Business Continuity Planner

Position: Business Continuity Planner
Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech)
Work Setup: Hybrid (Makati-based)
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Reporting To: VP People
Works with: People, Finance, Information Technology and Operations Department

Position Overview
The Business Continuity Planner is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive strategies to ensure business operations can continue during and after disruptive events. This professional works closely with organizational leadership, risk management teams, and other stakeholders to design plans that minimize risks and downtime, ensuring resilience and continuity in the face of potential crises.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assessment Analysis
● Conduct detailed evaluations of organizational processes to identify dependencies and single points of failure.
● Analyze historical incidents and organizational responses to improve future strategies.
● Collaborate with IT, finance, operations, and other departments to understand critical business processes.
● Perform risk quantification to prioritize threats and allocate resources effectively.
● Assess third-party vendor and supply chain risks related to business continuity.

Plan Development
● Create comprehensive continuity plans that address short-term and long-term recovery objectives.
● Develop sector-specific plans for areas like IT systems, logistics, customer service, and HR.
● Document escalation procedures, emergency contact lists, and resource allocation frameworks.
● Design alternative operational strategies for remote work or decentralized operations.

Plan Implementation and Training
● Develop step-by-step guidance for stakeholders to implement continuity plans effectively.
● Organize regular awareness campaigns to promote a culture of resilience within the organization.
● Train crisis management teams in communication strategies and decision-making protocols.
● Implement and oversee a business continuity management system (BCMS).
● Establish feedback mechanisms to collect and address employee concerns about continuity measures.

Monitoring and Maintenance
● Conduct scheduled reviews of plans to ensure alignment with evolving business needs.
● Utilize monitoring tools and dashboards to track performance against continuity objectives.
● Ensure that redundancy systems (e.g., backup data centers) are functional and tested.
● Create and maintain a schedule for periodic testing of disaster recovery drills and incident response plans.
● Develop metrics to measure resilience and improvement areas, reporting to stakeholders regularly.

Crisis Management Support
● Establish and manage incident response teams during disruptions or emergencies.
● Act as a key decision-maker in activating business continuity protocols during crises.
● Manage communications with customers, regulators, and media during disruptions.
● Ensure real-time updates and coordination among leadership, employees, and external parties.
● Conduct post-incident reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future responses.

Additional Duties:
● Accomplishes other tasks as may be assigned by the immediate supervisor/manager.
● Assists the other teams in various clerical/administrative tasks.

Requirement:

Education, Training, and Qualifications
Essential: At least a college graduate
Desirable: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Risk Management, Information Technology, or a related field
Additional certifications (but not required): Certifications: CBCP, ISO 22301 Lead Implementer, DRII certification

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for risk assessment and business impact analysis

• Ability to develop, implement, and oversee business continuity and disaster recovery plans
  Desirable:

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and best practices (ISO 22301, NIST standards)

• Experience with Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS) and risk monitoring tools

• Knowledge of IT systems, finance, and operations in relation to business continuity

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Crisis management and decision-making capabilities
  How to measure: Evaluation of past projects or case studies

Experience
Essential: At least 1 year of experience in business continuity planning, risk management, or a related field

• Experience conducting risk assessments and business impact analyses

• Experience coordinating with IT, finance, and operations teams

• Successfully executed business continuity or disaster recovery drills
  How to measure: Successfully executed work experiences with proven results
  Review of documented plans or case studies

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

• Ability to work under pressure and make quick decisions in crisis situations

• Proactive mindset focused on continuous improvement

• Adaptability and resilience in high-stress environments

• Leadership skills to guide teams during disruptions or emergencies