Regional Fire & Life Safety Manager

SOCOTEC • Los Angeles, CA

3d

About The Position

SOCOTEC Life Safety, the life safety division of SOCOTEC US, is seeking a Regional Fire & Life Safety Manager to launch and grow its fire protection engineering division in the region. The role combines fire protection engineering expertise, business development, financial and operational management, and team leadership. The manager will establish the office’s operational foundation, develop a team, acquire clients, and deliver high-quality fire protection solutions across a range of industries.

The manager will define and execute the regional market-entry and growth strategy, build relationships with clients and local industry stakeholders, and drive market penetration and revenue growth. The position also oversees project delivery and technical quality, maintains compliance with applicable codes and regulations, and holds full profit-and-loss responsibility for the local Service Line. The manager will recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team while promoting accountability, collaboration, safety, and professional excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Fire Protection Engineering, or ability to obtain one within a reasonable time frame.
• 7–10 years of experience in fire protection engineering.
• At least 3 years of experience in a leadership or managerial role.
• Strong understanding of fire protection systems design, building codes, and safety regulations, including NFPA, IBC, and UBC.
• Experience managing or starting up a business unit, particularly in a technical or engineering environment.
• Proven track record in business development, client relationship management, and project acquisition.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to think strategically, solve problems, and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the regional market-entry and growth strategy for SOCOTEC Life Safety, aligned with regional and national strategy.
• Identify and secure new client opportunities and drive market penetration and revenue growth.
• Build and sustain relationships with clients, owners, developers, contractors, engineers, and other local stakeholders.
• Drive cross-selling of SOCOTEC’s integrated service offerings in partnership with other regional Business Unit General Managers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for major local clients and develop long-term client partnerships.
• Represent SOCOTEC through industry involvement, thought leadership, and participation in local professional organizations.
• Oversee fire protection engineering projects from inception to completion, ensuring budgets, timelines, and quality standards are met.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership during project design, analysis, and implementation.
• Keep current with fire protection technologies, codes, and regulations, and guide teams on fire suppression, life safety, fire alarm systems, and building code compliance.
• Ensure projects comply with local, state, and federal fire protection codes and safety regulations.
• Manage the Service Line’s local profit and loss, including budgeting, forecasting, utilization, margins, and cash flow.
• Establish and optimize operational processes, quality management systems, and safety protocols.
• Implement key performance indicators and performance metrics to support accountability, continuous improvement, utilization, and billable-hour targets.
• Manage project execution, resource allocation, billing, and collections; support contract tracking, budget monitoring, and collection efforts.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain technical, commercial, and operational staff.
• Set goals and priorities, align objectives with regional and business targets, and communicate and monitor staff objectives and key results.
• Build future leaders and support succession planning within the Business Unit.
• Promote a hands-on, high-accountability culture focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, safety, and professional excellence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager