Building Safety Experts

Judicial Appointments Commission

Building Safety Experts - fee-paid appointment as expert member of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

Number of vacancies: Immediate: 10

Are you an architect, engineer, surveyor, or senior-level construction expert with substantial current experience of building safety and fire risk?

Are you looking for a fee-paid role with a public service remit that contributes to building safety compliance, assurance and regulatory legal decisions that you can combine with your current profession? If so, this role will be of interest.

In order to apply, candidates must be a member of one of the following institutions:

• Fellows or Associates of the RICS who are: Chartered Building Control Surveyors or Chartered Building Surveyors
• Institution of Structural Engineers
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Institution of Fire Engineers

Royal Institution of British Architects

Candidates for appointment will be required to have substantial recent experience in the last five years which demonstrates:

• An in-depth knowledge of the challenges of dealing with the risk of the spread of fire and structural collapse of buildings and in particular high-rise residential buildings
• The mitigations that can be applied to address those risks
• An understanding of the legislative framework underpinning the control and management of those risks

As an expert member of the Tribunal, you will be involved in considering applications, appeals and references arising from the Building Safety Act 2022. Determining these appeals is likely to involve an analysis of detailed technical data in building safety and compliance and expert knowledge of building safety legislation.

Property Chamber Tribunals usually comprise a judge, an expert member and a lay member. The expert member has equal responsibility for assessing the evidence, determining the facts, and applying the law in reaching the Tribunal decision.

Ten vacancies are available in the Property Chamber in five regions across England. Although assigned to a particular region, you will be expected to travel to other parts of the country to conduct hearings. On occasions, where it is not practical to return from the hearing centre, you may be expected to stay overnight. Travelling expenses, hotel expenses (in circumstances where it is not possible to arrive at the hearing on time if travelling on the same day) and subsistence allowances are payable in connection with sittings, attendance at training courses, etc. These are subject to limits set by the Ministry of Justice.

Tribunal proceedings may be conducted face-to-face at in-person hearings or remotely by video or telephone. The Tribunal also makes determinations on the consideration of documents alone. Case papers are usually provided electronically. Members are expected to have sufficient IT competency to deal with cases on this basis.

All new members will need to attend a two-day induction training course when appointed.  You may be asked to attend other training as required.

We recommend all candidates familiarise themselves with the judicial appointments selection process by visiting our website: www.judicialappointments.gov.uk and make use of the guidance on the application process: www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/non-legal-tribunal-member-roles/

Applications open on Tuesday 28 February 2023 at 13:00 and close on Tuesday 21 March at 13:00. For more details and to apply please click the apply button.