Job summary

This national-level post is responsible for maintaining and developing interoperable capabilities such as HART, MTA, CBRN, Mass Casualties, and Command & Control. The officer will lead on the creation and maintenance of national safe systems of work, risk assessments, emergency plans, and technical documentation. They will also support training delivery, equipment coordination, and readiness monitoring.

The role requires frequent engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS England, emergency services, and regulatory bodies. The officer will act as a subject matter expert, providing advice, conducting audits, and managing sensitive information, including during national emergencies. They will also deputise for the Capabilities Manager, manage staff, and contribute to national projects and events.

This is a highly autonomous role requiring excellent communication, project management, and analytical skills. You must be a registered NHS clinician, ideally with experience in high-risk environments, and hold or be willing to obtain SC-level security clearance. The role is based at the Fire Service College with flexibility for remote working and national travel. It is integral to ensuring national preparedness and resilience.

Any job offer and continued employment is contingent on that level of security clearance being maintained

• Permanent position - supporting CBRN portfolio
• 12-month secondment - supporting MTA portfolio

Specify in application which post you are applying for

Main duties of the job

The Capabilities Officer is responsible for developing and maintaining safety-critical documentation, including standard operating procedures, risk assessments, and rescue plans. They draft emergency plans, service continuity documents, and national service specifications. The role involves managing sensitive correspondence and operating national data systems. Officers produce detailed reports, populate risk registers, and prepare technical briefings. They also lead the creation and circulation of documentation for national meetings and programme boards.

In this role, the officer provides expert advice to NHS and multi-agency stakeholders. They are expected to communicate complex, sensitive, and classified information effectively. The officer chairs national meetings and incident debriefs, often involving distressing content. During national incidents, they act as a Tactical Commander. They also create and deliver presentations to a wide range of stakeholders.

The officer leads the planning and delivery of projects valued up to £200,000. They manage programme risks, conduct audits and inspections, and coordinate national events and conferences. The role includes analysing NHS performance data and clinical outcomes to inform decision-making.

About us

The principal aim of the NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit (ECU) is to support the delivery of patient care and improved clinical outcomes in a range of challenging environments across England. The unit supports NHS Trusts and partner agencies to provide an effective response to the major and complex incidents defined within the UKs National Risk Register.

The NHS ECU is the national centre of excellence for emergency preparedness, resilience, and response across Englands ambulance services. Hosted by the London Ambulance Service and commissioned by NHS England, we are dedicated to ensuring that the NHS is ready to respond to the most complex, high-risk, and challenging incidentswhenever and wherever they occur.

Formerly known as the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU), the NHS ECU builds on over a decade of operational expertise, clinical leadership, and innovation. Our mission is to strengthen national resilience by supporting ambulance trusts and wider NHS partners with the capabilities, training, and coordination needed to deliver outstanding care in the most demanding environments.

Our work is structured around three core capabilities:

• Preparedness: Ensuring our teams are ready to respond through rigorous training, clinical excellence, and strategic planning.
• Interoperability: Embedding multi-agency collaboration into every aspect of our work, from joint training to national coordination.

Details

• Date posted: 09 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 308-OL-CORP-121
• Job locations: Fire Service College - Moreton-in-Marsh, London Road, MORETON-IN-MARSH, Gloucestershire, GL56 0RH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Applicants are advised to read all the information enclosed in the advert before completing an application. For further details of main responsibilities, please see attached job description.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Person specification:

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience of delivering Paramedic standard care within high-risk environments
• Practical experience of risk management and emergency planning in an operational setting
• Experience of working with safety critical systems.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• A detailed and professional understanding of safety critical systems and safe systems of work.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 including their subsequent regulatory provisions and practical application.
• Demonstrable planning, organisational, and project management skills

Qualifications, Accreditations, Education

Essential

• Educated UK academic level 5 or equivalent professional experience
• Qualified and registered NHS clinician
• Full UK Driving Licence (with C1 & D1 or equivalent).

Desirable

• Diploma in Health Emergency Planning or Major Incident Management
• Health and safety qualification (IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent)
• Qualified NHS commander (tactical level)