Head of Emergency Planning

Can you create simple, effective systems in complex and highly regulated environments?  Do you see the connections between business continuity, emergency planning, security and quality management systems, and know how to bring them together? 

We're looking for a Head of Emergency Planning to lead how we prepare for disruption, protect our people and assets, and ensure our management systems work as one. 

This is a 18-month fixed-term contract. 

What you'll do 

You'll shape our approach to emergency planning and business continuity, ensuring we are ready to respond to incidents in a way that is proportionate, coordinated and effective.

Alongside this, you'll set the direction for physical and personnel security, making sure our controls, vetting processes and partnerships are robust, risk-based and aligned with wider organisational priorities.

 You'll ensure our approach to quality, compliance and assurance is joined-up and genuinely adds value, supporting the business to meet its obligations efficiently, while reducing duplication and complexity. 

These areas are closely connected, and you'll bring them together into a coherent, integrated approach. Whether through horizon scanning for emerging risks, strengthening resilience frameworks or championing the alignment of management systems, you'll help the organisation stay prepared, protected and operating effectively.  

Working closely with senior leaders, regulators and external partners, the position represents Wessex Water and contributes to wider resilience and security arrangements. During incidents, calm and strategic leadership is critical, supporting effective decision-making and coordinated response. 

The role also leads a team of specialists across emergency planning, security and quality systems, building capability and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. 

What you'll need 

We're looking for someone who can see the bigger picture and bring structure to complexity. 

You'll have significant water industry experience operating at a management level with proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing across organisational boundaries. 

Whilst experience in emergency planning, business continuity, resilience, security, management systems and/or dealing with incidents is desirable, you will have the capability to connect these disciplines, recognising how they support each other and how they can be aligned to deliver more than the sum of their parts. 

A strong attention to detail will be essential to sumaintaining compliance with relevant legislation and in providing clear, evidence-based assurance to regulators and internal governance groups. Equally important is your leadership of quality management systems.

You'll be comfortable working within regulatory frameworks and translating them into practical, proportionate approaches that work in an operational environment, with demonstrable experience of developing and embedding systems and/or processes that support operational effectiveness.

You'll also be a confident communicator, able to influence senior stakeholders and represent the organisation externally.  

Resilience, for you, isn't just about plans, it's about people, systems and culture. You'll remain calm under pressure, anticipate emerging risks and help others feel confident in how they respond. 

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us. 

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.