Job Description

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are looking for an Emergency Planning Support Officer to support our Joint Emergency Planning Unit (JEPU). You will join us on a full-time, fixed term or Secondment opportunity for 2 years. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £26,835 - £30,060 per annum (pro rata for part time).

About the Emergency Planning Support Officer role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils (BMSDC) Emergency Planning Officers in enhancing community resilience in Mid Suffolk by promoting and supporting the development of local Community Emergency Plans at a Town and Parish Council level. 

Whilst you will be working within our Operations and Climate Change Directorate the day to day activity of the role will be managed by the Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit, District Emergency Planning Manager for Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

About Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit 

The Joint Emergency Planning Unit was formed in 2005 between all Suffolk local authorities to provide an emergency planning and business continuity planning service. The team provides a focal point for civil emergency preparedness within Suffolk councils and provides a 24/7 out of hours duty service and initial emergency management capability.

Some of the duties of this role will be: 

to promote and support communities to encourage community resilience and business continuity in their local areas 

seeking and coordinating opportunities to promote Community Emergency Planning, for example joining existing community engagement events or meetings

supporting the development of new Community Emergency Plans, as well as reviewing and providing feedback on existing plans.

The role also includes supporting the District Council’s response in the event of an emergency or serious threat to public wellbeing at the direction of the Suffolk JEPU and BMSDC Officers through liaison with Community Emergency Planning Groups during incidents.

About you

We are looking for a motivated person who has good organisational skills and can think creatively.

Ideally you will have experience of undertaking project work, be IT literate on multi media platforms and be able to demonstrate effective communication skills.

You will need to be able to develop and maintain good relationships with current and potential Community Emergency Planning Groups as well as partner agencies, as this will be an important part of the role.

Experience of working within local government or a community group would be advantageous although not essential.

About us

Working together across our councils and with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, we provide excellent services to our 190,000 residents across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

We are proud of the role we play in creating the environment, economy, and communities for our districts. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work. With picturesque market towns, 60 conservation areas and with two National Landscapes within our districts, it is little wonder that we are consistently within the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits we offer our Emergency Planning Support Officer:

Great opportunities for learning and development.

Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays).

Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.

Wellbeing Support Programme.

Employee Assist Programme.

Health Care Options.

Our ways of working:

Work is what we do, not where we go!

We are committed to working in a more hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (business needs permitting). This has worked well for us and is something we will be continuing with.

We are committed to supporting equality and diversity, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils provide opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible service for our residents.

Closing date: 5pm, 29 November 2024.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Emergency Planning Support Officer role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies