What does a business continuity specialist do?
A business continuity specialist is responsible for developing, maintaining, and implementing disaster recovery and business continuity strategies, including business impact analyses, risk assessments, and strategy selection. Your duties typically include developing and implementing plans to continue business operations and achieve effective communication, working with managers to identify and improve KPIs, and keeping abreast of the latest trends and industry best practices. Additionally, you are expected to work closely with internal resources to identify customer needs through brainstorming.
Business continuity specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real business continuity specialist resumes:
- Lead highly productive DR team of disparate groups of professionals providing recovery administration, planning and operational functions.
- Design the department website using Sharepoint.
- Update and revise ISO work instructions as necessary and issue the new and revise instructions.
- Aid in initiatives to efficiently train staff in continuity skills and to enhance continuity awareness throughout the WBG.
- Full BIA, risk analysis, risk mediation planning, and risk management project addressing all critical systems and revenue streams.
- Participate in development of BCM risk mitigation and recovery strategies.
- Analyze and review system architecture diagrams to ensure DR resiliency.
- Facilitate all local projects by providing problem analysis and development of relevant KPIs.
- Produce computer base test to introduce continuity planning standards to all company personnel nationwide.
- Lead highly productive DR team of disparate groups of professionals providing recovery administration, planning and operational functions.
- Ensure that the current COOP/DR planning program (LDRPS v10) work seamlessly for all users.
- Align implementation with DRII best practices and ISO22300 series standards, FINRA and NIST CP 800-53 controls.
- Develop business driven RTOs for all critical processes and applications.
- Implement ICS for the management of response activities.
- Train staff to understand ICS concepts, roles and responsibilities, etc.
Business continuity specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Business Continuity Specialists are proficient in Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, and Six Sigma Training. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Business Continuity Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 9%
Project management - including obtaining management support and organizing the project to completion within time and budget limits.
- Lean Six Sigma, 8%
Mentor Engineering Department in Lean Six Sigma methodologies including mathematical simulations and modeling of real world systems, including human interactions.
- Six Sigma Training, 7%
Use Six Sigma methodology to lead project teams for the purpose of solving process problems, increase production and decrease defects.
- Value Stream, 6%
Overlooked continuous improvement for all the DC processes, all shifts (value stream/mistake proofing).
- Business Impact Analysis, 6%
Ensured business continuity for the global enterprise including risk and competitive assessment and business impact analysis.
- Lean Manufacturing, 4%
Lean Manufacturing~Continuous Improvement Specialist - Application of Toyota Production Systems and training of others in the Toyota Production System.
"project management," "lean six sigma," and "six sigma training" are among the most common skills that business continuity specialists use at work. You can find even more business continuity specialist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a business continuity specialist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Additionally, a business continuity specialist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "develop metrics/data collection to identify ci opportunities, lead projects to address deficiencies and reduce costs/improve quality. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling business continuity specialist duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." According to a business continuity specialist resume, here's how business continuity specialists can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "managed the installation of management systems, key performance metrics and improved business processes through strong facilitation and exceptional interpersonal skills. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of business continuity specialists is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday business continuity specialist duties, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided consistent communication and organized project management for the leadership teams of each jsj business. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain business continuity specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a business continuity specialist rely on this skill, as "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what business continuity specialists do: "maintain and validate allied solutions business continuation plans through project management proposals and projects. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for business continuity specialist responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of business continuity specialists all the time, as "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." An excerpt from a real business continuity specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a business continuity specialist does: "maintain program schedule and risk management to ensure that deliverables are met on time and within budget. "
The three companies that hire the most business continuity specialists are:
- Michigan State University12 business continuity specialists jobs
- BMO Capital Markets10 business continuity specialists jobs
- BNY Mellon6 business continuity specialists jobs
Compare different business continuity specialists
Business continuity specialist vs. Operations internship
Operations interns learn the management techniques on how to lead and supervise others. Interns usually gain experience by being an unpaid employee in the operational department. They should possess skills like attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong phone presence. The operations internship objectives include career path exploration, work experience, skills development and refinement, and confidence buildup. The majority of the activities interns are absorbed by the company where they serve an internship.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between business continuity specialists and operations internship. For instance, business continuity specialist responsibilities require skills such as "lean six sigma," "six sigma training," "lean sigma," and "value stream." Whereas a operations internship is skilled in "operations intern," "customer service," "work ethic," and "patients." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Operations interns earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $40,232. On the other hand, business continuity specialists are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $91,528.On average, operations interns reach lower levels of education than business continuity specialists. Operations interns are 6.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Business continuity specialist vs. Operations associate
An operations associate is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks to support the organization's daily operations. An operations associate must have excellent organizational skills to perform various duties for different business functions under the supervision of an operations manager. Operations associates respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, prepare meeting reports, schedule appointments, assisting on payroll release, update employees' information on the database, process contract agreements, and help the senior management to identify business opportunities that would generate revenues.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that business continuity specialist responsibilities requires skills like "project management," "lean six sigma," "six sigma training," and "lean sigma." But an operations associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "sales floor," "basic math," and "portfolio."
In general, operations associates achieve lower levels of education than business continuity specialists. They're 8.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business continuity specialist vs. Operations coordinator
An operations coordinator's role is to oversee the progress of various departments in a company or organization, ensuring that all operations meet the set goals and adhere to the company's policies and regulations. An operations coordinator may also be responsible for supervising the procurement of supplies, contract negotiations, sales monitoring, and even maintenance operations within the company. Furthermore, they can also perform administrative duties such as communicating with clients through telephone and email, arranging schedules and appointments, producing reports and evaluations, training new employees, and serving as the bridge of information between different departments.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a business continuity specialist is likely to be skilled in "lean six sigma," "six sigma training," "lean sigma," and "value stream," while a typical operations coordinator is skilled in "customer service," "logistics," "excellent organizational," and "powerpoint."
Operations coordinators earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $43,723. Business continuity specialists earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $91,528.operations coordinators typically earn lower educational levels compared to business continuity specialists. Specifically, they're 7.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business continuity specialist vs. Specialist-small business
A small business specialist develops new business programs to meet changing customer demands. They are responsible for ensuring integrity and consistency in the domain of business. They analyze causes of a business issue, obtain business data, and make enquiries. They are responsible for making purchase agreements, confidentiality arrangements, and joint venture arrangement.
Types of business continuity specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
