Emergency Planning & Resilience Lead

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

36 Hour Week

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Perkbox Benefits

Mental Health Support and Counselling

Job summary

London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an Emergency Planning Officer to support the Service Manager in delivering the council’s emergency planning function and ensuring compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. You will deputise for the manager, lead on emergency management training and project work to keep the council ready for emergencies.

Key responsibilities include coordinating preparedness, engaging with partners like the London Resilience Unit, maintaining risk registers,

Qualifications

• Detailed knowledge of emergency planning, business continuity, local government and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
• Experience researching and developing plans and policies.
• Experience building relationships at all levels internally and with external partners.
• A high standard of education (e.g., a relevant degree) or significant experience in Emergency Planning & Business Continuity.

Responsibilities

• Champion and advocate for emergency preparedness and resilience across the organisation, delivering training and helping build a diverse cohort of staff ready to support the council’s response to an emergency or major incident.
• Proactively engage with the London Resilience Unit and other key partners to strengthen the council’s preparedness and contribute actively to London’s regional resilience work.
• Contribute to maintaining the Borough Risk Register, incorporating national, regional and local risks, and actively horizon-scan for emerging threats.
• Lead the development, improvement and maintenance of major incident and emergency plans to ensure the council can support statutory partners and the community during response and recovery.
• Develop and maintain a risk-informed programme for reviewing, testing and validating emergency and major incident plans.
• Maintain the council’s emergency management rota systems.
• Assist the council with fulfilling its business continuity requirements.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on emergency preparedness, including participating in testing or reviewing emergency plans for large-scale or high-risk events.
• Build strong partnerships with external stakeholders, including London Resilience and other London boroughs, to share learning and improve preparedness.
• Participate in the council’s response to and recovery from major incidents and emergencies, including out-of-hours and weekend work, acting as a resilience advisor to the command team and escalating risks appropriately.
• Ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are in place where required, with clear performance and response standards and escalation routes.
• Ensure all purchasing and procurement complies with corporate guidelines and financial processes.
• Organise and maintain the council’s Emergency Response arrangements, ensuring they remain effective, compliant with legal obligations, and aligned with best practice.
• Horizon scan for lessons from emergencies and major incidents across the country, applying learning locally.
• Identify and suggest improvements to ways of working to ensure an efficient and effective service for victims.

Skills

Emergency planning

Business continuity

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an Emergency Planning Officer to support the Service Manager in delivering the council’s emergency planning function and ensuring compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. You will deputise for the manager, lead on emergency management training and project work to keep the council ready for emergencies.

Key responsibilities include coordinating preparedness, engaging with partners like the London Resilience Unit, maintaining risk registers,