Fixed-Term until 31 March 2027

Location : Westminster, home-based, In-office but open to home based

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.  

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.  

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector. 

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

This role is key to expanding the JIT team inspection programme, and with building control and Environmental Health colleagues, you’ll help assess and advise councils on potential enforcement under Housing Act 2004.

​About You

You’ll be experienced in inspecting high-rise buildings and using various enforcement tools. You will be resilient, a good team player, and flexible to the various challenges involved.

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage. 

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date. 

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

1. Significant experience of fire safety enforcement, including the process for serving Article 31 notices under Fire Safety Order

2. Experience of inspecting and identifying fire safety issues in high rise residential buildings, law enforcement, and high-profile accident investigations.

3. Experience of report writing, and national policy development.

4. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders effectively.

5. Excellent written skills, with the ability to accurately summarise and convey complex information. ​

Principal Adviser - Fire - Job Description

Closing Date:  5pm, 17 September 2025

Interview Date: 23 September 2025, interviews will be in-person

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.  

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”.  Please contact us via Recruitment@local.gov.uk if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).

• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals

• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other

• how we work with our members and stakeholders

• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.