Life As a Business Continuity Planner

Occupation Description 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.

List of Business Continuity Planner Job Duties

• Develop emergency management plans for recovery decision making and communications, continuity of critical departmental processes, or temporary shut-down of non-critical departments to ensure continuity of operation and governance.
• Write reports to summarize testing activities, including descriptions of goals, planning, scheduling, execution, results, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for strategic improvement or mitigation of business interruption and other risks caused by business, regulatory, or industry-specific change initiatives.
• Prepare reports summarizing operational results, financial performance, or accomplishments of specified objectives, goals, or plans.
• Analyze corporate intelligence data to identify trends, patterns, or warnings indicating threats to security of people, assets, information, or infrastructure.
• Conduct or oversee collection of corporate intelligence to avoid fraud, financial crime, cyber-attack, terrorism, and infrastructure failure.

Qualities of a Business Continuity Planner

Below is a list of the skills most Business Continuity Planners say are important on the job.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Business Continuity Planner Job Titles

• Business Continuity and Crisis Management Director
• Business Continuity Planner
• Business Continuity Professional
• Business Change Director
• Transaction Manager

Is There Job Demand for Business Continuity Planners?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,023,900 jobs in the United States for Business Continuity Planner. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 90,400 new jobs for Business Continuity Planner by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 104,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Business Continuity Planner are Utah, Nevada, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Business Continuity Planners Salary

Business Continuity Planners make between $38,420 and $123,000 a year.

Business Continuity Planners who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Business Continuity Planners in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$85,140
Alaska	$82,160
Arizona	$67,670
Arkansas	$59,530
California	$83,470
Colorado	$82,130
Connecticut	$78,120
Delaware	$81,880
District of Columbia	$102,730
Florida	$66,440
Georgia	$75,070
Hawaii	$73,310
Idaho	$67,630
Illinois	$71,780
Indiana	$61,290
Iowa	$65,020
Kansas	$74,520
Kentucky	$66,450
Louisiana	$60,430
Maine	$66,760
Maryland	$91,400
Massachusetts	$85,980
Michigan	$70,410
Minnesota	$71,220
Mississippi	$65,650
Missouri	$73,500
Montana	$66,290
Nebraska	$74,370
Nevada	$71,580
New Hampshire	$70,890
New Jersey	$78,920
New Mexico	$70,340
New York	$83,330
North Carolina	$74,040
North Dakota	$73,010
Ohio	$71,190
Oklahoma	$72,940
Oregon	$68,890
Pennsylvania	$80,910
Rhode Island	$80,380
South Carolina	$69,340
South Dakota	$70,830
Tennessee	$62,330
Texas	$80,140
Utah	$72,100
Vermont	$67,910
Virginia	$88,180
Washington	$77,850
West Virginia	$70,180
Wisconsin	$57,620
Wyoming	$69,740

What Tools do Business Continuity Planners Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Business Continuity Planners may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Access
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Project
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Visio
• Structured query language SQL
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
• Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
• Teradata Database
• SAP Crystal Reports
• Atlassian JIRA
• Confluence

How do I Become a Business Continuity Planner?

Are there Business Continuity Planners education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Business Continuity Planner?

Where Business Continuity Planners Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Business Continuity Planners employed by various industries.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: via

More about our data sources and methodologies.