Emergency Planning & Resilience Specialist
Salary: Up to£45,000 per annum | Company Benefits | Car Allowance
Location: Walsall, West Midlands | Regular Travel Required
Contract: Full-Time | Permanent | 37 hours per week
About Us:
South Staffordshire Water operates across two regions as Cambridge Water and South Staffs Water, and is a privately-owned regulated water only company.
South Staffs Water supplies a population of nearly 1.3 million. The area of supply stretches from the edge of Ashbourne in the North, to Halesowen in the South, and from Burton-on-Trent in the East, to Kinver in the West.
The Role:
As our Emergency Planning & Resilience Specialist, you will support the development and delivery of emergency planning, business continuity and operational resilience arrangements across South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water.
You'll work closely with colleagues across the business and external partners to ensure we remain prepared for a wide range of operational, environmental, infrastructure and security-related risks. You will also play an important role in maintaining compliance with the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) and supporting wider organisational resilience programmes.
A significant part of the role will involve representing the business within Local Resilience Forums (LRFs), building strong relationships with emergency services, local authorities, health organisations, regulators and other utility providers to ensure effective collaboration and planning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Supporting the development, implementation and continuous improvement of emergency planning, business continuity and resilience arrangements.
- Reviewing, maintaining and exercising emergency response and business continuity plans.
- Leading and supporting incident response exercises, from tabletop sessions to large-scale multi-agency events.
- Supporting incident management activities during operational emergencies and major incidents.
- Developing resilience arrangements relating to:
- Alternative Water Supplies (AWS)
- Vulnerable customers and sites
- Critical service continuity
- Recovery planning
- Building and maintaining strong partnerships with Local Resilience Forums and external stakeholders.
- Representing the company at resilience meetings, exercises and planning groups.
- Supporting planning for drought, severe weather, cyber incidents, loss of supply and other emergency scenarios.
- Supporting protective security activities across operational and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites.
- Undertaking security risk assessments and maintaining key security documentation.
- Supporting audits, inspections and regulatory compliance activities.
- Providing specialist resilience and emergency planning advice across the organisation.
What Success Looks Like:
- Emergency and business continuity plans remain current, effective and compliant.
- Strong working relationships are established with Local Resilience Forums and partner agencies.
- Lessons from incidents and exercises are captured and embedded into future planning.
- Regulatory audits and inspections demonstrate robust resilience and security arrangements.
- The organisation remains prepared to respond to and recover from major incidents while maintaining essential customer services.
About You:
Essential
- Diploma in Emergency Planning, Business Continuity, Security Management or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience within resilience, emergency planning, civil contingencies, business continuity or security-related roles.
- Strong understanding of emergency management, resilience principles and business continuity practices.
- Experience developing, reviewing or exercising emergency response, incident management or business continuity plans.
- Experience working with Local Resilience Forums, emergency services, local authorities, regulators or other multi-agency partners.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organisational, analytical and report-writing skills.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities effectively.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across operational areas.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD), the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and associated guidance.
- Experience within the water industry, utilities sector, emergency services, local government or another Critical National Infrastructure environment.
- Knowledge of emergency exercising, recovery planning and incident command structures.
- Experience supporting resilience audits, inspections or regulatory assurance activities.
- Understanding of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) security requirements and protective security principles.
- Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as the Emergency Planning Society (EPS), Business Continuity Institute (BCI) or Security Institute.
- Project or programme management experience.
What You'll Get:
- Family-Friendly Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity & Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support, and up to 5 paid Carer’s Days
- Financial & Life Assurance: Company Pension Scheme with salary sacrifice options
- Health & Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Virtual GP access for you and your dependents
- Lifestyle & Perks: Cycle to Work Scheme and My Premier Benefits discounts, cashback, and vouchers
- Professional Development: Hands-on training and ongoing career development opportunities
- Inclusion & Belonging: Active People Networks – Disability & Neurodiversity, Unity+, Women’s Network, Parent & Carer Networking Group and more
- Performance & Recognition: Annual salary review, Reward & Recognition Scheme, and Long Service Awards.
At South Staffordshire Group, inclusion matters. We have a wide range of employee networks which are employee-led communities that bring our people together, support different perspectives and create a strong sense of belonging. Our people are encouraged to get involved as members or allies.
We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including all genders, ethnicity, sexual orientations, and physical and neurodiverse abilities.
We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and encourage you to let us know how we can best support you throughout the recruitment process.
Emergency Planning and Resilience Specialist in Walsall employer: South Staffs Water
South Staffordshire Water is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of water through the Price Review 2029 initiative. With a strong focus on employee growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact, our work culture fosters innovation and engagement with senior stakeholders, ensuring that every team member can contribute to sustainable solutions for our communities. Join us in a role where your expertise will not only influence strategic decisions but also create lasting change in the water industry.
