Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Review Officer

• Location: Rochdale
• Job Type: Temporary (3 months with an option to extend to 6 months)

We are seeking an Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Review Officer to undertake critical tasks aimed at enhancing the preparedness of Rochdale Council to meet statutory duties in emergency preparedness and business continuity. This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in emergency planning within a local authority or large multi-disciplinary organisation.

• Work under the direction of the Assistant Director Public Protection and Customers, and in conjunction with the Head of Community Safety and Resilience and Business Partner in the GM Resilience Unit.
• Implement actions from the review of Rochdale Borough Council’s (RBC) emergency response preparedness, including command and control, plans and guidance, training and exercising, specific capabilities and arrangements, and borough-specific matters.
• Analyse, develop, and implement recommendations from the benchmarked emergency planning and business continuity resource across GM local authorities.
• Prepare and present a recommendations report and suggested action plan.
• Update RBC multi-agency and local response and recovery plans.
• Identify future emergency planning improvements.
• Review RBC’s business continuity plans across all Directorates.
• Assist Directorate Business Continuity leads to update their Directorate Business Continuity Plans.
• Prepare a RBC council-wide Business Continuity prioritisation for ICT arrangements and systems restoration.
• Plan and deliver multi-directorate emergency planning and business continuity exercises.

• A degree and/or relevant professional qualification or demonstrably similar skills evidence relevant to the requirements of the post.
• Extensive experience in interpreting and applying emergency planning legislation and policy.
• Proven track record of undertaking research, reviews, and audits with a thorough understanding of research validity.
• Experience in reviewing and analysing complex data using a variety of methodologies, and formulating appropriate and proportionate recommendations.
• Political awareness, with previous experience of working in a politicised environment.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain constructive and effective working relationships with senior managers, colleagues, partners, and representatives from other agencies.
• Well-organised with well-developed project management skills.
• ICT literate.
• Ability to work under pressure, effective time management with a strong ability to meet project timeframes and deadlines.