Emergency Planning Officer

As an Emergency Planning Officer, you will 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 in their absence and lead on emergency management training and project work to ensure the council is fully prepared for emergencies.

Key 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.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• 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.

Why Join Us?

At Hillingdon, we are proud of our commitment to Putting Our Residents First, ensuring they remain at the heart of everything we do. We want to attract talented individuals who share this vision and can help us deliver exceptional services for the borough.

This is a full-time role (36 hours per week), with a minimum requirement of one day per week in the office (Uxbridge).

Full details are contained in the Job Description below.

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here's a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:

• Standard DBS Check
• Qualifications Check
• 3 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.