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- Tasks: Lead resilience and business continuity strategies for critical defence infrastructure.
- Company: VIVO Defence Services, a dynamic joint venture focused on innovation and customer care.
- Benefits: Senior leadership salary, bonuses, car allowance, and flexible hybrid working.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusivity and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in defence while developing your leadership skills in a high-stakes environment.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in resilience or business continuity, with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What we do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
The Role
We’re looking for a Head of Resilience to lead and embed a best-in-class resilience and business continuity capability across VIVO. Reporting to the Special Projects Director, this role is responsible for ensuring critical defence infrastructure and services remain operationally ready in a complex, high-risk environment. You’ll establish and lead the resilience function—setting standards, frameworks, and governance—while strengthening VIVO’s position across the defence estate.
Key Responsibilities
- Resilience & Operational Readiness
- Develop and implement a resilience and Business Continuity strategy aligned to defence priorities
- Identify critical infrastructure and lead risk assessments and scenario planning
- Establish crisis management frameworks and response structures
- Design and implement operational playbooks for high-risk or degraded environments
- Lead resilience testing, simulations, and exercises across sites and teams
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships with defence stakeholders, including MoD and DIO
- Act as a trusted advisor on resilience, risk, and infrastructure readiness
- Embed resilience capability across operational and infrastructure teams
- Commercial & Growth
- Identify opportunities to develop resilience-led service offerings
- Support bid activity and contribute to winning new work
- Leadership & Governance
- Establish and lead the resilience function, setting clear standards and frameworks
- Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on risk and preparedness
- Ensure compliance with defence, security, and regulatory requirements
What We’re Looking For
Experience
- Senior experience in resilience, business continuity, or infrastructure operations
- Strong understanding of defence environments or critical national infrastructure
- Proven experience delivering BCP and crisis response frameworks
- Experience working with military or defence stakeholders
- Track record of influencing at senior level in complex environments
Skills
- Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery focus
- Calm, credible, and decisive under pressure
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Commercial awareness with the ability to identify growth opportunities
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
- Professional resilience or risk qualifications (e.g. CBCI, ISO 22301) desirable
- Military or operational leadership experience highly valued
Additional Requirements
- Hybrid working with regular UK travel
- Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance
- Flexibility to support operational demands
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and hybrid working and are a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
Head of Resilience in Birmingham employer: Serco Canada Inc
Contact Detail:
Serco Canada Inc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Resilience in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the defence sector and let them know you're on the hunt for the Head of Resilience role. A friendly chat can lead to insider info or even a referral, which can give you a leg up.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of resilience strategies and crisis management frameworks. We want you to be able to showcase your expertise and how it aligns with VIVO's core values—open, caring, agile, and collaborative.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up! Keep an eye on VIVO’s website and apply directly through us. This shows initiative and can help you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led resilience initiatives in the past. This will help you connect with interviewers and demonstrate your fit for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Resilience in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Resilience role. Highlight your experience in resilience and business continuity, especially in defence environments, to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about resilience and how your background makes you the perfect candidate. Don’t forget to mention our core values—open, caring, agile, and collaborative!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your leadership style! Share examples of how you've led teams or projects in high-pressure situations. This will help us understand how you can establish and lead the resilience function at VIVO.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets to us directly, apply through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Serco Canada Inc
✨Know Your Resilience Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the key resilience and business continuity frameworks relevant to the defence sector. Be ready to discuss how you would implement these at VIVO, showcasing your understanding of their importance in maintaining operational readiness.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about your experience in building relationships with defence stakeholders. Think of specific examples where you've acted as a trusted advisor, and be ready to explain how you would strengthen VIVO's position across the defence estate.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Showcase your ability to think strategically while maintaining an operational focus. Prepare to discuss how you would identify growth opportunities for resilience-led service offerings and how this aligns with VIVO's core values.
✨Stay Calm Under Pressure
Be prepared to share examples of how you've remained calm and decisive in high-pressure situations. This is crucial for the Head of Resilience role, so think of scenarios where your leadership made a difference during a crisis.