At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the university's Business Continuity strategy and ensure effective planning across all areas.
- Company: One of the world's leading universities with a diverse community.
- Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, gym access, and employee support services.
- Other info: Join a commitment to diversity and inclusion while driving meaningful change.
- Why this job: Shape resilience strategies and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in Business Continuity with relevant qualifications and experience.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are one of the world's leading universities, with a dynamic and rapidly evolving estate that supports a diverse community of students, academics and professional staff. Spanning over 240 buildings and serving more than 50,000 people, our environment is both complex and critical to the success of our teaching, research and public engagement. Our Campus Resilience & Security function plays a central role in ensuring the university remains safe, stable and prepared for disruption. As we continue to grow, we are strengthening our approach to organisational resilience, embedding forward-thinking strategies that enable us to adapt, respond and recover effectively in an ever-changing risk landscape.
About the role
This is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the university's Business Continuity strategy. You will provide strategic direction, operational oversight and expert guidance to ensure that robust and effective continuity planning is embedded across all areas of the institution. You will lead the development and maturity of Business Continuity practices, aligning plans across faculties, departments and professional services while ensuring they reflect both local needs and wider institutional priorities. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will strengthen the management of interdependencies, enhance assurance processes and ensure that continuity planning effectively addresses areas such as digital resilience and cyber risk. The role also involves overseeing testing and exercising programmes, supporting major incident planning and response, and fostering a culture in which Business Continuity is understood, valued and actively maintained. You will play a key role in driving continuous improvement, ensuring that lessons learned are captured and embedded, and that the organisation remains resilient in the face of evolving challenges.
About you
You are an experienced and credible leader in Business Continuity or organisational resilience, with the ability to operate at a strategic level within a large and complex organisation. You bring a strong track record of developing and embedding continuity frameworks, alongside experience of incident response and resilience planning. You are confident engaging and influencing stakeholders at all levels, with the ability to build consensus, challenge existing approaches and lead meaningful change. You are comfortable navigating complexity, managing competing priorities and driving alignment across diverse teams and functions. You will hold a recognised Business Continuity qualification, such as the Business Continuity Institute Management Examination, and bring a deep understanding of current best practice and emerging trends in the field. Above all, you are passionate about creating resilient organisations and fostering a culture of preparedness, accountability and continuous improvement.
What we offer
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Head of Business Continuity in London employer: UCL
Contact Detail:
UCL Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Business Continuity in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it's not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the university's values and recent initiatives. We want to see that you're genuinely interested in our mission and how you can contribute to it. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with our goals in business continuity.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. We recommend focusing on situational questions that highlight your leadership skills and ability to manage complex challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. We appreciate candidates who take the time to express their gratitude and reiterate their interest in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Business Continuity in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Business Continuity and organisational resilience. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As this is a senior role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and led teams through complex challenges. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and drive change!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there.
How to prepare for a job interview at UCL
✨Know Your Business Continuity Framework
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest best practices and frameworks in business continuity. Brush up on your knowledge of incident response and resilience planning, as this will be crucial when discussing your strategic vision during the interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to discuss how you’ve successfully engaged and influenced stakeholders in previous roles. Think of specific examples where you built consensus or led meaningful change, as this will demonstrate your ability to navigate complex organisational structures.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to articulate your leadership approach, especially in fostering a culture of preparedness and continuous improvement. Share stories that highlight your experience in developing and embedding continuity practices across diverse teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills in real-time. Practice articulating how you would handle specific disruptions or crises, focusing on your strategic direction and operational oversight capabilities.