Occupation · SOC 13-1199.04
Business Continuity Planners
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.
Median wage
$81,270
$46,230–$147,830
Projected growth
+3.0%
Average growth
Annual openings
3,630
per year
Employed (US)
1,128,200
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
2,449 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingSystems AnalysisReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningActive LearningSystems EvaluationCoordinationMonitoringTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationLearning StrategiesInstructingManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisProgrammingOperations MonitoringTechnology DesignTroubleshootingEquipment SelectionScienceOperation and ControlRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingAdministrativeCommunications and MediaTelecommunicationsLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesEngineering and TechnologyPsychologyGeographyProduction and ProcessingMathematicsTransportationDesignSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingSociology and AnthropologyBuilding and ConstructionTherapy and CounselingMechanicalPhilosophy and TheologyForeign LanguageHistory and ArcheologyMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionChemistryPhysicsBiologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Actuate BIRTAdobe AcrobatAtlassian ConfluenceAtlassian JIRABusiness continuity softwareCA Clarity PPMCOOP Systems myCOOPComputer operating systemsEMC RSA Archer Business Continuity ManagementEmergency notification system softwareEnterprise backup systemsJaspersoft Business Intelligence SuiteLocal area network LAN softwareMIR3 Intelligent NotificationMentimeterMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft SharePoint ServerMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordOracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementRecoveryPlanner RPXSAP Crystal ReportsStrategic BCP ResilienceONEStructured query language SQLSunGard NotiFindSungard AssuranceTeradata DatabaseVirtual Corporation Sustainable PlannerWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesWorking with ComputersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDocumenting/Recording InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping and Building TeamsProcessing InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsScheduling Work and ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelyCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoaching and Developing OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsStaffing Organizational UnitsAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming General Physical ActivitiesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Existing disaster recovery and business continuity plans — review and summarize under direct supervision to support plan currency within a structured organizational environment.Call tree documentation — assist in establishing and maintaining under guidance to ensure accurate communication pathways during a declared disaster scenario.Business impact analysis templates — apply to gather preliminary data on essential business functions under the direction of a senior continuity planner.Project management software and document management tools — use to organize and track plan components and version history in a corporate continuity program.Recovery time objectives and resource requirements — identify basic parameters by following established analytical frameworks provided by experienced team members.Disaster recovery test exercises — participate in tabletop and structured walk-through sessions to observe and document outcomes under supervision.Organization IT network and application blueprints — assist in updating records using current system information supplied by IT and infrastructure teams.Written continuity reports and status summaries — draft in clear, concise English for review by senior planners within a regulated business environment.Business interruption risks related to regulatory or industry change — recognize and flag potential exposures for evaluation by experienced continuity professionals.Backup and archival software tools — operate according to established procedures to support data recovery readiness in an enterprise technology environment.
developing
Emergency management plans for departmental continuity or temporary shutdown — develop with reduced oversight by applying standard frameworks to familiar organizational contexts.Documented disaster recovery strategies — test through structured tabletop and simulation exercises, recording results and recommending corrective actions to plan owners.Disaster recovery plans for physical locations with critical assets such as data centers — draft by coordinating with facilities and IT stakeholders in a corporate or government setting.Call trees and communication protocols — maintain and periodically test to validate accuracy and responsiveness across departments during routine continuity exercises.Business impact analyses — conduct independently for assigned departments, assessing recovery time periods and resource needs using accepted methodology.IT application and network system blueprints — update on a defined schedule by liaising with technology teams to ensure documentation reflects current infrastructure.Risk and continuity findings — communicate through written reports and oral briefings to departmental managers and program coordinators in multi-stakeholder environments.Business intelligence and ERP software — use to extract and analyze operational data that informs continuity planning decisions across business units.Opportunities for strategic risk mitigation related to regulatory or industry changes — identify and document with supporting analysis for leadership consideration.Content workflow and presentation software — use to develop training materials and plan documentation that supports departmental awareness of continuity requirements.
