Head of Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response

Head of Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response NHS AfC:
Band 8b

Main area Corporate Operations Grade NHS AfC:
Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job
-CO06551-A

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation trust Town Bournemouth Salary £66,582 - £77,368 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 04/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 16/10/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with 'university hospital' status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

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.

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.

At University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, our values guide the way we work with patients,…