Disaster Recovery & Resilience Lead
Permanent, Full Time
£60,049 to £70,645 per annum
Location: Chelmsford*
Working Style:
Closing Date: 25th March 2026
*Please note this is a hybrid-working role, with a requirement to attend the Chelmsford office 2-3 days per month, depending on business need.
Essex County Council is ambitious and by 2030 it will be one of the most forward looking, effective and financially sustainable Councils in the country. ECC will be a leading-edge digital council that drives excellent customer service with transformation at the heart of service excellence. As our Disaster Recovery & Resilience Manager, you’ll design, prove and continually strengthen the plans that keep critical services available—so colleagues across the Authority can serve the people of Essex without interruption.
What you’ll do
1. Own the DR strategy for our technology estate—designing, maintaining and assuring disaster recovery plans and processes that underpin key business services.
2. Lead a robust test programme—plan and run regular exercises, capture results, drive improvements and evidence assurance against policy.
3. Partner across the organisation—work closely with Major Incident Management and operational teams to protect service continuity for colleagues and citizens.
4. Work with our suppliers—for services delivered as‑a‑service or via hosting contracts, collaborate with third parties to make sure resilience meets business requirements and is tested thoroughly.
Why this role matters
When incidents strike, preparation is everything. Your work ensures our most important services stay resilient, our recovery is swift, and our teams are ready—every time.
What you’ll bring
5. Practical expertise in disaster recovery planning and testing across complex, multi‑supplier environments.
6. Confidence engaging senior stakeholders and vendors, setting clear recovery standards and holding people to them.
7. A calm, outcomes‑focused approach during incidents, with a continuous‑improvement mindset between them.
Organisational Accountabilities
Roles at this level will be focused on delivering results in a specific functional area. They will hold expertise on the application of policy and improvement of service delivery. These roles have clear team budgets and targets set within the overall service requirements.
8. Implementing changes and continually evaluating service to improve the area of work, while maintaining the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered
9. Working collaboratively within and across functions to and thinking commercially support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis
10. Deliver exemplar customer interactions to individuals and communities which support strong relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving issues
11. Effective utilisation of digital technologies and innovation across the function
12. Equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken
13. Managing complex issues and resources to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes
14. Operational planning and performance review to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensures the political objectives and priorities of the council are met
15. Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk
16. Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships with other teams in the function and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans
Service Accountabilities
17. Responsible for the management and ongoing improvement of Disaster Recovery (DR) and Resilience processes within EDS, including where these processes interface with other areas such as Major Incident Management, communications and Emergency Planning.
18. Responsible for the design, provision and assurance of disaster recovery plans and processes for technology underpinning the continuity of key business services. This post is also responsible for the development and delivery of the EDS business continuity plan and will play a key role in the Authority’s planning and response to a cyber-attack, including regular review and update of plan and procedures.
19. Work closely with Emergency Planning to conduct risk analysis to ensure that systems critical to delivery of core business functions are identified.
20. Work holistically and broadly across the organisation and with the resilience team to ensure organisational DR and BR planning.
21. Ensure that disaster recovery testing is regularly undertaken, results recorded and analysed, and any improvements implemented to ensure business requirements are met.
22. Review DR and resilience provision within third party technology contracts to ensure they continue to meet business needs and develop service level recovery standards and agreements with vendors.
23. Monitor testing and outcomes and track Business Continuity Plan tests for critical list of third-party suppliers to demonstrate assurance of ability (28 critical apps and services currently monitored) ensuring certifications are current and annual testing compliance.
24. Develop training, documentation and communication of disaster recovery information with the organisation.
25. Co-ordinate and deliver an annual full DR test for key systems, including scenario development, and lead on the DR and Resilience audits undertaken within EDS and delivering any recommendations to ensure services are prepared to respond appropriately to disaster incidents.
26. Work closely with business stakeholders across the authority to ensure disaster recovery plans and procedures are fit for purpose and in alignment to industry best practice.
27. Champion the provision of disaster recovery and resilience services both within EDS and across the Authority to ensure ECC is prepared to respond appropriately to disaster incidents.
28. Develop and maintain the EDS business continuity plan.
29. Play a key role in the Authority’s planning and response to a cyber-attack, including regular review and update of plan and procedures.
30. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
31. Educated to Degree Level or equivalent by experience in a relevant
32. Able to identify and evaluate the potential threats/risks that could affect the organisation’s operations, assets, and reputation.
33. Qualification or high level of demonstrable capability with relevant vendor business applications.
34. Able to demonstrate a clear understanding of, and capability to work within, relevant ICT related standards.
35. Excellent written, verbal communication and presentational skills.
36. Excellent customer service skills.
37. Evidence of continual professional development to keep pace with technical and business change that meet defined SFIA V7 competencies.
38. Experience of agile / iterative / rapid development working practices.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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