proficient
Comprehensive emergency management plans covering recovery decision making, communications, and governance continuity — develop autonomously for complex, multi-site organizations operating in regulated industries.Full-scope disaster recovery strategies and plans — test and validate through advanced simulation exercises including functional drills, interpreting results and driving plan revisions.Disaster recovery plans for critical asset locations including data centers — design end-to-end, integrating physical security, technology redundancy, and operational recovery requirements.Organization-wide call trees and crisis communication frameworks — establish, stress-test, and refine to ensure reliable activation across all staffing and operating conditions.Business impact analyses for essential functions and information systems — perform across the full enterprise, synthesizing findings into prioritized recovery strategies and resource allocation recommendations.IT application and network infrastructure blueprints — oversee maintenance and accuracy across the organization, coordinating cross-functional reviews with IT, operations, and compliance teams.Existing continuity, crisis management, and disaster recovery plans — conduct systematic reviews against evolving threat landscapes, regulatory requirements, and organizational change to drive meaningful updates.Strategic opportunities to reduce business interruption risk from industry, regulatory, or operational change — analyze, quantify, and present with recommended mitigation roadmaps to senior leadership.Non-routine continuity challenges including emerging cyber threats and supply chain disruptions — resolve by applying inductive and deductive reasoning to develop adaptive recovery solutions in dynamic environments.Cross-functional continuity training programs — design and deliver using instructional strategies calibrated to varied audiences including operations, IT, legal, and executive stakeholders.
advanced
Enterprise-wide business continuity governance frameworks — establish and continuously mature, setting strategic direction aligned to organizational risk appetite, regulatory obligations, and board expectations.Organizational continuity and resilience strategy — lead development and executive sponsorship, integrating business continuity planning with enterprise risk management and strategic planning cycles.Multi-program disaster recovery and continuity testing regimes — direct at organizational scale, defining metrics, interpreting aggregate results, and driving systemic improvements across business units and geographies.Crisis communication architectures including call trees and stakeholder notification systems — architect and own at the enterprise level, ensuring readiness across all operational scenarios and leadership transitions.Business interruption risk portfolios — evaluate at a strategic level, identifying systemic vulnerabilities and championing investment in mitigation capabilities that protect organizational continuity and competitive position.Continuity, crisis management, and disaster recovery plan ecosystems — govern through a structured review and assurance cycle, holding business unit owners accountable for currency and exercised readiness.Emerging regulatory requirements and industry standards in business continuity — interpret and translate into policy, guiding the organization's compliance posture and influencing external standard-setting bodies where appropriate.Business continuity professionals and program contributors — mentor, coach, and develop through structured learning strategies, building organizational depth and succession in continuity capabilities.Executive and board-level audiences — advise on continuity risk exposure, recovery posture, and strategic investment priorities through authoritative oral and written communications in high-stakes governance forums.Cross-organizational continuity partnerships with vendors, regulators, and industry peers — cultivate and lead, establishing collaborative frameworks that extend organizational resilience beyond enterprise boundaries.
Also known as
29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Business Change AdvisorBusiness ConsultantBusiness Continuity Administrator (Business Continuity Admin)Business Continuity AnalystBusiness Continuity and Disaster Recovery ConsultantBusiness Continuity And Disaster Recovery SpecialistBusiness Continuity ConsultantBusiness Continuity CoordinatorBusiness Continuity PlannerBusiness Continuity ProfessionalBusiness Continuity SpecialistBusiness Initiatives ConsultantBusiness ProfessionalBusiness System ConsultantChange Management AnalystChange Management ConsultantChange Management Project Manager (Change Management PM)Change Management SpecialistChange ManagerDisaster Recovery AnalystDisaster Recovery SpecialistOrganizational Change ConsultantOrganizational Change Management AnalystOrganizational Change Management SpecialistOrganizational Change ManagerProject Controls SpecialistProposal ConsultantProposal Development ConsultantService Continuity Manager