Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager

Job summary

The post holder will manage the delivery of a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) portfolio within the National Response Centre (NRC), UKHSA’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. They will lead teams to ensure that the NRC operates effectively, efficiently and in line with UKHSA’s Incident Response Plan, statutory requirements and emergency management principles. They will provide operational leadership across the incident management cycle, including situational awareness, preparedness, response, recovery and organisational learning.

The post holder will own a portfolio area and lead complex projects and workstreams, develop policies and processes, and strengthen organisational preparedness and response capability. They will act as a senior NRC representative, working with stakeholders across UKHSA, government departments, NHS organisations, resilience partners and other agencies; advise senior leaders; support decision-making; coordinate activity during incidents and emergencies; and fulfil an out-of-hours on-call role to support the NRC’s 24/7 response function. Working autonomously in a pressured environment, they will balance strategic priorities with delivery, lead dispersed teams, collaborate across organisational boundaries, and support continuous improvement and professional development.

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.

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

Job description

The post holder will manage NRC incident coordination activity for national incidents, including day-to-day operations, resources, processes, governance, escalation and 24/7 response arrangements within their remit. They will provide senior tactical Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response advice, support coordination and decision-making, manage staff and functions, and contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, training, wellbeing and development.

They will lead or contribute to governance, compliance, risk, assurance, business planning, finance, strategic workstreams and projects; produce business cases and option appraisals; embed learning, innovation and health equity; manage workload and cover; maintain professional development; and undertake reasonable duties in response to changing organisational needs.

The key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the NRC’s incident coordination function for UKHSA national incidents, managing day-to-day operations, resources, processes and governance, and escalating issues as required.
• Providing senior tactical EPRR advice across UKHSA and government, supporting coordination, escalation and decision-making during incidents and emergencies.
• Participating in out-of-hours on-call or seven-day working where required to support the NRC’s 24/7 response function and protect public health.
• Acting as a visible, positive leader, role-modelling professional standards, managing staff and functions, and supporting flexibility, wellbeing and development.
• Supporting the management of NRC resources, workforce planning and operational capacity with HR, Business Operations and corporate colleagues on recruitment, training, development, updates and change programmes.
• Leading or contributing to NRC governance, compliance, risk reporting, assurance, statutory and mandatory training, and appraisal returns.
• Supporting business planning and monitoring with the NRC Senior Management Team, identifying delivery risks and contributing to assurance processes.
• Leading or contributing to agreed strategic workstreams, projects and topic areas, working with regional and national teams and representing the Directorate as required.
• Producing business cases and option appraisals with information, costings, analysis and risks to support decision-making.
• Supporting change and continuous improvement by identifying lessons, embedding learning, promoting innovation and strengthening ways of working.
• Organising own workload, meeting deadlines, providing cover as directed and supporting team resilience.
• Demonstrating commitment to understanding and improving health equity.
• Maintaining professional development by agreeing performance and development needs with the line manager, completing mandatory training and undertaking relevant development pathways.
• Where required, holding financial authority within limits, monitoring and reporting on finance, and supporting NRC budgeting, resourcing, planning and business management.
• Undertaking other reasonable duties as directed and responding to changing team, Directorate and organisational needs, recognising that the job description and person specification may be reviewed over time.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Substantial experience in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR), including complex preparedness, response and incident management environments.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced and uncertain environments, using sound judgement to assess issues, solve problems, prioritise competing demands, delegate appropriately and identify practical solutions.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to analyse data, produce reports and presentations, engage confidently with internal and external forums, represent the organisation with senior stakeholders, and build trusted relationships to support collaboration and delivery.
• Proven leadership experience across incident management and coordination, operational delivery, projects, organisational change, improvement activity or business development, with evidence of strengthening services, capability or organisational resilience
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to use digital tools to improve efficiency and ways of working.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in the public sector or other large organisations.
• A deep understanding of the wider health, government or civil contingencies context in the UK

Please note that for roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 1000 word 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.

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 C.V –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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Substantial experience in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR), including complex preparedness, response and incident management environments.

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare a 5 minute presentation that uses an example of an incident you have been involved in to demonstrate your approach to leadership and building effective working relationships.

Interview dates are 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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf) or Scientific Campus in Porton Down, Salisbury.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) on-site.

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility criteria

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

Security clearance level requirement

Part 1

Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.

Part 2

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. If you are to be based on our Scientific Campus in Porton Down, then Counter-Terrorism Check clearance will be needed.

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 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Salary information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7

£56,185- £66,581 (National)
£58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
£60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

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.

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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Jon Payne
• Email : jonathan.payne@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