HEO: Major Events and Risk Adviser

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Manchester; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government department is looking for a Major Events and Risk Adviser in Manchester to provide outstanding administrative support and engage with stakeholders in emergency risk planning. The successful candidate will be responsible for logistics management, drafting communications, and participating in high-pressure situations during major events. Candidates should exhibit strong organisational, communication, and teamwork skills, thriving in a dynamic environment. Salary starts at £34,801 with additional benefits including a generous pension plan.

Benefits

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension

Tailored career pathways

Flexible working options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in providing administrative support to a team across multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders effectively.
• Proficient in maintaining quality while tracking deadlines.
• Capable of managing tasks under pressure with flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Support major events and emergency risk planning.
• Lead logistics for the National Risk Working Group.
• Engage across departments on emergency risk activities.
• Draft communications for various stakeholders.
• Participate in operational Centre during emergencies.

Skills

Organisational skills

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Job description

Overview

Do you enjoy building solid working relationships with internal and external stakeholders? Do you bring strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise your work?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a HEO: Major Events and Risk Adviser to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and we'd love to hear from you!

Team

The Risk and Major Events Team is a part of MHCLG's Resilience and Recovery Directorate (RED). We work with partners across the Department, Whitehall and local areas and alongside colleagues in RED's Divisions and the wider R3 Risks, Resilience and Recovery Unit, to drive major event and emergency risk planning, preparedness, policy development and operational delivery. In the event of a major event activation we work, under pressure, to lead the Department's response ensuring that our responsibilities are delivered at pace and to strict, tight deadlines.

Role Description

Working closely with the Major Events and Risk Lead and Major Events and Risk Senior Adviser, your role will cover two main areas:

• Major Events: key activities include, but are not limited to, supporting the development and maintenance of plans and resources to prepare MHCLG for discharge of its major events responsibilities; playing a key role in any major event plan activation; supporting engagement with local partners and other government departments on major event planning, preparedness and delivery; and supporting the development and delivery of departmental and cross-Whitehall exercises and training for major events.
• Emergency Risk: key activities include, but are not limited to, supporting engagement with partners on the development of national risk products, such as the National Security Risk Assessment, National Risk Register and National Resilience Planning Assumptions; engagement with local responders on national and local risk assessment; and supporting embedding national risk products across the directorate and Department. You will also assist with lead government department planning and delivery as required.

When applying for this role please note that there will be occasions where operational requirements will require you to participate in shift working and duty cover which includes working after 8 p.m. and at weekends. You should reflect on whether you will be able to work unsociable hours/shift patterns and consider this carefully before submitting your application. Additional hours working and duty cover would be remunerated via overtime and on call payments.

Responsibilities – Major Events, Emergency Risk and Team Support

• Supporting our major events work, including by diligently tracking deadlines and key actions and assisting in the development and maintenance of comprehensive departmental response plans and underpinning processes and documentation.
• Leading on logistics for the National Risk Working Group, including, but not limited to; communications, setting the agenda, sourcing speakers and venues, overseeing on the day arrangements / catering, maintaining attendee lists, providing IT and other support on the day, leading on feedback processes etc.
• Supporting engagement across RED and the Department, with Cabinet Office, other government departments and local partners on emergency risk and major events including delivery of presentations, exercises, lessons learned and training as needed.
• Providing administrative, organisational and secretariat support to the Team in delivery of its priorities as needed. This will include overseeing our shared mailboxes, ensuring contacts lists are maintained and regularly updated and leading on information and data management amongst others.
• Drafting communications, briefing and other materials related to emergency risk and major events for a range of stakeholders, including ministers, senior officials, other government departments and local partners.
• Supporting lead government department priorities including the monitoring of procured contracts and administration of payments as required.
• Participating fully in our Departmental Operational Centre during emergencies or a major event activation, and the on‑call duty rota as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience of providing excellent administrative support to a team, working on multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously whilst maintaining quality and focus.
• Demonstrate outstanding written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work autonomously and efficiently in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent team working skills, with demonstrable experience of building relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, with attention to detail and an ability to track deadlines and actions across multiple workstreams at the same time.
• Demonstrate adaptability, flexibility and resilience to thrive under pressure in a dynamic work environment and the capability to manage and prioritise tasks to shifting requirements and consistently meet strict deadlines.
• A willingness to embrace learning, develop skills and seek opportunities for professional growth.

Security Clearance Requirements

• National Office: BPSS + SC
• London Office: BPSS + SC

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Salary and Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,801, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £10,081 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.