Location
London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Canary Wharf 10 SC) with hybrid working model. Expected to spend a minimum of 60% of contractual hours working at UKHSA core HQs.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£85,436 per annum

About the Role
The Regional Head of Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response (EPRR) is a pivotal senior leadership role responsible for leading the regional EPRR portfolio. Operating autonomously within professional boundaries, the postholder supports regional leadership in command and control of major and critical incidents. They engage multidisciplinary stakeholders across geographical and organisational boundaries to integrate the UKHSA region into incident responses and mutual support activities.

This role ensures the region maintains a continual state of preparedness to identify, react, respond, and recover from all incidents, hazards, and threats, both planned and unscheduled, while maintaining continuity of core business. The postholder uses their EPRR expertise to develop and embed good practice by applying lessons learned from incidents, exercises, and events nationally. EPRR is embedded within business planning, strategy, and operations across the region.

Key responsibilities include strategic and operational oversight of EPRR and Business Continuity plans, providing assurance of emergency and contingency planning arrangements, acting as tactical advisor during major incidents, and ensuring compliance with civil protection responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The role also involves facilitating operational debriefs, leading regional coordination of assurance and preparedness functions, representing the Regional Deputy Director at strategic meetings, and supporting training and exercising programmes.

The postholder works collaboratively with partners to develop resilience strategies, maintain essential services during incidents, and ensure emergency response capabilities align with risk profiles. They provide governance and regulatory assurance, monitor performance indicators, and ensure compliance with legislative and organisational requirements.

This role requires flexibility to support incident response activities as needed, prioritising such work over routine responsibilities during incidents.

Experience
Significant senior-level experience in resilience, emergency preparedness, and business continuity or equivalent specialist knowledge demonstrated by a relevant Level 7 qualification (e.g., MSc in Crisis and Disaster Management, MSc in Emergency Management and Resilience, PGCert in Emergency Preparedness and Management). Proven leadership of multi-functional teams, managing complex operational environments, and delivering large-scale organisational transformation or national programmes. Highly developed knowledge of emergency planning, civil contingencies, business continuity legislation, and emergency service command and control procedures. Experience designing and delivering training programmes, exercises, structured debriefs, and embedding lessons learned. Demonstrable experience in governance, risk management, compliance frameworks, and resilience strategies. Significant experience building effective partnerships across local, regional, and national organisations with strong communication, diplomacy, and political awareness.

About you
Ability to analyse complex issues, provide clear advice to senior leaders, make evidence-based decisions, drive innovation and continuous improvement. Demonstrates integrity, emotional intelligence, and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Qualifications
Essential: Relevant Level 7 qualification or equivalent specialist knowledge as above. Desirable: Completed Principles of Health Command Training, membership of an EPRR professional body, practical experience applying Resilience and/or Business Continuity Policy and standards.