Head of Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response (EPRR)

Job summary

The Regional Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (HoEPRR) is a key strategic role providing comprehensive oversight of the regional EPRR portfolio. Working autonomously within professional boundaries, the postholder ensures the region maintains a constant state of preparedness so it can identify, respond to, and recover from all incidents, hazards and threats, both planned and unforeseen. They ensure that, where possible, measures are in place to maintain continuity of core business. The HoEPRR is a senior leader within the region, working closely with senior colleagues across geographical and organisational boundaries.

The role requires understanding complex environments and engaging multidisciplinary stakeholders to fully integrate the UKHSA region into wider incident response and mutual aid arrangements.

As the point of strategic decision-making for local resilience policy relating to health emergencies, the postholder ensures the region meets all legal and regulatory requirements for training, planning and coordination. They work with a wide range of external partners, including Local Authorities, Local Resilience Forums, NHSE and other agencies.

Using their EPRR expertise, the postholder drives continuous improvement by embedding lessons from incidents, exercises and national events. They ensure EPRR is fully integrated into business planning, strategy and operations across the region.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Job description

Governance and regulatory

• Provide assurance: Report to SLTs and HP Operations Executive that EPRR is tested, inspected and fit for purpose.
• Performance metrics: Design, implement and monitor indicators to track and improve business continuity and emergency planning performance.
• Compliance & reporting: Ensure compliance with UKHSA Core Standards, the Civil Contingencies Act and other requirements; prepare briefings and recommend improvements.
• Research & training development: Appraise research, update training and audit key plans to support continuous improvement.
• Rapid reporting: Produce timely reports, policy documents and position papers to inform leaders and support decision-making during major incidents.

Strategic leadership and expert practice

• Oversee EPRR & business continuity: Lead regional preparation, implementation, maintenance, exercising and compliance of EPRR and business continuity plans in line with local and national guidance.
• Assure capability: Provide systematic assurance across strategic, tactical and operational levels via structured capability reviews.
• Health protection readiness: Ensure regional capacity and capability to respond to health protection emergencies and incidents.
• Incident advisory role: Act as tactical adviser to UKHSA strategic leads during major or significant incidents.
• Statutory duties: Ensure the region fulfils Category 1 responder obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
• Conduit to SLT: Assure senior leadership that local and regional EPRR systems are resilient and link regional and national systems.
• Debriefing and lessons: Facilitate operational debriefs and lead application of lessons learned across regions and government.
• Regional Response Centre: Lead implementation, functionality and assurance of the Regional Response Centre per the UKHSA Response Centre Framework.
• Training & exercising: Oversee delivery of required training and multi-agency exercises, evaluations and action implementation.
• Integrated system approach: Coordinate staff and senior management engagement to ensure a whole-system EPRR approach.
• Provide strategic oversight and assurance that training and exercises meet UKHSA requirements.
• Develop business continuity arrangements with the Head of Business Operations in line with BCI good practice.
• Coordinate an integrated whole system approach to EPRR across local and national senior management.
• Plan and deliver EPRR training and multi-agency exercises, evaluate outcomes, capture lessons and ensure actions are implemented.

Partnerships and collaboration

• Strategic planning: Work with EPRR/resilience leads to develop the Regional Resilience Strategy and incident management plans to maintain essential services.
• Business continuity coordination: Support the Head of Resilience in coordinating Business Continuity Plans and Impact Analyses region wide.
• Cross-government working: Collaborate with government departments, devolved administrations and local partners to align capabilities, close gaps and refine plans.
• Stakeholder relationships: Build and maintain relationships with resilience leads and policymakers to inform strategy and share best practice.
• Representation & communications: Represent the RDD at LRF/ICB/LHRP meetings and coordinate with Communications on media interest related to resilience.

Resource and team management

• Line management & budget: Line-manage the regional EPRR team, deliver appraisals and development, and manage delegated pay and non-pay budgets.
• Operational leadership: Lead the team to support RRC assurance aligned to the UKHSA ERC Assurance Framework and coordinate with Health Protection Teams.
• Apply lessons & partnership working: Ensure lessons are applied locally and across government to strengthen responses to health hazards.
• Visible leadership: Provide resilient, flexible leadership in complex, high-pressure situations and adapt communication to operational needs.

This list is not exhaustive

Professional development and Communication

• Identify and act on personal development needs via appraisal and an individual development plan; complete mandatory training and pursue ongoing career-path learning.
• Communicate in person, by phone, email and through reports, briefings, presentations and facilitated workshops.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential role criteria (including qualifications, licenses and registrations)

• Senior-level experience in resilience and business continuity or Level 7 qualification with equivalent specialist knowledge.
• Substantial operational management experience leading multifunctional teams.
• Deep knowledge of emergency planning, Civil Contingencies Act duties and business continuity guidance.
• Proven experience of organisational transformation and leading large-scale or national programmes in complex matrix organisations.
• Experience designing and delivering training and exercises (tabletop and live play) with structured debriefs.
• In-depth knowledge of emergency services command and control procedures.
• Experience developing and applying governance, risk management and compliance to strengthen organisational resilience.
• Demonstrable partnership working across local, regional and national stakeholders and ability to navigate political contexts.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to present concise evaluations and options to senior audiences in writing and orally.
• Effective leadership with integrity, credibility, innovation and resilience.
• Ability to apply evidence and best practice, challenge assumptions and drive creative solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in politically sensitive contexts; tact and diplomacy handling complex information.
• Sound judgement and expert decision-making under pressure; ability to interpret and apply complex policy during change.
• Cultural competence and self-awareness, including emotional intelligence and appreciation of diversity.

Desirable role criteria:

• Completed Principles of Health Command Training
• Project and programme management experience or equivalent knowledge of Prince 2, managing successful programmes or Agile PM.
• Member of an EPRR professional Body
• Practical experience of applying Resilience and/or Business Continuity Policy and standards to support key work programme deliverables

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes £20,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1,500 number of words Supporting Statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 your supporting statement must be no more than 1,500 words. Please do not exceed 1,500words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV. Please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and ‘Meets some essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Demonstrable experience of working within and a resilience and business continuity role at a senior level or a Level 7 qualification in a relevant subject and able to demonstrate an equivalent level of specialist knowledge

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to either a face-to-face interview in our office in London or at one of our Southeast offices. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Abilities will be tested at interview.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria - External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Health protection operation centres in either Ashford/ Horsham / Fareham or at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Basic Personnel Security Standard
• Security Clearance (SC)

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process, you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Trish Mannes
• Email : Trish.Mannes@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7731531