Resilience Lead - 12 month FTC

Overview

We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!

Fancy taking the lead on keeping 1st Central ready for whatever comes our way? We’re looking for a Resilience Lead to join us on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role is all about making sure our business can respond to and bounce back from disruption – whether that’s through Business Continuity, Operational Resilience, or Disaster Recovery.

You’ll get stuck into designing, delivering, and embedding our resilience framework, working with senior stakeholders, and running exercises that really test how we perform under pressure.

We’re big on flexible working, with offices in Salford Quays, Manchester and Haywards Heath, West Sussex, you\’ll spend most of your time working from home with a day a week at the office or when required, but of course, it’s your choice – if you prefer to be in the office more – that\’s good with us too.

Skills you’ll need to be a great fit for the role:

• Previous experience in Business Continuity (BC) / BC certification – you know your Business Impact Analysis (BIA) from your tabletop exercises
• Facilitation skills – you’re confident delivering exercises, tests and training to big groups of people (including execs)
• Strong stakeholder management – you can build relationships and influence at all levels
• Problem solving mindset – you’ve got logic, analytical mindset and calmness when it counts

What’s involved:

Business Continuity Management

• Own the full BCM lifecycle: Business Impact Analysis (BIA), strategy development, plan creation, testing, and training

• Ensure BC plans are current, tested, and aligned with First Central’s risk appetite and customer commitments

• Deliver regular BC exercises across business units and functions, including simulations and tabletop scenarios

• Lead post-incident reviews and ensure lessons learned are embedded into future planning

• Provide coordination support to the Crisis Management Team (CMT and Incident Management Team (IMT) when required

Operational Resilience

• Lead the maintenance of First Central’s Operational Resilience Framework in line with FCA and PRA requirements

• Identify and map Important Business Services (IBS), define Impact Tolerances, and coordinate scenario testing

• Ensure resilience is embedded in change initiatives, third-party risk management, and service design.

• Provide clear, actionable reporting to senior leadership and regulatory bodies

Disaster Recovery

• Collaborate with IT and third-party providers to ensure DR plans support recovery of IBS within defined tolerances

• Oversee DR testing schedules and validate RTO/RPO alignment with business needs

• Ensure DR capabilities are integrated with BC and OR frameworks

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Act as the key point of contact for resilience matters with senior leadership, risk committees, and regulators

• Present resilience updates, risk assessments, and test outcomes to executive and board-level stakeholders

• Build strong relationships across First Central to promote a culture of resilience and continuous improvement

• Lead cross-functional working groups and resilience forums

Exercise & Test Delivery

• Design and deliver a structured programme of resilience exercises, including crisis simulations, scenario-based testing and BC exercises

• Facilitate executive-level crisis management exercises to test strategic response and decision-making

• Ensure exercises are documented, evaluated, and followed up with improvement actions

Other responsibilities

• Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times

• Ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times,

Experience, knowledge & skills

• Solid experience in Business Continuity, Operational Resilience and Disaster Recovery
• Strong background in running resilience exercises and engaging senior stakeholders
• Experience in reviewing/redesigning complex cross-departmental processes, risks and controls
• Knowledge of ISO22301, DR best practice, and FCA Operational Resilience requirements
• CBCI, AMBCI or MBCI certification (or equivalent)
• Excellent planning, facilitation, and influencing skills
• Great written, verbal and presentation skills – clear and confident communicator

Behaviours

• Self-motivated, organised and proactive
• Strategic thinker with an eye for detail
• Confident decision-maker who can influence and build trust
• Analytical problem-solver who always looks for improvements
• Passionate about personal development and continuous learning

This is a brilliant opportunity to make a real impact and ensure 1st Central stays resilient, no matter the challenge. Sound like your kind of challenge? Apply now.

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here.

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.