Disaster Recovery Lead

The Disaster Recovery Lead is responsible for developing maintaining and executing disaster recovery strategies to ensure business continuity across critical systems and services. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify risks conduct impact analyses and implement recovery plans aligned with organizational objectives.

Position Responsibilities:

• Ensure disaster recovery (DR) plans are aligned with broader business continuity strategies through collaboration with key stakeholders.
  Conduct Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to identify critical systems and dependencies

• Create and maintain disaster recovery (DR) documentation including recovery plans runbooks and testing schedules.

• Lead market DR testing activities including planning execution and post-test analysis and improvements

• Ensure compliance milestones for annual plan updates review and signoff are met.

• Monitor track key performance indicators (KPIs) and report on DR readiness across systems and departments.

• Work with regional DR and oversight functions to build more robust and executable Disaster Recovery plans.

• Maintain appropriate documentation records and reports for auditors

• Ensure project and support teams Senior management and business staff address any technology related deficiencies that may be identified by an Audit.

• Establish and oversee department procedures documentation and training to align with records management policies

• Responsible to keep corporate audit databases up to date with statuses issues remediation plans etc.

• Develop tabletop exercises and simulations to validate and test organizational disaster readiness.

• Conduct training and awareness sessions for technical team and business units on DR procedures and roles during an incident.

• Lead post-incident reviews and root cause analysis to identify gaps and drive improvements in DR processes.

• Primary contact for market security incident response.

• Oversee Project Information Risk Assessments to ensure alignment with security and compliance requirements.

• Provide oversight and guidance for the BAU IRM Program ensuring continuous monitoring and compliance with corporate security standards.

Individual Accountabilities:
Lead Annual DR Activity
Maintain DR system of records
Create and manage tabletop / simulation exercises
Assess DR solutions for new projects and initiatives

Key Shared Accountabilities:
Identification of risk treatment and mitigation DR strategies
Escalating to various stakeholders which includes executives
Security incident response
Project Information Risk Assessments
BAU IRM Program

Required Qualifications:

• 5-8 years of experience in IT operations risk management or business continuity.

• Understanding of disaster recovery principles and IT infrastructure.

• Familiarity with DR tools and technologies (e.g. backup solutions cloud recovery platforms).

• Strong communication and relationship management skills with the ability to work with people at various levels throughout the organization

• Excellent negotiation and conflict skills with the ability to challenge and drive to appropriate level of risk mitigation

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills Effective interviewing influencing facilitation and presentation skills

• Proven ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Certifications such as CBCP ISO 22301 Sec ITIL are a plus but not required

When you join our team:

• Well empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• Well recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team well support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us visit is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment retention advancement and compensation and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race ancestry place of origin colour ethnic origin citizenship religion or religious beliefs creed sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions) sexual orientation genetic characteristics veteran status gender identity gender expression age marital status family status disability or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process contact .