Business continuity (BC) roles and responsibilities are essential in organizations, regardless of size. The primary goal of these roles is to restore business operations to their normal state promptly after any disruption.
Department Organization
The structure of business continuity departments typically mirrors standard corporate frameworks. Common roles include a leader, a deputy leader, heads of functions, support staff, and individuals with specialized skills. In larger enterprises, these roles may have multiple individuals assigned to them, while small to medium-sized businesses often have one to three personnel covering various responsibilities.
Business Continuity Roles and Responsibilities
The effectiveness of business continuity hinges on the clear assignment of roles. Below is a breakdown of critical responsibilities within BC teams:
Business Continuity Lead and Deputy
The lead and deputy oversee BC activities, ensuring coordination with IT during disaster recovery efforts. They conduct staffing interviews, engage with senior management, and support other departmental functions as necessary.
Plan Management
This role encompasses all tasks related to BC planning, including creating, testing, updating, and executing plans. Individuals in this position facilitate exercises, train employees, and prepare reports for upper management. Regulatory compliance may also be a consideration in their duties.
Risk Management
Risk management personnel prepare and conduct risk assessments and business impact analyses. They inform management about potential risks and their implications, interview employees for risk insights, and present findings along with recommendations for operational adjustments.
Technology Disaster Recovery
This area focuses on maintaining a robust disaster recovery infrastructure, essential for restoring critical systems. The role involves liaising with IT to ensure business continuity plans are effectively supported by technology, including recovery sites and data backups.
Incident and Crisis Management
Personnel in this category handle the development and execution of incident response plans, assess events, and recommend immediate actions. They play a crucial role in deciding when to activate BC and disaster recovery plans.
Ensuring that the Right People are in the Right Roles
Recruiting qualified individuals for BC roles presents unique challenges. While candidates with relevant experience exist, finding those with specific skills is often difficult. Traditional recruitment agencies may lack the expertise in business continuity, but specialized firms and online job platforms can assist in sourcing suitable candidates.
All senior-level personnel should ideally hold at least one recognized professional credential from organizations such as DRI International or the Business Continuity Institute. These credentials demonstrate essential skills and enhance the department’s credibility.
Leadership plays a critical role in defining the scope and operation of the business continuity department, ensuring effective collaboration across the organization. They also participate in evaluating candidates and monitoring performance, which is vital for the department’s success.
Business continuity is integral for organizations aiming to safeguard their operations against disruptions, emphasizing the need for a well-structured approach and appropriately skilled personnel.