Senior Business Continuity and Resilience Specialist

The role

Reporting directly to the CR&CO, this strategic role will focus on and be responsible for our global business continuity and resilience planning.

The post-holder will advise and lead on all matters relating to business continuity and resilience and will assist with strategic planning and day-to-day operations. This will include the further implementation of a global business continuity framework to improve our organisational situation readiness, as well partnering with the Global Physical Security Manager to review the policy and process relating to physical security across the global estate. 

The successful candidate will have significant experience in business continuity and resilience theory and practice. They will work alongside senior management (centrally and locally), the central Risk Team and local contacts to enhance/embed/assure the continuity of business operations, facilities, emergency preparedness and crisis management across the global network.

The role will have independence and should provide challenge where exceptions are sought.
 

What you will be responsible for

Review and enhance the Global Business Continuity and Operational Resilience Framework in line with the Firm's Enterprise Risk Management Framework. As part of that:

• All offices across the network are expected to hold practical and robust business continuity and resilience plans in the system of record 'Fusion Risk Management' to ensure Clifford Chance can:
  • Respond to any major threat or incident that could damage our business;
  • Safeguard the welfare and safety of our staff, stakeholders and the people we interact with;
  • Maintain continuity of services to our global client base;
  • Protect the assets, reputation, and value of the business.
  • Develop and manage the system of record to enable delivery of the CC business continuity and resilience to align with ISO22301 to ensure continuous improvement.
• Create and continually review the Global Crisis Management Guidelines.
  • Act as the conduit between the local and global crisis management teams during incidents.
  • Manage the rollout of the crisis management structure globally
  • Lead and facilitate 'in real time' scenario exercises, covering a wide range of topics.
• Ensure each office has the tools and framework to meet the above objectives and survive any physical or virtual disruption to its business operations, facilitating the timely return to business as usual.
• Working with stakeholders to ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, we are able to continue to support our client base of leading international organisations, even during a significant incident.
• Close collaboration with the global programme and senior business managers to enhance and deliver the firm's global business continuity and resilience framework. This will include identifying the appropriate strategies and tactics to achieve continuity, as well as appropriate threat mitigation measures and incident response structures. 
• Further embed clear policy and process to align the framework with the firm's core business, risk appetite and IT processes, as well as its client engagement, business, legal and regulatory requirements. 
• Resource and recovery plans for each office and region will be reviewed, response plans and tactics documented and tested.
• Build on existing practice and establish a global training and testing regime, with clear guidance on risk management, business recovery and alternative working arrangements.
• Develop and leverage the network of local resilience contacts, promoting compliance with the global approach whilst providing a pragmatic view on how to implement within each office/region.
• Partner with the Global Property Portfolio Manager to deliver a consistent approach on resilience across all locations.
• Work with the IT continuity and resilience manager to understand the business requirements verses IT capabilities align and identify any gaps.
• Provide SME input on strategic RFPs and participate in selection process where appropriate.
• Work with Supply Chain Management to develop and maintain minimum business continuity management standards for our suppliers.
• Provide SME input to fulfil client requirements for new business and existing client audits.
• Support the IT Risk and Security team in ensuring they have the appropriate information to comply with routine client requests.
   

Your experience

• Experience of enhancing and implementing Business Continuity and Operational Resilience Frameworks.
• Experience of a strategic Business Continuity/Resilience role within a global professional services firm is essential. 
• Experience of working internationally in different regions and an ability to apply experience globally is essential.
• The ability to document and represent the Firm’s business continuity, resilience and physical security position to external stakeholders (clients and regulators) where required is essential.
• Membership of the Business Continuity Institute and a professional qualification in Risk Management, Business Continuity and/or Resilience would be beneficial.
• Experience of collaborating with emergency authorities, managing partner and supplier relationships and navigating global political, cultural and environmental issues is required
• Candidates are expected to have a proven track record in informing and influencing a global, matrixed organisation. 
   

Strategic thinking:

• Demonstrate ability to provide solutions to often complex issues
• Good judgement and skill in identification and prioritisation of added value and strategic tasks
• Ability to offer pragmatic advice and demonstrate strong understanding of implication of guidance given in each situation
• Solution-oriented with a proactive/forward-thinking approach.
   

Communication and presentation skills:

• Excellent communication skills with proven experience of building and managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to deliver clear, impartial strategic advice and guidance in a consultative manner
• Strong listening skills and the intellectual rigour and insight to be credible with groups of partners
• The ability to build up a strong network of contacts across the global network
• Very strong written communication skills, with the ability to synthesise and summarise complex points in a way that can be easily understood and communicated to the whole business, across all areas of the business.
   

Relationship building and networking skills:

• The ability to work effectively and co-operatively with senior stakeholders, across borders and in a matrixed organisation
• The ability to build strong relationships remotely with key senior people in other offices
• The ability to build a virtual working network across the resilience and response teams in the network.
   

Organisation and time management skills:

• Highly organised and structured approach to tasks, able to balance long-term and short-term priorities
• Capability to prioritise and manage both proactive and reactive tasks and requirements
• Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time with different internal and external stakeholders, making pragmatic and practical decisions about how initiatives should be implemented
• Ability to work in international, regional and local contexts and address issues at those levels.
   

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
 

Hybrid working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site. 

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.