Location
Hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf) or Scientific Campus in Porton Down, Salisbury. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) on-site. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care.

Hours
Full time with participation in out-of-hours on-call or seven-day working where required to support the National Response Centre’s 24/7 response function.

Salary
Grade 7: £56,185 - £66,581 (National) £58,340 - £68,574 (Outer London) £60,494 - £70,566 (Inner London). Salary is based on office location and pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

About the Role
The Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager will manage the delivery of a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) portfolio within the National Response Centre (NRC), UKHSA’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. You will lead teams to ensure the NRC operates effectively, efficiently, and in line with UKHSA’s Incident Response Plan, statutory requirements, and emergency management principles. This role provides operational leadership across the incident management cycle including situational awareness, preparedness, response, recovery, and organisational learning.

You will own a portfolio area, lead complex projects and workstreams, develop policies and processes, and strengthen organisational preparedness and response capability. Acting as a senior NRC representative, you will work 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 NRC’s 24/7 response function.

Working autonomously in a pressured environment, you will balance strategic priorities with delivery, lead dispersed teams, collaborate across organisational boundaries, and support continuous improvement and professional development. You will manage NRC incident coordination for national incidents, oversee day-to-day operations, resources, governance, escalation, and 24/7 response arrangements within your remit.

Additional responsibilities include providing senior tactical EPRR advice, supporting coordination and decision-making, managing staff and functions, contributing to workforce planning, recruitment, training, wellbeing and development. You 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.

Experience
Substantial experience in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR), including complex preparedness, response and incident management environments. 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. Experience working effectively in fast-paced and uncertain environments, using sound judgement to assess issues, solve problems, prioritise competing demands, delegate appropriately and identify practical solutions. Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and the ability to use digital tools to improve efficiency and ways of working.

About you
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. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. Ability to work autonomously in pressured environments, balancing strategic priorities with delivery, leading dispersed teams and collaborating across organisational boundaries. Commitment to continuous improvement, professional development and embedding health equity.

Qualifications
Security clearance requirements include passing a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check and meeting Basic Personnel Security Standard. For Scientific Campus roles, Counter-Terrorism Check clearance is required. Candidates should normally have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years to obtain required security clearances. Relevant qualifications or registrations may be required and evidence must be provided before employment can commence.

Desirable
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.