This national-level post is responsible for maintaining and developing interoperable capabilities such as HART, MTA, CBRN, Mass Casualties, and Command & Control. The officer will lead on the creation and maintenance of national safe systems of work, risk assessments, emergency plans, and technical documentation. They will also support training delivery, equipment coordination, and readiness monitoring.
The role requires frequent engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS England, emergency services, and regulatory bodies. The officer will act as a subject matter expert, providing advice, conducting audits, and managing sensitive information, including during national emergencies. They will also deputise for the Capabilities Manager, manage staff, and contribute to national projects and events.
This is a highly autonomous role requiring excellent communication, project management, and analytical skills. You must be a registered NHS clinician, ideally with experience in high-risk environments, and hold or be willing to obtain SC-level security clearance. The role is based at the Fire Service College with flexibility for remote working and national travel. It is integral to ensuring national preparedness and resilience.
Any job offer and continued employment is contingent on that level of security clearance being maintained
- 12-month secondment - supporting MTA portfolio
Main duties of the job
The Capabilities Officer is responsible for developing and maintaining safety-critical documentation, including standard operating procedures, risk assessments, and rescue plans. They draft emergency plans, service continuity documents, and national service specifications. The role involves managing sensitive correspondence and operating national data systems. Officers produce detailed reports, populate risk registers, and prepare technical briefings. They also lead the creation and circulation of documentation for national meetings and programme boards.
In this role, the officer provides expert advice to NHS and multi-agency stakeholders. They are expected to communicate complex, sensitive, and classified information effectively. The officer chairs national meetings and incident debriefs, often involving distressing content. During national incidents, they act as a Tactical Commander. They also create and deliver presentations to a wide range of stakeholders.
The officer leads the planning and delivery of projects valued up to £200,000. They manage programme risks, conduct audits and inspections, and coordinate national events and conferences. The role includes analysing NHS performance data and clinical outcomes to inform decision-making.
About us
The principal aim of the NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit (ECU) is to support the delivery of patient care and improved clinical outcomes in a range of challenging environments across England. The unit supports NHS Trusts and partner agencies to provide an effective response to the major and complex incidents defined within the UKs National Risk Register.
The NHS ECU is the national centre of excellence for emergency preparedness, resilience, and response across Englands ambulance services. Hosted by the London Ambulance Service and commissioned by NHS England, we are dedicated to ensuring that the NHS is ready to respond to the most complex, high-risk, and challenging incidentswhenever and wherever they occur.
Formerly known as the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU), the NHS ECU builds on over a decade of operational expertise, clinical leadership, and innovation. Our mission is to strengthen national resilience by supporting ambulance trusts and wider NHS partners with the capabilities, training, and coordination needed to deliver outstanding care in the most demanding environments.
Our work is structured around three core capabilities:
- Preparedness: Ensuring our teams are ready to respond through rigorous training, clinical excellence, and strategic planning.
- Interoperability: Embedding multi-agency collaboration into every aspect of our work, from joint training to national coordination.
Job responsibilities
Person Specification
Qualifications, Accreditations, Education
- Educated UK academic level 5 or equivalent professional experience
- Qualified and registered NHS clinician
- Full UK Driving Licence (with C1 & D1 or equivalent).
- Diploma in Health Emergency Planning or Major Incident Management
- Health and safety qualification (IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent)
- Qualified NHS commander (tactical level)
Experience
- Practical experience of delivering Paramedic standard care within high-risk environments
- Practical experience of risk management and emergency planning in an operational setting
- Experience of working with safety critical systems.
Knowledge and Skills
- A detailed and professional understanding of safety critical systems and safe systems of work.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 including their subsequent regulatory provisions and practical application.
- Demonstrable planning, organisational, and project management skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£49,387 to £56,515 a yearper annum pro rata
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