Head of Emergency Planning and Resilience

North Northamptonshire Council; Kettering; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking a strategic Head of Emergency Planning to lead civil protection duties and overall preparedness for civil emergencies or business disruption. You will manage the Emergency Planning Service to deliver duties under the Civil Contingencies Act and related regulations, ensuring value for money and effective collaboration with partners.

You will chair and coordinate multi‑agency groups within the LRF, shaping national and local risk responses and guiding

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of risk, preparedness and community resilience policies.
• Experience coordinating emergency planning activities and resilience initiatives.
• Ability to align local and national agendas with civil protection duties.

Responsibilities

• Lead the council's civil protection duties and overall preparedness for civil emergencies or business disruption.
• Direct the Emergency Planning and Business Continuity team to meet statutory duties under the Civil Contingencies Act and related regs.
• Develop and execute strategies, policies and plans to improve preparedness and compliance with legislation and guidance.
• Lead and chair strategic and tactical groups within the Local Resilience Forum and coordinate multi‑agency delivery.
• Support partners regionally and nationally in the event of widespread disaster or crisis.

Skills

Emergency Planning

Strategic Leadership

Business Continuity

Resilience

Job description

The Emergency Planning team sits within the Public Health Service in the Public Health, Communities and Leisure directorate. This role is the strategic lead officer reporting directly to the Director of Wellbeing and Resilience and is responsible for the strategic leadership and management within the Emergency Planning function.

The Head of Service will be the lead for the council's civil protection duties and overall preparedness for civil emergency or business disruption in relation to the duties associated with the Civil Contingencies Act and the Pipeline Safety Regulations, the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations and the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations.

You will find this job both challenging and rewarding, and that is why you need to bring a comprehensive understanding of how the service will reflect local and national agendas relating to risk, preparedness and community resilience.

If you are looking to further your career in a large complex organisation that can provide you with a range of career experience and help shape emergency preparedness within North Northamptonshire for future generations, then we would love to welcome you to our friendly team.

What will you be doing?

You will be the lead for the council's civil protection duties and overall preparedness for civil emergency or business disruption. You will hold responsibility for the Emergency Planning and Business Continuity team to fulfil the council's duties under the Civil Contingencies Act, its associated regulations and the Pipeline Safety Regulations, the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations and the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations.

You will develop and execute strategies, policies and plans to improve the council's preparedness for civil emergency and business disruption, all while complying with current and future legislation, professional guidance, national standards, national and local risk. You will deliver the service efficiently and deliver value for money to ensure the best outcomes for the Council, its members, our employees, our fellow categorised responders, other partners, and those who live, work or visit North Northamptonshire.

You will lead and chair strategic and tactical groups within the Northamptonshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) and beyond so to improve preparedness among all emergency responders in Northamptonshire, not just the council. You will lead a multi-agency work plan of coordinating delivery among the LRF responders. You will develop the council's ability to support other partners regionally and the UK Government in the event of a widespread disaster or crisis in other parts of the UK.

About you

As the strategic lead for Emergency Planning, Business Continuity and Resilience Services to North Northamptonshire you will be accountable for the successful delivery of all day-to-day functions provided by the Emergency Planning Service in line with the job description and person specification which form part of the application details.

Submissions close: Midnight 27th September 2026. Interviews will take place 21st and 22nd October 2026.