Operational Resillience Specialist

Operational Resilience SpecialistWork model: Remote (preference for candidates located near Jacksonville, FL, or Mechanicsburg, PA) Compensation: $65,000 - $75,000Overview:The Business Continuity Specialist maintains and enhances Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR), and Continuity of Operations (COOP) programs supporting federal customer mission requirements. This role coordinates business impact analyses, develops continuity and recovery plans, leads exercises and testing, supports audits and assessments, and partners with technical and business teams to meet applicable federal continuity and contingency expectations. The role reports to the Manager, IT Risk & Compliance within the information security organization.What will you do:Plan and lead exercises and testingConduct tabletop exercises, functional tests, and communication drillsCoordinate IT disaster recovery tests with infrastructure and application teamsProduce after-action reports and track corrective actions through closureManage program governance and documentationMaintain BC/DR/COOP policies, standards, and governance frameworkKeep program documentation, schedules, and reporting structures currentAlign program activities with federal continuity expectations and internal risk practicesConduct BIAs and define recovery requirementsLead and update business impact analyses for business processes and IT systemsIdentify mission-essential functions, dependencies, and recovery requirementsDocument RTO/RPO targets and continuity prioritiesDevelop and maintain continuity, DR, and COOP plansCreate and update plans to reflect current operations, staffing, and technologyPartner with business and technical teams to validate plan accuracy and completenessIntegrate with cybersecurity and incident responseAlign continuity planning with incident response proceduresParticipate in joint cyber-continuity exercises and major incident response effortsEnsure recovery strategies address cyber disruption scenariosSupport vendor and third-party continuity oversightAssess continuity capabilities of critical vendors and service providersReview vendor plans, attestations, and recovery capabilities supporting mission operationsAssist with tracking remediation of identified gapsSupport audits, assessments, and reportingProvide evidence and documentation for internal audits, federal assessments, and customer reviewsMaintain records of plan updates, test results, and corrective actionsProduce dashboards and metrics for leadership and customer reportingEngage stakeholders and provide trainingDeliver continuity training, awareness, and guidance to staff and leadersFacilitate cross-functional collaboration for continuity planning and readinessProvide continuity SME input for new services or major changesRequired qualificationsBachelor's degree in a related field (Risk Management, Compliance, Information Security, Operations, or similar)5 to 7 years of related experience, including business continuity, disaster recovery, or federal continuityExperience leading BIAs, developing continuity plans, and conducting testing, training, and exercises (TT&E)Experience supporting internal and external audits, including federal agency audits or assessmentsAbility to partner with technical teams and translate federal continuity requirements into actionable controlsDemonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple prioritiesStrong communication and presentation skills across technical and non-technical audiencesAbility to provide technical direction and stay current on industry trendsCertification requirement: Possess or obtain within two years of start date:ABCP (DRI International), orEquivalent foundational business continuity credential from a recognized body (for example, BCI), including preferred certifications listed belowPreferred qualifications:Experience supporting CMS or similar federal HHS programsWorking knowledge of:NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 (Contingency Planning controls)NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1FPC 65FCD 1 and FCD 2CMS Risk Management Handbook Chapter 6 (Contingency Planning)FISMA High system requirementsExperience with cloud-based disaster recovery (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government)Preferred certifications:MBCP (DRI International)CISSP ((ISC)²)CISM (ISACA)CRISC (ISACA)Location:This is a remote role. The hiring team prefers candidates located near Jacksonville, FL, or Mechanicsburg, PA. Ascendo is a certified minority owned staffing firm, and we welcome and celebrate diversity. Ascendo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.Contact information Christian Kincer

Created: 2026-04-02