Head of Civil Contingencies and Organisational Resilience

About The Role Are you passionate about protecting communities, building resilience and leading emergency preparedness? We are looking for an exceptional Head of Civil Contingencies & Organisational Resilience to lead Islington Council's approach to emergency planning, business continuity and organisational resilience. This is a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on the safety and resilience of one of London's most diverse and vibrant boroughs. As part of the Environment and Public Safety Senior Management Team, you will lead our statutory responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, ensuring the council is prepared to respond effectively to emergencies, major incidents and emerging risks. In this role you will be responsible for:

• Leading the council's emergency planning, resilience and business continuity functions.
• Delivering our statutory duties as a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
• Managing the council's 24/7 corporate emergency response arrangements and supporting members of the Corporate Emergency Response Team.
• Leading multi-agency resilience partnerships and the borough's resilience arrangements.
• Ensuring the council can effectively operate and manage during major incidents.
• Providing expert advice to senior leaders, elected members and partners on resilience, emergency response, business continuity and crisis management.
• Leading the council's approach to counter-terrorism preparedness, including the Protect and Prepare agenda.
• Driving organisational learning through exercises, audits, testing and lessons learned activities.
• Developing community resilience programmes and supporting residents, businesses and partners to prepare for emergencies.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team responsible for civil contingencies and organisational resilience. About You You will have significant experience in emergency planning, disaster management, organisational resilience or business continuity, alongside a strong track record of leading teams and working effectively across complex partnerships. You will bring:
• Extensive knowledge of emergency planning, business continuity and resilience legislation.
• Experience of incident management, exercising and testing emergency plans.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of managing and developing teams in a complex operational environment.
• Excellent strategic thinking, risk assessment and project management capabilities.
• The ability to remain calm, decisive and focused during incidents and emergencies.
• A commitment to public service and keeping communities safe. This role forms part of the council's strategic response arrangements and requires participation in an out-of-hours emergency response rota, with the ability to attend incidents within the borough when required. The successful candidate will be required to obtain Non-Police Personnel Vetting (Level 2 Counter Terrorism Clearance). For more information please contact: Besserat Atsebaha, Director of Environment & Public Safety [email protected] Note to Recruitment Agencies: We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding. About You Working for the team, service and our organisation Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't be clearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE', which is what we think public service is all about. Our offer to you We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:
• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more! Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised. Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone's identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Safeguarding Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.