Chief Resilience Officer (CRO)

Location: Agile, Newcastle and homeworking. There will be a requirement to travel to other partners buildings within the Force area

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, 3 year fixed term contract

Working for Northumbria Local Resilience Forum

Join Us in Shaping a Safer, Stronger Northumbria LRF

At the heart of the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is a powerful mission: to protect and empower our communities by making Northumbria a safer, more resilient place to live, work, and visit.

We bring together a diverse partnership of emergency responders, local authorities, health organisations, environmental and maritime services, voluntary agencies, and utility providers—all working side by side under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004).

Our strength lies in collaboration. Together, we plan, prepare, and act to tackle emergencies, major incidents, and critical challenges that affect our region. From risk assessment to community recovery, we ensure robust arrangements are in place across planning, response, and recovery.

Whether it’s creating comprehensive emergency plans, coordinating response strategies, or keeping the public informed and supported during crises, the LRF offers a dynamic and meaningful space to make a real impact.

If you’re passionate about public service, thrive in a fast-moving environment, and want to contribute to something truly worthwhile—this is where you belong.

The role

The Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) is responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategies that enhance NLRFs ability to prepare, withstand, adapt and recovery from a wide range of disruptions, risks and threats. This includes environmental, economic, technological, and social challenges. A key aspect of this role is building strong relationships with national and local government, particularly with elected councillors who represent communities, to ensure that resilience planning is inclusive, community-informed, and locally focussed.

What you’ll do

You will work at a senior level across organisations to influence and drive change, with the ability to influence wider local strategies to ensure resilience is built into a local leader’s vision for economic growth, climate adaptation and environmental policy.

• To effectively deliver the work programme as agreed and defined by the Northumbria LRF Resilience Board.
• To develop and lead the implementation of a comprehensive resilience strategy for the Northumbria Resilience Forum to deliver concrete benefits to all partners through delivery against shared priorities.
• To provide expert policy and strategic advice that translates into real benefits across Northumbria LRF.
• To develop excellent, trustworthy, relationships with all partners and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• To identify, seize and secure further opportunities for Northumbria Local Resilience.
• To increase resilience and reduce the risk exposure of Northumbria Local Resilience Partners through collaborative activity.
• To enable Northumbria Local Resilience to speak with one voice on issues that affect them.

Qualifications, knowledge, and experience

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience in a related field,
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Local Resilience Forums purpose and operations and National Strategic Risk Assessment and GB Resilience Framework relevant operating and funding sources/models.

Planning and organising

• Experience of determining and managing performance effectively.

Problem Solving and Initiative Strategic Thinker

• Ability to think strategically, assess complex situations, and develop long-term resilience strategies, who is grounded in continuous improvement and problem solving.

Management and Teamwork

• Ability to collaborate with senior management to organise, plan and achieve Northumbria Resilience goals.

Communicating and Influencing

• Collaborative Leadership: Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to foster collaboration and cooperation across various departments and stakeholders.

Other Skills and Behaviours

Influence-A proven record of being able to positively influence decision making in a complex multi-stakeholder environment.

We know it’s important for you to feel that you’re not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact vacancy contacts: Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Strategic Board Chair of NLRF by email via his Executive Assistant Zoe.Brett@twfire.gov.uk or John Heckels, NLRF Manager by email for John Heckels john.heckels@nortthumbria.police.uk

What we offer

• 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
• NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
• Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
• Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force
• Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
• Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
• We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support
• Access to gyms in some stations
• Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunity to volunteer in local community

Just so you know

Our application process will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of Northumbria Local Resilience Forum Chief Resilience Officer with Northumbria Local Resilience Forum. To help support your application research a candidate pack has been provided.

The recruitment process will consist of:

• Potential candidates complete a supporting statement of up to 500 words setting out how their past experience and skills match the JD/person specification

Held on the same day:

• NLRF Stakeholder Panel.
• Final interview and Presentation.

First part of Final Interview assessment would be a 15 minute presentation, topic to be provided in advance and returned before interview date. Second part of the assessment would be 8 evidence based questions.

Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting Management Vetting (MV)/ Security Clearance (SC) form, all therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a fixed term role

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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