How to hire a disaster recovery specialist

How to hire a disaster recovery specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step disaster recovery specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a disaster recovery specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new disaster recovery specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your disaster recovery specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a disaster recovery specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A disaster recovery specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, disaster recovery specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents disaster recovery specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Disaster Recovery Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Disaster Recovery Specialist		$20-46
   Business Continuity Manager	Business continuity managers are management professionals who create crisis management plans to keep an organization functioning after experiencing disruptive events. These managers are required to design and implement business continuity plans for all business offices to ensure that they always remain in a state of readiness... Show more	$26-56
   Business Continuity Analyst	Business Continuity Analysts are risk and security management specialists who make ready the companies for the incident of disasters or blackouts in which company information could be ruined. They determine possible risks and reduction as well as create, test, and execute recovery plans... Show more	$27-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Grants Management
   • Infrastructure
   • Business Continuity
   • Project Management
   • Technical Assistance
   • Community Development
   • Federal Regulations
   • Assistance Program
   • HUD
   • Disaster Recovery
   • Business Impact Analysis
   • Servers
   • FEMA
   • Recovery Efforts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage plan and design of backup data center infrastructure build-out and participate in business continuation/disaster recovery planning.
   • Manage coordination, implementation and installation of next generation telemarketing system, an nt-base, client server environment.
   • Perform impact analysis and enterprise-wide mapping of critical functions and infrastructure identifying points of failure and potential business disruption.
   • Test data, server, and mainframe restoration and point-in-time recovery capabilities.
   • Point person for TIMS engagement process, using SharePoint for reporting and accountability.
   • Reduce process gaps, mentoring team on protocol and best practices while organizing SharePoint site.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your disaster recovery specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A disaster recovery specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, disaster recovery specialists' average salary in nebraska is 36% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level disaster recovery specialists 57% less than senior-level disaster recovery specialists.
   • Certifications. A disaster recovery specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a disaster recovery specialist's salary.

   Average disaster recovery specialist salary

   $64,394yearly

   $30.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level disaster recovery specialist salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a disaster recovery specialist job description

   A disaster recovery specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a disaster recovery specialist job description:

   Disaster recovery specialist job description example

   We're excited you're considering joining a great place to work!
   Texas Mutual is deeply committed to creating and maintaining an environment of mutual respect and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.
   About this Position
   At Texas Mutual, we're focused on creating a stronger, safer Texas. That means helping injured workers return to a productive life, empowering businesses to thrive, and giving back to our communities. The Risk Office supports that goal by identifying, assessing, and evaluating risks and opportunities and mitigating risks that may significantly affect the company's ability to achieve its strategic objectives.
   
   As a senior-level Disaster Recovery Consultant, you will provide support to the Chief Risk Officer and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) function. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of the company's disaster recovery program. The ideal person for this position is analytically minded, driven for results, able to work and make decisions independently, and possesses high levels of integrity and trust.
   
   Responsibilities & Qualifications
   
   In this role, you can expect to:
   Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and implement best practices to protect and restore data and systems in the event of a disaster.Ensure that resiliency foundations are incorporated in all technology solutions.Align disaster recovery planning priorities and business continuity plans to ensure information systems recover following an interruption in services as a result of a disaster.Support the design, development, installation, implementation and administration of technology solutions by ensuring that disaster recovery is embedded in the solutions.Coordinate IT disaster recovery testing and exercises, documenting results and implementing recommended improvements.Collaborating with key stakeholders and third-party vendors to define and maintain resilience requirements for critical business processes.Define and maintain the order of system restoration to return to critical business operations.Develop and maintain data recovery plans, including reconciliation of information databases to preserve information integrity.Design, facilitate, and analyze technical and procedural tests and exercises to validate disaster recovery plans.
   
   It is required that you:
   Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent education, training, or experience.Have 4-6 years years of experience in business continuity, disaster recovery or related field or equivalent education, training, or experience.Possess strong analytical organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.Have the ability to act in a consultative manner as a trusted adviser, as well as provide effective challenge.Work independently, prioritize, and manage multiple processes.Effectively interface with all levels of internal management, other departments, and stakeholders across the organization.
   
   It would be great if you:
   Are certified as a Disaster Recovery Professional or in progress of obtaining certification.Have an understanding of risk management practices and methodologies, including risk assessment and a solid understanding of internal control and mitigation strategies.Have an understanding of the insurance industry.Have project management experience.
   
   Note: This position is based in our Austin office. Relocation assistance provided.
   Flex-Hybrid Work Environment:
   
   Texas Mutual's flex-hybrid schedule allows you to bring your best self to work by either working remotely or collaborating in the office based on business needs. All Texas Mutual employees are required to have Texas residency and travel to their designated office as needed.
   
   Our Benefits:
   Flex-hybrid work environment for most positions Annual performance bonus and merit-based pay increase Professional development and tuition reimbursement Automatic 4% employer contribution to retirement plan 401k plan with 100% employer match up to 6%Three weeks' time off for vacation Nine paid holidays and two personal days each year Generous sick, holiday and volunteer time off Day one health, Rx, vision and dental insurance Life and disability insurance Flexible spending account Pet coverage and pet Rx discounts Free on-site gym, fitness classes, and health and wellness resources Free identity theft protection Free 2nd medical opinion service Free student loan repayment and refinancing consultation Employee referral bonus

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find disaster recovery specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any disaster recovery specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level disaster recovery specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your disaster recovery specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit disaster recovery specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting disaster recovery specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new disaster recovery specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect disaster recovery specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new disaster recovery specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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