Chief Resilience Officer

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a Chief Resilience Officer to guide the Suffolk Resilience Forum. In this role, you will provide strategic leadership and work closely with political leaders to enhance the county's emergency preparedness and resilience. The position demands excellent communication skills and a strong background in emergency management. This opportunity offers a competitive salary and flexible working options, aimed at fostering resilience in community systems.

Benefits

29 days annual leave (pro rata)

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

Travel and wellness benefits

Performance-related pay progression

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven extensive experience in emergency management and resilience.
• Strong leadership and partnership skills.
• Experienced in engaging with senior and political leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Suffolk Resilience Forum.
• Oversee partnerships, budgets, and delivery of the Local Resilience Strategy.
• Play an active role in Suffolk's emergency response.

Skills

Emergency management

Leadership skills

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Change management

Collaboration

Job description

• Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Resilience Forum
• Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid working
• Salary: £72,329 - £81,708 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment until 31 March 2028

We are looking for an exceptional leader to become Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) for the Suffolk Resilience Forum (SRF). This is a unique opportunity to shape the resilience of our county, working with senior leaders, political decision-makers, and system partners to strengthen Suffolk's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As CRO, you will provide visible, strategic leadership for the Suffolk Resilience Forum and represent Suffolk at a national level.

You will:

• lead strategy, briefings and communications with political leaders and senior partners
• drive collaboration and innovation, embedding resilience across Suffolk's systems and communities
• oversee the SRF team, partnerships, budgets and delivery of the Local Resilience Strategy
• champion inclusion and strengthen community resilience through strategic engagement
• play an active role in Suffolk's emergency response, including the on-call rota.

You will need

• proven extensive experience in emergency management and resilience with visible, strategic leadership
• strong leadership and partnership skills with proven experience in engaging with senior and political leaders locally and nationally to drive public sector change
• excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, able to persuade and build trust with decision-makers, partners, and communities across all sectors and levels
• partnership and collaborative working skills, proactively building networks, motivating others, and securing support to achieve outcomes
• strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to assess complex situations and deliver effective solutions
• change management expertise, turning strategy into practical, well‑organised outcomes
• commitment to Suffolk County Council's WE ASPIRE values.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word).

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Suffolk Resilience Forum is hosted by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and brings together local partners to strengthen the county's resilience. The CRO leads workstreams across community resilience, climate adaptation, business continuity, and communications, supported by the SRF Partnership Manager.

All SRF roles are part of the on‑call rota, supporting major incidents and the county's Tactical and Strategic Coordination functions. Partnership work is focused on Working on Wednesday's (WoW) days, usually at Police Headquarters, with team working on Tuesdays at Endeavour House. The team typically works 2-3 days a week in the office, across Endeavour House, Landmark House, Police Headquarters, and other sites across Suffolk.

Empowering Everyone

We’s big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Jon Lacey, Executive Director of Fire and Public Safety for a casual conversation. You can reach them by emailing [e-mail]

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click Apply Now to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Can you provide an example of a time when you provided visible and strategic leadership across a complex system? What was the outcome?
2. Describe a situation where you had to communicate complex information to a wide range of stakeholders. How did you ensure your message was understood and acted upon?
3. Describe your experience leading or supporting emergency preparedness, response, or recovery. What was your role, and what impact did you have?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [e-mail] or 03456 014412.

If you’re invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 4 January 2026.

Assessment and interview dates: 15 and 19 January 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).