Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager

Job summary

The Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager (SEPM) provides a source of emergency planning expertise and delivery of strategic leadership in all aspects of public health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) within a designated Region geography.

The SEPM will ensure, in line with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA) principles of Integrated Emergency Management, that responsibilities for emergency planning, resilience and business continuity are discharged effectively within the area of responsibility. The postholder works with a high degree of autonomy and will ensure there are robust arrangements in place to enable UKHSA to make an effective and timely response to any incident and in conjunction with our partner agencies and stake holders.

The policy for the operation of emergency planning will be set by the EPPR Oversight Group. Heads of EPRR, SEPMs, EPMs will work together as a network to ensure cross cover and resilience and will be members of relevant regional and national emergency planning networks.

The successful candidate should have a driving licence and access to vehicle for use.

Job description

Main duties of the job

• Lead and provide expert advice on Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response and Business Continuity across the designated area.
• Develop, implement and maintain emergency preparedness strategies, policies, plans and guidance in line with UKHSA requirements and Civil Contingencies Act obligations.
• Coordinate regional resilience and emergency planning activities, ensuring consistency and effective response arrangements across teams and locations.
• Work closely with emergency services, NHS England, local authorities, government departments, military and partner organisations to develop contingency plans and strengthen multi-agency preparedness.
• Develop, maintain and test emergency response facilities, secure communications systems, risk-specific plans and business continuity arrangements.
• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of exercises, simulations and audits to ensure organisational readiness and compliance.
• Coordinate and lead responses to major incidents, emergencies and business continuity disruptions, providing strategic and operational support as required.
• Support senior leaders by representing UKHSA at key regional and multi-agency forums, risk assessment meetings and incident response activities.
• Lead training programmes to develop staff capability in emergency preparedness.
• Drive continuous improvement through incident debriefs, lessons identified processes.
• Manage and develop EPRR staff where applicable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Strategically develop, manage and deliver a high-quality specialist Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity (EPBC) advisory function for the designated business area
• Lead local development of UKHSA emergency preparedness and response strategies, ensuring compliance with Category 1 responder duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) and alignment with national EPRR policies (e.g. CONOPS, IRP)
• Work with planning managers to ensure regional resilience through direction, development, coordination and delivery of preparedness and planning arrangements
• Lead formulation of policies, strategies, contingency plans and guidance (including national contributions where relevant) through liaison with emergency services, military, OGDs, local authorities and partner agencies (utilities, voluntary sector, industry, commercial organisations)
• Work with regional teams to ensure plans are developed, maintained and aligned within a consistent, coordinated response system
• Develop local risk-specific plans and contribute to UKHSA-wide planning as required
• Ensure robust response facilities and resilient, secure communications in line with UKHSA policy
• Ensure plans and systems are exercised, contributing to and designing exercises as appropriate (in line with UKHSA policy/guidance), assessing strategic importance and stakeholder involvement
• Ensure all preparedness activities are audited in line with UKHSA’s Category 1 responder responsibilities under the CCA
• Coordinate and lead internal responses during major incidents and business continuity disruptions
• Support the Regional Deputy Director (RDD) as an EPRR subject matter expert in engagements with UKHSA, NHS England and DLUHC, including deputising where delegated, progressing workstreams, participating in sub-groups and contributing to risk discussions
• Maintain upward briefing and coordination systems for enhanced responses and provide strategic and operational support during UKHSA/NIERP responses
• Collaborate with operational leads to maintain national preparedness, including provision of mutual aid
• Ensure business continuity plans are in place, maintained and regularly updated
• Lead, coordinate and contribute to the design and delivery of relevant training in EPRR and business continuity training aligned to national policy; as necessary
• Provide support to senior colleagues attending multi-agency incident meetings when required
• Lead lessons identified processes from incidents and exercises, including debrief design, coordination and dissemination of recommendations and best practice
• Facilitate research and development opportunities within EPRR
• Lead development of EPRR components within local programmes of work Leadership / Management / Workforce / HR
• May manage EPRR staff, overseeing day-to-day work, supporting development, motivation and professional practice, including oversight of local Emergency Planning Managers where appropriate.
• Responsible for recruitment, appraisal, development and employee relations management within the team.
• Contribute to EPRR teaching and training programmes.

Other
This outline reflects key responsibilities; additional duties may be required. The role profile may evolve to meet organisational needs. Participation in on-call rotas is expected.

• Professional Development
  Identify and act on development needs via appraisal/IDP, attending internal and external training.
• Complete all mandatory training (e.g. fire safety, information governance).

Key Working Relationships

• Maintain regular communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Internal: Deputy Regional Director, Head of EPRR, Senior Business Operations Manager, regional Emergency Planning Managers, UKHSA Directorates, national EPRR teams.

External: NHS England and Integrated Care Boards, DLUHC Resilience and Emergencies Division, and all CCA Category 1 and 2 responders at regional and supra-regional level

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Higher degree (Msc) or equivalent experience in Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response / Crisis and Disaster Management
• Proven senior management experience in a complex organisation.
• High level of expertise in both management practice and practical emergency preparedness and response.
• Proven, extensive experience in developing and delivering emergency preparedness and
  response arrangements.
• Extensive experience in working with multi-agency and professional groups
• Knowledge and experience of chemical, biological and radiological hazards in relation to health protection.
• Knowledge and experience of command and control and multi-agency working.
• Excellent Interpersonal, relationship, Leadership, Influencing and Motivational skills.
• Excellent effective verbal a