Navy Command - Emergency Planning Response and Business Continuity Lead

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for todays challenges and tomorrows opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navys readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navys nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and a powerhouse of Royal Navy capability. It is home to amphibious ships, survey squadrons, submarines, and two-thirds of the frigate force. With its unique nuclear refitting facility, Devonport ensures the Fleet remains ready to support operations worldwide.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

This opportunity in the Naval Base Emergency Planning Team works closely with our Industrial Partners to ensure the emergency arrangements for the Devonport Site are maintained and enhanced directly supporting the sites compliance with nuclear Authorisation/Licence allowing us to deliver our primary function to maintain nuclear powered submarines.

Within this role you will be part of a diverse team working alongside Naval Base departments, and industry partners Emergency Planning Group to provide a complete emergency planning and response function for the Devonport Site.

Are you ready to play a critical role in safeguarding national infrastructure and ensuring operations continue when it matters most?

We are seeking a highly motivated and forward-thinking Business Continuity Lead to join a dynamic team at the heart of one of the UKs most complex and strategically important operational environments. This is an exciting opportunity to drive resilience, influence key stakeholders, and play a vital role in ensuring operational continuity across a major Naval Base, including support to nuclear and high-risk activities.

The Naval Base Commander Devonport is responsible for providing a World Class, Secure, Safe, Integrated Operating and Support Base for the Royal Navy; her mission is supporting the Royal Navy Worldwide from Devonport. A key part of this responsibility is the support to the submarine programme and the provision of the Nuclear facilities which are regulated by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) under DSA02-DNSR Safety Regulations to achieve Nuclear Authorisation.

The purpose of the Emergency Planning & Response Officer 6 (EPR6) post is to develop and maintain business continuity plans for the Naval Base.

What youll be doing

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of the overarching Naval Base Business Continuity Plan, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and consideration of nuclear facilities.
• Coordinate the creation and upkeep of detailed business continuity plans across all site business areas, ensuring consistency, robustness, and operational readiness.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including Babcock and key infrastructure stakeholders, to optimise continuity arrangements and enhance overall site resilience.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of business continuity and resilience exercises, validating plans and supporting site-wide emergency response activities, including nuclear scenarios.
• Manage and continuously improve documentation, training programmes, and preparedness activities to ensure teams are equipped to respond effectively to incidents.
• Act as the Business Continuity Lead during incidents, coordinating response and recovery activities to restore normal operations, while driving continuous improvement in resilience capabilities.
• As a member of duty Emergency Response Organisation for conventional incidents

• Demonstrable experience in business continuity, emergency planning, or resilience within a complex operational environment.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across organisational boundaries.
• Have a minimum UK Regulated Qualification Framework Level 5 qualification, preferably in a related subject to the role or lesser qualifications with extensive relevant emergency planning experience at the discretion of the Deputy Head.
• Professional membership with the Emergency Planning Society or an equivalent recognised body or be able to achieve within 12 months of taking up the post.