Crisis Management Training and Exercising Advisor

at  Department for Energy Security Net Zero

JOB SUMMARY

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.
Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.
Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Are you ready to take on a high-impact leadership role at the heart of the DESNZ’s national security and crisis management team? This is your opportunity to shape the future of resilience within DESNZ, working on high-profile, cross-cutting risks that directly influence senior leaders and ministers.
In this role, you’ll be the driving force behind strengthening the department’s response to incidents affecting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). You’ll forge crucial partnerships across Government, ensuring seamless coordination when it matters most.
Beyond crisis response, you’ll lead the evolution of DESNZ’s crisis management training and exercising programme, sharpening the department’s capabilities through an ever-adapting Assurance Framework. By capturing and applying lessons from real-world emergencies—such as Covid-19 and extreme weather events—you’ll play a pivotal role in refining the UK’s preparedness for the challenges ahead.
This is more than a job—it’s a chance to make a tangible impact, build confidence across DESNZ in handling crises, and be a key architect of resilience and security. If you’re strategic, proactive, and thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, we want you on our team.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

You don’t need to be a crisis management specialist to excel in this role, we provide full on-the-job training. We’re looking for someone who is practical, proactive, and eager to develop transferable skills in a high-impact environment. This role is ideal for those interested in crisis management policy or looking to apply their skills in a fast-paced, cross-government setting.

Essential Skills & Attributes:

• Hardworking & Flexible Approach – You’re dedicated, adaptable, and committed to delivering high-quality work across multiple priorities.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement – Ability to build strong, productive relationships with colleagues to drive collective action.
• Adaptability & Problem-Solving – A flexible and proactive mindset, capable of responding to evolving challenges, learning quickly, and thinking on your feet.
• Communication & Facilitation – Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present, facilitate training, and brief senior stakeholders with clarity and confidence.
• Analytical & Detail-Oriented – Strong data and analytical skills to assess risks, evaluate training effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement.
• Initiative & Drive – Enthusiasm, energy, and a hands-on approach to learning and delivering impactful work.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Emergency Response Commitment – You’ll become a member of the Out of Hours Emergency Rota (roughly 1 week in 6), providing a 24/7 response capability. An additional allowance is provided for this function.
• Security Clearance – You must either hold or be willing to obtain DV security clearance. The DV process requires 10 years of UK residency and UK National Status (please contact the vacancy manager if you’re unsure about eligibility).

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE (BUT NOT ESSENTIAL):

• Background in crisis management, risk, resilience, or policy – Experience in any of these areas would be beneficial, but not required.
• Knowledge of the energy sector – Familiarity with energy systems or infrastructure would be helpful, though not essential.
• Experience with training or exercises – Any exposure to developing or delivering training, facilitating workshops, or running crisis simulations is a plus.
  If you’re looking for a dynamic and meaningful role where you can develop valuable skills, make a real impact, and strengthen the UK’s crisis response capabilities, we’d love to hear from you!

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behavioural statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to set out why you would like to apply for this role and demonstrate the skills and experience you have as set out in the job description.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Crisis management may seem complex, but at its core, it’s about clear communication, risk understanding, and building capability through training and exercising. It’s also about learning from past experiences and working seamlessly with key partners to ensure a coordinated, timely response when it matters most.
We’re looking for someone enthusiastic to bring leadership, drive, and relationship-building skills to our Emergency Response team. In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering a government-leading crisis management training and exercising programme, ensuring DESNZ remains at the forefront of preparedness. You’ll work across Government and industry to strengthen our resilience and provide assurance to seniors and ministers.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Drive a best-in-class training and exercising programme – Develop and deliver dynamic crisis management training for risk-owning teams across DESNZ and beyond, aligning with the National Exercising and Training Programme.
• Enhance internal emergency response capabilities – Lead engaging on-call and resilient communications training, ensuring our teams are ready to respond under pressure.
• Bring crisis scenarios to life – Design and deliver a range of response exercises, from immersive live role-play drills to interactive tabletop discussions, helping teams refine their decision-making and readiness.
• Strengthen emergency response volunteer teams – Oversee our departmental emergency response pool, ensuring we maintain a fully trained, resilient team at all times.
• Embed resilience through the Assurance Framework (a key departmental priority!) – Support the delivery and evolution of DESNZ’s Assurance Framework, ensuring the department is fully prepared to act as a Lead Government Department during crises.
• Foster collaboration across Government and industry – Build and maintain strong relationships with teams across DESNZ, other Government departments, and key industry partners to align response strategies and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage external partnerships – Oversee contract and budget management for external suppliers delivering training and exercises.
• Be on the front line of crisis response – play a key role in coordinating DESNZ’s response to emergencies and major incidents as they unfold.

Beyond the Day-to-Day:

• Lead with impact – Champion a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture within the Emergency Security and Resilience (ESR) team.
• Empower and develop others – Drive professional growth, ensuring team members feel motivated, clear in their priorities, and supported in their development.
• Communicate with confidence – Provide expert advice, guidance, and mentorship to internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment on training, exercising, and resilience standards.

If you’re passionate about crisis preparedness, thrive in a fast-paced and high-impact environment, and want to play a leading role in shaping the UK’s response capabilities, we’d love to hear from you.