Business Continuity Planners

Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Develop emergency management plans for recovery decision making and communications, continuity of critical departmental processes, or temporary shut-down of non-critical departments to ensure continuity of operation and governance.

Develop disaster recovery plans for physical locations with critical assets, such as data centers.

Test documented disaster recovery strategies and plans.

Analyze impact on, and risk to, essential business functions or information systems to identify acceptable recovery time periods and resource requirements.

Write reports to summarize testing activities, including descriptions of goals, planning, scheduling, execution, results, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations.

Create scenarios to reestablish operations from various types of business disruptions.

Establish, maintain, or test call trees to ensure appropriate communication during disaster.

Review existing disaster recovery, crisis management, or business continuity plans.

Conduct or oversee contingency plan integration and operation.

Identify opportunities for strategic improvement or mitigation of business interruption and other risks caused by business, regulatory, or industry-specific change initiatives.

Create or administer training and awareness presentations or materials.

Interpret government regulations and applicable codes to ensure compliance.

Prepare reports summarizing operational results, financial performance, or accomplishments of specified objectives, goals, or plans.

Attend professional meetings, read literature, and participate in training or other educational offerings to keep abreast of new developments and technologies related to disaster recovery and business continuity.

Recommend or implement methods to monitor, evaluate, or enable resolution of safety, operations, or compliance interruptions.

Create business continuity and disaster recovery budgets.

Identify individual or transaction targets to direct intelligence collection.

Maintain and update organization information technology applications and network systems blueprints.

Design or implement products and services to mitigate risk or facilitate use of technology-based tools and methods.

Analyze corporate intelligence data to identify trends, patterns, or warnings indicating threats to security of people, assets, information, or infrastructure.

Conduct or oversee collection of corporate intelligence to avoid fraud, financial crime, cyber-attack, terrorism, and infrastructure failure.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Backup or archival software
Enterprise backup systems
Business intelligence and data analysis software
Jaspersoft Business Intelligence Suite
Communications server software
Emergency notification system software
Content workflow software
Atlassian JIRA
Data base management system software
Teradata Database
Data base reporting software
SAP Crystal Reports
Data base user interface and query software
Structured query language SQL
Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Virtual Corporation Sustainable Planner
Graphics or photo imaging software
Microsoft Visio
Internet browser software
Web browser software
LAN software
Local area network LAN software
Network operation system software
SunGard NotiFind
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Computer operating systems
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multiline telephone systems
Components for information technology or broadcasting or telecommunications
Storage area network equipment
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Computer laser printers
Data Voice or Multimedia Network Equipment or Platforms and Accessories
Teleconferencing systems
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Administration and Management
79%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language
75%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics
74%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Public Safety and Security
73%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Customer and Personal Service
69%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training
68%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Clerical
67%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Communications and Media
66%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Telecommunications
65%
Importance

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Law and Government
54%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Top 10 Skills
Complex Problem Solving
80%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making
80%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking
80%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking
78%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension
78%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Systems Analysis
78%
Importance

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Writing
78%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
75%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening
75%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination
73%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Top 10 Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
83%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Fluency of Ideas
78%
Importance

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Information Ordering
78%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Originality
78%
Importance

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Written Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
93%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information
90%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Developing Objectives and Strategies
88%
Importance

Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Interacting With Computers
85%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
85%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Documenting/Recording Information
84%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
83%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
83%
Importance

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
82%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
81%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

Prepare research reports.

Maintain data in information systems or databases.

Evaluate applicable laws and regulations to determine impact on organizational activities.

Investigate legal issues.

Develop business or financial information systems.

Analyze budgetary or accounting data.

Develop training materials.

Train personnel in organizational or compliance procedures.

Update professional knowledge.

Develop contingency plans to deal with organizational emergencies.

Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.

Advise others on analytical techniques.

Prepare operational reports.

Assess risks to business operations.

Identify strategic business investment opportunities.

Apply mathematical models of financial or business conditions.

Gather organizational performance information.

Oversee business processes.

Analyze business or financial data.

Work Context
Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Spend Time Sitting

How much does this job require sitting?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Coordinate or Lead Others

How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Education
Majors   based on the broader career Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Major
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
Hospitality Administration/Management
International Business
Interests
Enterprising
96%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Investigative
62%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Conventional
58%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Artistic
29%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Social
24%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Realistic
15%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
91%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Cooperation
89%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability
89%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail
88%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Persistence
87%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Adaptability/Flexibility
84%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Initiative
84%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort
83%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Analytical Thinking
82%
Importance

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Leadership
81%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Work Values
Achievement
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Working Conditions
74%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Relationships
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.