About the job

Job summary

National £38,724 - £44,393

Outer London £40,721 - £46,231

Inner London £42,716 - £48,068

The Emergency Preparedness Manager works with the National Response Centre (NRC) in the development and maintenance of national guidance, plans, training and exercise programs and validation for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR), including recovery, statutory and organisational requirements.

As a member of the NRC the post holder will provide support in the management and co-ordination of the UKHSA national response to public health incidents and in the lessons identified process following these incidents. The role also assists in ensuring governance and audit of national emergency plans. The post holder will be involved in establishing integrated working partnerships with the wider Directorate.              

They will maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation. The post holder will work with minimal supervision and be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of duties. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.  

The UKHSA National Response Centre is responsible for coherence and coordination of: 

• situational awareness and preparedness to effectively respond to incidents.  
• response to incidents; and  
• recovery from incidents.  

The National Response Centre works closely with the network of Regional Response Centres and aligns with the WHO Framework for Public Health Emergency Operations Centres.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.

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 locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Some business travel may be required to other UKHSA offices.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.  

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy. 

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

Job description

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To develop, manage and provide high quality specialist Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response expertise within the National Response Centre, across UKHSA and partners.
• To manage the development and maintenance of all UKHSA National Response Centre plans and ensure that there is a consistent and co-ordinated system of response.
• Actively contribute to and sustain the development of corporate policies and strategies, contingency guidance and plans, through liaison with Category 1 and Category 2 responders and other stakeholders
• To ensure and manage robust response facilities and resilient secure communications for the agency’s response to incidents and emergencies.
• To lead, co-ordinate and design as necessary the training of UKHSA staff in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response and to ensure that plans and response systems are trained, tested and exercised by contributing when appropriate to the design and delivery of such training and exercises.
• To manage the Lessons Identified process for the National Response Centre. To co-ordinate the design and development of debriefs and to disseminate lessons identified and recommendations for future best practice to ensure these are embedded
• To ensure that EPRR activities in their area of responsibility are assured against appropriate standards.
• To have financial authority, subject to agreed limits, for the National Response Centre.
• To assist with international EPRR work programmes.
• Effective line management of staff (if applicable) and functions to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of the NRC, professional development and staff wellbeing.
• To ensure 24/7 responsiveness, doing the work necessary to protect public health in the UK, may be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota or work over a seven day period at times
• Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
• Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.

Other:

• This document provides an outline of the tasks, responsibility and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required by their line manager.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the team, Directorate and the Organisation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills, which could include a range of professional or management pathways.
• Attend/ present at appropriate conferences and seminars as part of CPD to further own development and increase knowledge base

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• Educated to graduate degree level or equivalent level of vocational expertise in an emergency planning discipline
• Experience in a management role including supervising staff who are not direct reports and managing projects
• General understanding of the NHS, the Department of Health and Social Care and other relevant agencies involved in EPRR in the UK
• Experience in emergency preparedness, resilience and response
• Experience of multidisciplinary working preferably across different agencies
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Experience of assessing, managing and reporting risks
• 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
• Demonstrable experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments
• IT skills, including advanced Microsoft Office experience
• Delivering at pace, against an environment of changing priorities and working flexibly to meet the demands of the agency.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relati
• National Security Vetting – this would not need to be completed by the candidate before applying and can be obtained after they start with us.

Desirable

• Post-graduate degree in relevant subject
• Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes
• Demonstrable experience in working across government and with other agencies in a Healthcare environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and Microsoft Project

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

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.

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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 average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video.   

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 12th January 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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: Complaints1@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. 

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.