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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DWP's resilience efforts, managing incidents and emergencies with a diverse team of 80.
- Company: Join the Department for Work and Pensions, a key player in UK government services.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working patterns, generous leave, and support for your financial and mental wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national resilience while developing your leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in incident management and strategic thinking is essential; strong people management skills are a must.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a commitment to diversity and inclusion await you.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 £ per year.
Deputy Director of Resilience
Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Pontypridd, Sheffield
£81,000 £95,000, plus 28.97 employer pension contributions
Were looking to fill an exciting Deputy Director of Resilience role in DWPs Finance Gro
up. If youre our successful applicant you will be responsible for leading DWP through incidents and emergencies, planning and preparing for disruptions and leading a large, remote, and diverse team of 80.
We\’re looking for someone with experience in incident management, emergency response and improving organisational resilience as well as excellent people management, leadership and strategic thinking
What youll be working on:
- Leadership of the cross-DWP programme to develop and implement a comprehensive operational resilience framework by 2027
- Own the Business Continuity, Readiness and Response policy and drive assurance against that policy and associated standards.
- Embedding and continuously improving the DWP Business Continuity Management System and ensuring that Riskonnect implementation is seen through to an effective conclusion.
- Developing, testing and exercising DWPs contingency plans and capabilities for the full range of National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) and wider service-impacting risks.
- Oversee DWPs role within the cross-government Chronic Risks Programme.
- Working with partners across the department and across government to ensure a coherent approach to the resilience of critical infrastructure assets and systems.
- Leadership of DWPs Incident and Crisis Management Framework and the SCS cadre of Gold Commanders.
- Driving improvement in DWPs incident and crisis management capabilities arrangements through commitment to an effective lessons identified process.
- Act as a Gold Commander for major incidents, coordinating the departments response and representing DWP in Cabinet Office (COBR) and other senior officials groups where necessary.
- Chair the Cross-Government Business Continuity Specialism of the Government Security Profession and steer and sponsor business continuity and organisational resilience professionalisation initiatives, both departmental and cross-government.
- Lead cross-government resilience initiatives, including but not limited to National Power Outage payment recovery arrangements.
- Represent resilience interests at a range of Departmental boards including Payments Assurance Board, Strategic Security Board and Health and Safety Board.
- Representing DWP on SCS1 resilience boards (e.g. Pandemic Diseases Capability Board, BRIDGES National Operations Group) and deputising for the DWP Resilience Director as necessary.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Substantial experience in incident management and emergency response, with a proven record of leading teams, implementing effective mitigation strategies and timely resolution of crisis situations
- Excellent people management and leadership, with experience of establishing high performing and teams, building capability, creating an inclusive and collaborative culture which values diversity and encourages openness, approachability and sensitivity. You can inspire and empower colleagues to deliver.
- Strategic thinker who can take the broader view and set the long-term strategy, articulate a vision, obtaining buy-in and engagement from others across an organisation; juggling tactical and strategic challenges.
- Proven substantial experience in shaping, communicating and executing a strategic vision into deliverable operational plans; you will have excellent communication skills.
- High levels of emotional intelligence, interpersonal, leadership and management skills to drive contributions across the organisation – highly organised to operate in a fast changing and dynamic environment.
- Strong analytical skills with extensive experience in analysing complex issues and delivering clear, concise evaluations and options for senior leaders.
Desirable criteria:
- Membership of the Business Continuity(BC) Institute or equivalent qualifications.
- Completion of Crisis Management Excellence Programme (CMEP Tools for Crisis Leaders or equivalent)
- An excellent working knowledge of delivering BC management through automated systems
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity tojoin HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 years continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE)…
Application process
To apply for this post, click apply and youll be redirected to Civil Service Jobs.
You will need to complete the online application process outlined belowno later than 23:55pm on Monday 1stSeptember 2025:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
- Three statements (maximum 500 words each) answering the 3 pre-defined questions (below), explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification
- Tell us about a time when you led the response to a major incident or crisis. Describe the context, your responsibilities, how you managed and coordinated others, and the impact of your actions on restoring operations or mitigating further risk.
- Give an example of when you translated a strategic vision into an operational plan. How did you ensure buy-in and effective delivery?
- Tell us about a time you had to solve a complex problem with limited information. How did you assess the situation, manage uncertainty, and reach a recommendation?
Deputy Director of Resilience in Newcastle Upon Tyne employer: DWP
Contact Detail:
DWP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Director of Resilience in Newcastle Upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the field of resilience and emergency management. Attend relevant conferences, workshops, or webinars to meet people who are already working in similar roles. This can help you gain insights into the industry and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and best practices in incident management and organisational resilience. Follow thought leaders on social media and read industry publications to stay updated. This knowledge will not only enhance your understanding but also demonstrate your commitment to the field during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential interview questions by practising your responses to scenarios related to crisis management and strategic planning. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, ensuring you highlight your leadership skills and ability to manage diverse teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Research DWP's current initiatives and challenges in resilience. Understanding their specific context will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how your experience aligns with their needs. This preparation can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Director of Resilience in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in incident management and emergency response. Focus on your leadership roles and any achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage crises effectively.
Craft Compelling Statements: When answering the three predefined questions, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This will help you clearly articulate your experiences and how they align with the essential criteria.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your people management and leadership skills in your application. Provide specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered an inclusive culture, as these are key aspects of the role.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, take the time to proofread your documents. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure that your statements are concise and directly address the questions asked.
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples that highlight your leadership skills, especially in crisis situations. Discuss how you've led teams through incidents and the strategies you implemented to ensure effective responses.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be ready to articulate your vision for resilience and how you can translate that into actionable plans. Think about past experiences where you successfully aligned a strategic vision with operational execution.
✨Highlight People Management Skills
Discuss your approach to building high-performing teams and fostering an inclusive culture. Share examples of how you've inspired and empowered colleagues to achieve their best work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Anticipate questions that may ask you to solve complex problems or manage uncertainty. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.
