Expression of Interest: Emergency Management and Resilience Officer

Surrey County Council is seeking an Emergency Management and Resilience Officer for a 12-month secondment, primarily located in Reigate, UK, with agile working options. The role involves developing emergency preparedness plans, conducting training, and coordinating incident responses. Applicants must be current Surrey County Council employees. Key responsibilities include risk assessment, policy development, and providing 24/7 on-call support. This position offers a chance to enhance emergency management skills and collaborate with various agencies.
Emergency Management and Resilience Officer (Expression of Interest - Internal Applicants Only)

Location: Service Headquarters, Reigate (Agile Working Available)

Salary: Dependent on role grading

Hours: 42 per week

Contract Type: Secondment for 12 months (Maternity Cover)

Eligibility: This role is only open to current employees of Surrey County Council

Why Join Us?

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service plays a key role in ensuring our communities and organisation are resilient in the face of emergencies. As part of the Emergency Management and Resilience Team (EMRT), you will work alongside key stakeholders to strengthen Surrey’s preparedness and response to a wide range of risks.

This secondment provides a fantastic development opportunity to gain deeper insight into Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s emergency management operations, while working closely with Surrey County Council’s wider Emergency Management Teams and Local Resilience Forum (SLRF) partners.

As an Emergency Management and Resilience Officer, you will:
• Develop emergency preparedness and business continuity plans
• Support training and exercises to ensure teams are well-equipped for real-life incidents
• Play a key role in risk assessment and incident response coordination
• Gain experience in strategic planning and resilience-building across multiple agencies

There is an on-call duty officer function within this role which requires 24/7 cover for one week in approximately every 6 weeks.

About The Role

Your day-to-day responsibilities will be varied and will include:
• Emergency Preparedness: Supporting the development and implementation of contingency plans for risks such as power outages, cyber incidents, and loss of premises. Coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure effective emergency response planning, including adverse weather strategies.
• Training and Exercises: Organising and delivering training sessions and simulation exercises to improve the Service’s emergency response capability.
• Risk Assessment: Identifying vulnerabilities that could impact fire and rescue operations, such as road closures affecting response times, and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Incident Response: Assisting with the coordination of significant incidents through the Incident Management and Operations Room functions, ensuring clear communication across agencies.
• Policy and Procedure Development: Contributing to the review and development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for emergency management and business continuity.

You will also support the Surrey County Council Duty Officer function, providing 24/7 response support by:
• Providing advice and support to emergency services, local authorities, and SLRF partners
• Attending resilience forum calls and sharing intelligence with relevant stakeholders
• Assisting in incident coordination and information cascades as a Category 1 Responder
• Supporting the SCC Duty Manager with incident-related tasks and documentation

This role offers valuable exposure to multi-agency emergency planning and the chance to build strong partnerships across emergency services and local government.

What We Are Looking For

To be shortlisted, you must demonstrate:
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise effectively across emergency services, local authorities, and partner agencies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks and develop practical mitigation strategies
• Ability to work under pressure, remaining calm and making clear decisions in high-stress situations
• Organisational and information management skills, with attention to detail in planning and coordinating response efforts
• A collaborative mindset and leadership skills, with the ability to work in a team and coordinate multi-agency responses

Application Process

To apply, please answer the following application questions instead of submitting a personal statement:
• Describe your experience in emergency planning, resilience management, or a related field.
• Give an example of a time you had to respond to an emergency or high-pressure situation. What was your role, and what was the outcome?
• How would you approach risk assessment and mitigation in an emergency management role?
• Describe a time you worked with multiple stakeholders to coordinate a response or implement a plan.
• This role includes on-call responsibilities. How would you manage the demands of a 24/7 function while ensuring effective decision-making?

Interested? Get in Touch

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Annabel Scott on 07890 907466 or by email at annabel.scott@surreycc.gov.uk.

Closing Date: 23:59 on 3rd of March 2025

Interviews: Week commencing 10 March 2025

This role is open to internal applicants only.

Additional Information

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and Security Clearance will be required for this role.

If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact Annabel Scott or email sfrs.recruiting@surreycc.gov.uk.

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We aim to be an inclusive and diverse employer that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

We look forward to receiving your application.