Head of Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

This is a rare opportunity to lead Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response (EPRR) for one of the largest NHS organisations in the South West.

As Head of Emergency Planning and Operational Resilience, you will provide strategic leadership for the Trust’s EPRR agenda, ensuring compliance with national legislation, NHS Core Standards and business continuity requirements. You will advise Executive Directors and senior leaders, lead major incident preparedness, and ensure the organisation is ready to respond effectively to disruption, operational pressures and emergencies.

This is not a traditional desk-based governance role. We are looking for a visible and credible leader who can operate at pace, build strong partnerships and maintain a constant awareness of operational risk across the organisation. Having your finger on the pulse of a complex acute Trust is essential.

Applicants must possess a relevant degree-level qualification together with specialist qualifications and experience in emergency planning, resilience, business continuity, crisis management, disaster management or major incident response.

Main duties of the job

You will lead the Trust’s Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response function, acting as the principal source of specialist advice for EPRR and business continuity matters.

Key responsibilities include leading the development, implementation and assurance of major incident, business continuity, surge capacity and resilience plans; overseeing compliance with NHS EPRR Core Standards; and ensuring the Trust meets its statutory obligations under relevant legislation and national guidance.

You will work closely with Executive Directors, operational teams, system partners, Local Resilience Forums and NHS England, providing expert advice on preparedness, resilience, command and control arrangements, and incident response.

The role also leads EPRR training, exercising, policy development, assurance reporting and organisational learning following incidents, ensuring emergency preparedness remains embedded across the Trust.

Advert closes: Sunday 4 October 2026

Shortlisting: Wednesday 7 October 2026

Interview assessment day: Friday 16 October 2026

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • First degree or has appropriate level of senior managerial experience
  • Emergency Planning and / or Business Continuity Qualification
  • Relevant specialist training in emergency preparedness, resilience and response, business continuity, incident command, CBRN/HAZMAT preparedness or major incident management
  • Experience of leading and managing EPRR

Desirable

  • Experience of managing EPRR compliance submissions, including NHS EPRR Core Standards

Essential

Essential

  • Understanding of major incident management, operational pressures escalation, surge planning, risk management, command and control arrangements, and business continuity management

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 4 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.