Deputy Director, Readiness, Response & Recovery

About the role

The Deputy Director, Readiness, Response & Recovery will lead the Resilience and Recovery Directorate (RED) within MHCLG, shaping the UK’s national resilience strategy. This senior position is responsible for horizon scanning, preparedness, emergency response and recovery across the public sector.

Key responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for MHCLG’s emergency preparedness and ensure a robust, well‑governed response framework.
• Lead horizon‑scanning and resilience planning to keep the department alert to emerging risks.
• Design and maintain the department’s response architecture, including tools, frameworks and decision‑support systems.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with other government departments, private sector partners, the Executive Team and operational agencies.
• Translate lessons learned from incidents, debriefs and inquiries into improved capability.
• Refresh cross‑government recovery policies, funding models and delivery arrangements.
• Develop a capable response workforce through training, exercising, surge capacity and operational readiness programmes.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in public‑sector resilience, emergency management or related fields.
• Proven leadership of senior teams (G6 level) and ability to influence across government.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape national resilience policy at the highest level.
• Leadership of a multidisciplinary team within a key government department.
• Access to a wide network of public and private sector partners.