About the job

Job summary

As a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, 2004, UKHSA plays a crucial role in emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR). We are looking for an emergency preparedness manager to play a pivotal role in ensuring that UKHSA consistently delivers and maintains a high-quality service in this vital area.

The Emergency Preparedness Manager (EPM) collaborates closely with the UKHSA Regional Centre to provide expert advice and support for health emergency preparedness and resilience. Their responsibilities include overseeing governance and audit processes for all regional and UKHSA Regional Centre emergency plans. Additionally, the EPM may attend Local Resilience Fora and their sub-groups. Furthermore, the EPM actively implements recommendations derived from lessons identified during responses to major incidents and other significant events. They are also expected to deliver training on EPRR issues to various professional groups both within and outside UKHSA.

This role will be based at our UKHSA Birmingham Office (23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4BH). Hybrid working will be available, 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 in the office.

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

Working Pattern – Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working

Job description

• Develop, manage and provide an expert and high-quality specialist EPRR and business continuity advice function for the Regional Centre.
• Where appropriate lead and manage the Emergency Preparedness Administrator(s) in the team.
• Actively contribute to and sustain the formulation of Regional Centre policies and strategies, contingency guidance and plans, through liaison with the emergency services, the military, Other Government Departments (OGDs), LAs, other responsible agencies e.g. public utilities, voluntary agencies, industry and commercial organisations.
• Manage the development and maintenance of all emergency plans, working with colleagues to ensure that there is a consistent and coordinated system of response.
• Develop as necessary risk specific plans for the Regional Centre e.g. nuclear power station, COMAH sites and others as listed in regional and local risk assessments.
• Ensure and manage robust response facilities and resilient secure communications in the Region which requires active participation in managing the response to incidents and emergencies.
• Ensure all emergency preparedness activities in their area of responsibility are audited in a way consistent with UKHSAs status as a Category 1 responder with respect to the CCA.
• Co-ordinate and lead when appropriate, internal response support arrangements during major incidents and business continuity disruptions particularly at a local level.
• Support the Region in its contribution to the Local Resilience Fora and Local Health Resilience Partnerships and to represent UKHSA at these fora which may require taking forward of specific areas of work and participation in sub-groups as necessary, taking part in local risk assessment discussions.
• Maintain an upward briefing and co-ordination system, ensuring the provision of strategic, tactical and operational support to a UKHSA response at which the Regional Centre is involved.

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 1000 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

• NVQ Level 4 or educated to degree level in relevant subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in the specialist area
• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in the specialist area
• Knowledge of emergency and resilience planning methodologies
• Demonstrated experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments
• Experience of managing risks and reporting
• Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at SMT level
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with people from a wide variety of personal and professional backgrounds
• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures

Benefits

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. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview at our UKHSA Birmingham office.

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. 

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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 17th of March 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.

Shortlist: w/c 18th of March 2024

Interviews: 11th of April 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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 SC (Security Check).  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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.