Emergency Preparedness Manager
UK Health Security Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 29th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are looking for an Emergency Preparedness Manager to join our busy and dynamic National Response Centre (NRC) team, which is part of the Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Directorate in UKHSA.
The UKHSA National Response Centre (NRC) responds 24/7 to all UK public health hazards or threats, co-ordinates the UKHSA national response to incidents and emergencies and offers specialist EPRR expertise and advice. The NRC is responsible for coherence and coordination of:
- situational awareness and preparedness to effectively respond to incidents;
- response to incidents; and
- recovery from incidents.
The post holder will provide day-to-day Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) support in the management and co-ordination of the UKHSA national response to incidents and in the lessons identified process following these incidents. They will develop, manage and provide high quality specialist Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response expertise within the National Response Centre, across UKHSA and partners.
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
Your key responsibilities will include to:
- Develop and provide Emergency Preparedness, Resilience, and Response (EPRR) expertise within the National Response Centre and UKHSA
- Lead and collaborate with team members to manage incidents and oversee preparedness activities
- Develop and maintain UKHSA National Response Centre plans and Standard Operating Procedures for a consistent response system.
- Contribute to corporate policies, strategies, and contingency plans through liaison with responders and stakeholders
- Facilitate, support and design (as necessary) EPRR training for UKHSA staff, ensuring plans and systems are tested and exercised
- Manage the Lessons Identified process, facilitate debriefs, and embed good practice recommendations
- Assist with international EPRR work programmes
- Ensure 24/7 responsiveness, including participation in out-of-hours on-call rota if required and/or work over a seven-day period at times
The post holder will provide day-to-day Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) support in in the management and co-ordination of the UKHSA national response to incidents and relevant preparedness activity. They will employ specialist knowledge and project management skills in the development and delivery of emergency preparedness and response strategies corporate policies, and contingency plans through liaison with responders and stakeholders.
They will lead and collaborate with team members to manage incidents and oversee preparedness activities. Additionally, they will develop and maintain UKHSA National Response Centre plans and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure a consistent response system. In addition to supporting incidence response, they will also support projects designed to improve processes within the NRC, drive embed change and support team wellbeing.
They will maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation. They be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of duties. They will work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.
The post holder will facilitate, support, and design (as necessary) EPRR training for UKHSA staff, ensuring that plans and systems are thoroughly tested and exercised. They will also manage the Lessons Identified process, facilitate debriefs, and embed good practice recommendations.
They will undertake the NRC Duty Officer role on a rota basis. They will also manage and utilize data to enhance situational awareness during incidents, developing and maintaining tools such as databases, spreadsheets, questionnaires, and surveys relevant to public health. They will support assurance processes for EPRR activities, ensuring they meet established standards and protocols.
Their role will involve supporting the planning, development and delivery of EPRR training and exercises across the agency to prepare, validate, and review emergency plans.
Effective line management of staff, if applicable, will be another key responsibility, ensuring team flexibility and capacity to meet NRC needs, professional development, and staff well-being. To maintain 24/7 responsiveness, they may participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota or work over a seven-day period when necessary.
Their role requires sensitivity in handling requests for restricted access information related to major incidents and business continuity documents, in accordance with the Official Secrets Act. They will be responsible for organizing and managing their workload to meet deadlines and cover for team members in their absence as directed by their line manager.
A commitment to continuous professional development is essential. They will identify and address their professional performance and training needs through regular appraisals and individual development plans. This includes attending mandatory and ongoing training to build on their knowledge and skills and participating in relevant conferences and seminars to further their development and increase their expertise in the field.
Person specification
Your key responsibilities will include to:
- Develop and provide Emergency Preparedness, Resilience, and Response (EPRR) expertise within the National Response Centre and UKHSA
- Lead and collaborate with team members to manage incidents and oversee preparedness activities
- Develop and maintain UKHSA National Response Centre plans and Standard Operating Procedures for a consistent response system.
- Contribute to corporate policies, strategies, and contingency plans through liaison with responders and stakeholders
- Facilitate, support and design (as necessary) EPRR training for UKHSA staff, ensuring plans and systems are tested and exercised
- Manage the Lessons Identified process, facilitate debriefs, and embed good practice recommendations
- Assist with international EPRR work programmes
- Ensure 24/7 responsiveness, including participation in out-of-hours on-call rota if required and/or work over a seven-day period at times
The post holder will provide day-to-day Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) support in in the management and co-ordination of the UKHSA national response to incidents and relevant preparedness activity. They will employ specialist knowledge and project management skills in the development and delivery of emergency preparedness and response strategies corporate policies, and contingency plans through liaison with responders and stakeholders.
They will lead and collaborate with team members to manage incidents and oversee preparedness activities. Additionally, they will develop and maintain UKHSA National Response Centre plans and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure a consistent response system. In addition to supporting incidence response, they will also support projects designed to improve processes within the NRC, drive embed change and support team wellbeing.
They will maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation. They be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of duties. They will work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.
The post holder will facilitate, support, and design (as necessary) EPRR training for UKHSA staff, ensuring that plans and systems are thoroughly tested and exercised. They will also manage the Lessons Identified process, facilitate debriefs, and embed good practice recommendations.
They will undertake the NRC Duty Officer role on a rota basis. They will also manage and utilize data to enhance situational awareness during incidents, developing and maintaining tools such as databases, spreadsheets, questionnaires, and surveys relevant to public health. They will support assurance processes for EPRR activities, ensuring they meet established standards and protocols.
Their role will involve supporting the planning, development and delivery of EPRR training and exercises across the agency to prepare, validate, and review emergency plans.
Effective line management of staff, if applicable, will be another key responsibility, ensuring team flexibility and capacity to meet NRC needs, professional development, and staff well-being. To maintain 24/7 responsiveness, they may participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota or work over a seven-day period when necessary.
Their role requires sensitivity in handling requests for restricted access information related to major incidents and business continuity documents, in accordance with the Official Secrets Act. They will be responsible for organizing and managing their workload to meet deadlines and cover for team members in their absence as directed by their line manager.
A commitment to continuous professional development is essential. They will identify and address their professional performance and training needs through regular appraisals and individual development plans. This includes attending mandatory and ongoing training to build on their knowledge and skills and participating in relevant conferences and seminars to further their development and increase their expertise in the field.
Person specification
You will be assessed on the below eight essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description:
Essential Criteria
- Evidence of relevant CPD/qualification in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response or equivalent experience
- Experience in a management role including supervising staff who are not direct reports and managing projects
- Experience in emergency preparedness, resilience and response
- Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence for Senior Management level
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Demonstrable experience in development and co-ordination of constructive debriefs for major incidents, dissemination of lessons identified and recommendations for future best practice
- Delivering at pace, against an environment of changing priorities and working flexibly to meet the demands of the agency.
Benefits
- 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
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 capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed eight essential criteria and this will be in the form of
- The Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- a 750 word Statement of Suitability.
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.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a Presentation, details of which will be provided to you nearer the time.
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. 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) working at one of
UKHSA's core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at our scientific campus site (Porton).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
If based at one of our scientific locations, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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 as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances 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. 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 internal applicants).
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.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Carlie James
- Email : recruitment@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/
