Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager

The post holder will manage the delivery of a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) portfolio within the National Response Centre (NRC), UKHSAs Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. They will lead teams to ensure that the NRC operates effectively, efficiently and in line with UKHSAs Incident Response Plan, statutory requirements and emergency management principles. They will provide operational leadership across the incident management cycle, including situational awareness, preparedness, response, recovery and organisational learning.

The post holder will own a portfolio area and lead complex projects and workstreams, develop policies and processes, and strengthen organisational preparedness and response capability. They will act as a senior NRC representative, working with stakeholders across UKHSA, government departments, NHS organisations, resilience partners and other agencies; advise senior leaders; support decision-making; coordinate activity during incidents and emergencies; and fulfil an out-of-hours on-call role to support the NRCs 24/7 response function. Working autonomously in a pressured environment, they will balance strategic priorities with delivery, lead dispersed teams, collaborate across organisational boundaries, and support continuous improvement and professional development.

Working for your organisation

The post holder will manage NRC incident coordination activity for national incidents, including day-to-day operations, resources, processes, governance, escalation and 24/7 response arrangements within their remit. They will provide senior tactical Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response advice, support coordination and decision-making, manage staff and functions, and contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, training, wellbeing and development.

They will lead or contribute to governance, compliance, risk, assurance, business planning, finance, strategic workstreams and projects; produce business cases and option appraisals; embed learning, innovation and health equity; manage workload and cover; maintain professional development; and undertake reasonable duties in response to changing organisational needs.

The key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the NRCs incident coordination function for UKHSA national incidents, managing day-to-day operations, resources, processes and governance, and escalating issues as required.
• Providing senior tactical EPRR advice across UKHSA and government, supporting coordination, escalation and decision-making during incidents and emergencies.
• Participating in out-of-hours on-call or seven-day working where required to support the NRCs 24/7 response function and protect public health.
• Acting as a visible, positive leader, role-modelling professional standards, managing staff and functions, and supporting flexibility, wellbeing and development.
• Supporting the management of NRC resources, workforce planning and operational capacity with HR, Business Operations and corporate colleagues on recruitment, training, development, updates and change programmes.
• Leading or contributing to NRC governance, compliance, risk reporting, assurance, statutory and mandatory training, and appraisal returns.
• Supporting business planning and monitoring with the NRC Senior Management Team, identifying delivery risks and contributing to assurance processes.
• Leading or contributing to agreed strategic workstreams, projects and topic areas, working with regional and national teams and representing the Directorate as required.
• Producing business cases and option appraisals with information, costings, analysis and risks to support decision-making.
• Supporting change and continuous improvement by identifying lessons, embedding learning, promoting innovation and strengthening ways of working.
• Organising own workload, meeting deadlines, providing cover as directed and supporting team resilience.
• Demonstrating commitment to understanding and improving health equity.
• Maintaining professional development by agreeing performance and development needs with the line manager, completing mandatory training and undertaking relevant development pathways.
• Where required, holding financial authority within limits, monitoring and reporting on finance, and supporting NRC budgeting, resourcing, planning and business management.
• Undertaking other reasonable duties as directed and responding to changing team, Directorate and organisational needs, recognising that the job description and person specification may be reviewed over time.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Essential criteria

• Substantial experience in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR), including complex preparedness, response and incident management environments.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced and uncertain environments, using sound judgement to assess issues, solve problems, prioritise competing demands, delegate appropriately and identify practical solutions.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to analyse data, produce reports and presentations, engage confidently with internal and external forums, represent the organisation with senior stakeholders, and build trusted relationships to support collaboration and delivery.
• Proven leadership experience across incident management and coordination, operational delivery, projects, organisational change, improvement activity or business development, with evidence of strengthening services, capability or organisational resilience
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to use digital tools to improve efficiency and ways of working.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in the public sector or other large organisations.
• A deep understanding of the wider health, government or civil contingencies context in the UK

Please note that for roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.