Summary: The Head of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity will lead the Council’s civil protection duties, focusing on preparedness for civil emergencies and business disruptions. This role involves providing strategic direction to ensure compliance with relevant legislation while managing the Corporate Emergency Planning and Business Continuity teams. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders to deliver effective emergency planning and business continuity strategies. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in enhancing the safety and resilience of the Bexley community.
Key Responsibilities:
- Determine and deliver the Council’s strategic resilience priorities and objectives through effective leadership of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity teams.
- Prepare, maintain, and review emergency plans and operational procedures, ensuring integration with emergency services and other responders.
- Achieve organizational compliance through collaboration, effective communication, and proportionate escalation.
- Provide strategic and operational advice on all Emergency Planning and Business Continuity matters, identifying implications and determining key priorities.
- Maintain and revise the Corporate Business Continuity Plan, leading workshops and activities to promote awareness among staff.
- Operationalize Emergency Planning and Business Continuity, responding to new and emerging issues while representing the Council at national, regional, and local bodies.
- Design and embed robust preparedness strategies across the Council, evaluating compliance through efficient auditing and monitoring.
- Identify the preparedness implications of legislative changes and best practices to ensure Council compliance.
- Provide expert advice on complex technical and managerial queries, establishing policies and procedures to support Members and senior management.
- Coordinate emergency planning and business continuity advice across all Council services to secure quality and customer satisfaction.
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with external agencies, ensuring a consistent approach to emergency planning.
- Ensure effective consultation and engagement with Elected Members and senior management through reports and strategic input.
Key Skills:
- Expert knowledge of current and impending issues in preparedness.
- Strong understanding of emergency planning and business continuity statutory requirements, national policies, and organizational obligations.
- Familiarity with local government processes and relationships with other authorities and statutory bodies.
- Highly developed relationship management and influencing skills to embed a compliance culture at all levels.
- Successful track record in planning, developing, and implementing emergency planning and business continuity systems in complex organizations.
- Ability to navigate conflict while maintaining constructive relationships.
- Proficient in analyzing and resolving complex issues, balancing organizational risk with business needs.
- Capable of interpreting emergency planning and business continuity legislation, and making complex information accessible to varied audiences.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, both oral and written.
- A proportionate approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
Salary (Rate): £96.74/hour
City: Bexley
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: on-site
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Job Advert: Head of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity
Location: Bexley - 2 days on site
Salary: Competitive salary dependent on experience
Contract Type: Contract
PAYE: £69.44 per hour - Limited/Umbrella: £96.74 per hour
Length: 6 Months
Purpose of Role: Join our dedicated team as the professional lead for the Council’s civil protection duties, focusing on preparedness for civil emergencies and business disruptions. You will provide strategic direction to ensure compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and associated regulations. Leading the Corporate Emergency Planning and Business Continuity teams, you will deliver competent advice, assistance, and assurance to the Council.
Key Responsibilities:
- Determine and deliver the Council’s strategic resilience priorities and objectives through effective leadership of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity teams.
- Prepare, maintain, and review emergency plans and operational procedures, ensuring integration with emergency services and other responders.
- Achieve organizational compliance through collaboration, effective communication, and proportionate escalation.
- Provide strategic and operational advice on all Emergency Planning and Business Continuity matters, identifying implications and determining key priorities.
- Maintain and revise the Corporate Business Continuity Plan, leading workshops and activities to promote awareness among staff.
- Operationalize Emergency Planning and Business Continuity, responding to new and emerging issues while representing the Council at national, regional, and local bodies.
- Design and embed robust preparedness strategies across the Council, evaluating compliance through efficient auditing and monitoring.
- Identify the preparedness implications of legislative changes and best practices to ensure Council compliance.
- Provide expert advice on complex technical and managerial queries, establishing policies and procedures to support Members and senior management.
- Coordinate emergency planning and business continuity advice across all Council services to secure quality and customer satisfaction.
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with external agencies, ensuring a consistent approach to emergency planning.
- Ensure effective consultation and engagement with Elected Members and senior management through reports and strategic input.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Expert knowledge of current and impending issues in preparedness.
- Strong understanding of emergency planning and business continuity statutory requirements, national policies, and organizational obligations.
- Familiarity with local government processes and relationships with other authorities and statutory bodies.
- Highly developed relationship management and influencing skills to embed a compliance culture at all levels.
- Successful track record in planning, developing, and implementing emergency planning and business continuity systems in complex organizations.
- Ability to navigate conflict while maintaining constructive relationships.
- Proficient in analyzing and resolving complex issues, balancing organizational risk with business needs.
- Capable of interpreting emergency planning and business continuity legislation, and making complex information accessible to varied audiences.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, both oral and written.
- A proportionate approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the safety and resilience of our community in Bexley. You will work in a supportive environment that values collaboration, professional development, and community engagement.
