managing Director.
Operating alongside peer leaders across Operations, Commercial and Technical functions, you will play a central role in shaping the direction and performance of the business.
The Role
As Head of Preconstruction (Fire Protection), you will lead the work-winning function, taking full accountability for how opportunities are assessed, developed and secured.
Working as part of the senior leadership team, you will drive pipeline quality, improve conversion, and ensure all projects are secured with a clear balance of technical integrity, commercial performance and regulatory compliance.
This role requires a leader who can translate deep expertise in passive fire protection into a compelling and effective commercial strategy.
Join a business recognised for excellence, including winning Large Scale Installation Project (£1m+) at the ASFP Awards 2025 and Outstanding Team at the 2026 Fire Resilience Excellence Awards
About Kilnbridge
Kilnbridge is a leading UK structures specialist, delivering complex engineering, construction and infrastructure projects across the built environment.
Through its specialist businesses, Kilnbridge provides integrated capability across the full lifecycle of a structure - from design and build through to adaptation, repair and protection. As an employee-owned organisation, the business combines technical excellence with a strong culture of accountability, collaboration and delivery.
If you want to make a meaningful impact, grow your career and join a team that values expertise and forward thinking, we’d love to hear from you.
What you’ll do
· Lead and define the fire protection preconstruction strategy, ensuring KFPL is positioned to win and deliver complex, compliance-critical fire protection schemes
· Take ownership of the end-to-end tendering process for passive fire protection projects, from early-stage opportunity assessment through to submission and handover
· Set the benchmark for fire protection estimating, cost planning and risk management, ensuring all bids reflect technical accuracy and regulatory compliance
· Provide detailed assurance that all proposals align with Building Safety Act requirements, FIRAS accreditation, CDM regulations and fire safety legislation
· Lead technical fire protection design coordination during preconstruction, ensuring solutions are compliant, buildable and aligned to real-world installation methodologies
· Work closely with commercial and operational leadership to define pricing strategies and contractual positions specific to fire protection and remediation frameworks
· Evaluate and mitigate fire safety risks at tender stage, including compartmentation, fire stopping, structural fire protection and interface risks
· Drive the adoption of digital tools, BIM and data-led approaches to improve accuracy, traceability and compliance in fire protection bidding
· Act as a senior leader in client-facing fire safety discussions, supporting technical submissions, presentations and negotiations with credibility and authority
· Build and maintain strong relationships with fire engineers, consultants, regulators and specialist supply chains
· Lead, mentor and grow a high-performing fire protection preconstruction team, developing deep technical capability and succession strength
What you’ll need
· A degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying or similar
· Extensive experience in fire protection preconstruction, specifically within passive fire protection, fire stopping, remediation or building safety programmes
· Deep technical expertise across passive fire protection systems, including compartmentation, penetration sealing, structural fire protection and fire-resistant materials
· Strong working knowledge of fire safety design principles and compliance frameworks, including FIRAS and third-party certification schemes
· Expert understanding of the Building Safety Act, CDM regulations, and fire compliance requirements within the UK construction industry
· Proven track record of securing and delivering complex, high-value fire protection or remediation tenders
· Experience leading preconstruction teams within a highly regulated, safety-critical environment
· Strong commercial acumen applied specifically to fire protection and compliance-led works
· Ability to interpret and challenge fire strategies, specifications and technical design information
· Proficiency with estimating and preconstruction tools such as CostX and Bluebeam, and BIM in relation to fire compliance and asset data
· A credible and confident leadership style, with the ability to build trust with clients, regulators, fire engineers and internal teams
Why Kilnbridge?
With major projects delivered across the UK - from national infrastructure to clean energy, buildings and complex structural works - Kilnbridge offers the opportunity to work on schemes that leave a lasting legacy on the built environment. With a UK network of offices from London to Runcorn to Lisburn, we are a trusted partner in some of the most highly regulated, constrained and demanding environments working with our customers to support the delivery of projects across the country.
We are proud to be an employee-owned organisation where every colleague has a real stake in our success and a voice in how we grow. Our culture is shaped by four core values - Responsibility, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence - which guide how we work and support one another every day. This has created a workforce that has earned recognition on the Financial Times and Statistas Best UK employers 2026 list.
If you’re driven by pride in your work, inspired by technical challenge and motivated to help deliver projects that shape communities across the UK, you will thrive at Kilnbridge.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Kilnbridge is an equal opportunities employer and a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme. We are committed to creating a diverse workplace where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. We welcome discussions about flexible working and encourage applicants who may require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy or marital status.