Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery in Liverpool

Grade: SEO

Location: Remote working available. Contracted base location: Liverpool or Darlington

Reports to: Head of Assurance

Line management responsibility: May be required

Security clearance: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check and completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

About the Department

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) was established under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 on 1 December 2012 and operates from Liverpool and Darlington. DBS delivers:

• Disclosure services for England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
• Barring services for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

DBS works in a complex safeguarding environment alongside multiagency partners. Safeguarding protects people's health, wellbeing and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. DBS supports organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment and workforce decisions, particularly for roles involving contact with vulnerable groups, including children.

DBS Strategic Priorities

• Deliver high-quality, reliable, consistent and accessible services
• Embrace technology to improve quality and efficiency
• Develop a talented, diverse workforce aligned to organisational objectives
• Create a flexible, modern workplace that promotes OneDBS
• Raise awareness and confidence in DBS services through effective communication
• Be a respected and trusted partner across government and beyond

Role Overview

The Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Manager is responsible for supporting the development of, and providing assurance on, DBS's organisational BCDR framework. This includes ownership of the BCDR testing programme and ensuring a consistent One DBS approach to business continuity planning. The post holder will act as the subject matter expert for BCDR, advising senior stakeholders including the Board and Senior Leadership Team (SLT). You will ensure that policies, plans and controls are aligned to best practice and fully embedded across DBS.

Job Purpose and Key Responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and continuously improve DBS's BCDR framework and documentation, including:

• Business Continuity Plans
• Disaster Recovery Plans
• Major Incident Plans
• Business Impact Assessments
• Denial of Service plans

Governance, Assurance and Compliance

• Provide guidance and assurance to Directorate BCDR Champions, ensuring alignment with the corporate BCDR plan
• Challenge and support senior leaders to identify critical functions and ensure these are adequately protected
• Ensure DBS meets all internal and external compliance requirements, including those set by the Home Office, GIAA and relevant government standards

Testing, Exercising and Continuous Improvement

• Design, coordinate and deliver a comprehensive BCDR testing and exercising programme
• Conduct risk assessments relating to scenarios and incidents
• Capture lessons learned, track actions to completion and embed improvements into future planning

Incident Management

• Support and facilitate activation of BCDR and Major Incident Plans during live incidents
• Provide coordination, visibility and reporting on the impact of incidents on critical services
• Produce incident outcome and lessons-learned reports

Stakeholder and Supplier Engagement

• Chair and manage the BCDR Forum, ensuring actions are tracked and delivered
• Work closely with Directorates and the Supplier Management Team to ensure supplier plans align with DBS requirements
• Collaborate with external partners and agencies as required

Capability Building

• Develop and deliver BCDR training and awareness activity across DBS
• Promote organisational understanding of BCDR and its impact on service delivery

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide support to, and cover for, the Corporate Risk Manager when required
• Membership of the Assurance, Risk and Facilities Directorate Management Team
• Undertake line management responsibilities as required

Success Profiles

This role is assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, which considers behaviours, experience, ability and technical skills.

Personal Specification

Ability and Knowledge

• Ability to negotiate, influence and facilitate at all levels to deliver an effective BCDR function
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of BCDR management processes and frameworks
• Experience designing and implementing corporate BCDR documentation, including BIAs and Major Incident Plans
• Experience designing and delivering BCDR testing programmes and applying lessons learned
• Ability to operate at executive and senior management level, including report writing and presentations

Experience

• Developing and presenting reports to senior management and Boards
• Designing and delivering training and workshops, including at senior level
• Advising senior leaders during live BCDR incidents
• Coordinating staff and services during incidents
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and work under pressure

Technical

• Qualification in Business Continuity, Emergency Planning or a related discipline, or significant relevant experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (including conditional formatting)

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of ISO 22301 Business Continuity standard
• Knowledge of HM Treasury or wider government BCDR guidance
• Experience in emergency planning, crisis management and business continuity
• PRINCE2 Practitioner or Agile Project Management qualification
• Membership of the Business Continuity Institute
• Experience in data visualisation and analysis

Civil Service Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and sound judgement to make well-reasoned decisions, considering risks and implications
• Working Together – Build effective relationships across internal and external stakeholders
• Seeing the Bigger Picture – Understand how your role contributes to organisational and Civil Service priorities
• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for timely, high-quality delivery
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate clearly and influence effectively with a wide range of audiences