The resilience team plays a key role in helping to ensure that the county council is as prepared as it can be for a range of emergencies and other disruptive events. It also provides the secretariat function for the Local Resilience Forum and provides valuable support to multi-agency partners in helping to make Hertfordshire a safer place. The team is well respected and sits in the Community Protection directorate. It is currently looking for an experienced Resilience Officer to help provide expertise, advice and support on emergency planning and business continuity to all county council directorates and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The team is small and friendly, and the postholder will work closely alongside two other Resilience Officers and two colleagues who support the Local Resilience Forum and wider work of the team. The team is somewhat unique in having an internal and external focus so the role is a varied one with access to a wide range of different people and stakeholders. Whilst it can be pressured and demanding at times it also provides a rare opportunity to experience some more interesting and unusual aspects of working for a local authority. Each day can be very different to the next. At times it can be fast-paced and you may be working in a pressured environment, responding to an emergency or undertaking a shift on the 24/7 duty rota. Building effective relationships and understanding is key to the role so talking to others, listening and asking questions is just as important as completing tasks. A key part of the role is the variety and there is the opportunity to work in partnership with a wide range of internal colleagues at different levels of seniority. You will primarily be working in a business partner relationship with one or more county council directorates, providing specialist advice and expertise. This could involve maintaining their preparedness checklist or helping to deliver the tailored action plan to embed the business continuity framework. Other key responsibilities include developing, maintaining and testing corporate and directorate emergency and business continuity plans, and working closely with multi-agency partners, such as the emergency services, other local authorities and health agencies on multi-agency emergency plans as part of the Local Resilience Forum. There will also be the opportunity to work collaboratively with the other Resilience Officers and to lead on specific projects or areas of work, such as COMAH sites, flooding or humanitarian assistance. Developing, delivering and participating in a wide range of different training or exercises is another key responsibility. The role also involves representing the county council and/or Local Resilience Forum at various meetings and regional and national events. There is no typical day as a Resilience Officer and you will need to be comfortable with routine changes, often at short notice. Ultimately, we are looking for somebody who is pro-active, can work as part of a team, can communicate effectively, and has the confidence to work with and challenge colleagues at different levels of seniority. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate: A degree or equivalent level qualification in a related subject and/or experience of working in a similar role. Knowledge of the Civil Contingencies Act. Understanding of emergency planning or business continuity in a local authority or public sector context. Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships. Can manage multiple tasks and prioritise their own workload independently. A driving licence and access to a car as there will be a need to visit locations across Hertfordshire and beyond. Ability to undertake the 24/7 duty function on a rota basis, for which additional payment is made. Live locally, within a reasonable travel time of the main base or are prepared to relocate.