IT Manager - Disaster Recovery

About the Role

As the IT Disaster Recovery Manager, you will act as the Process Owner for the Disaster Recovery (DR) function across the technology estate. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of DR, ensuring that recovery plans, procedures and actions adhere to ISO 22301 standards and robust governance. The role requires close work with cross‑functional teams to validate dependencies, assess risks and embed recovery strategies into service design. Key duties include managing DR documentation, coordinating testing workflows, and preparing the organisation for automation and orchestration of recovery tasks. You will also administer crisis management systems, keep them operational and accessible during incidents, and drive continuous improvement of DR governance, readiness and accountability across IT and business stakeholders. • Own end‑to‑end Disaster Recovery lifecycle across the global technology estate, ensuring ISO 22301 alignment and audit compliance. • Lead DR planning, risk assessments, and governance sessions with cross‑functional IT and business owners. • Validate dependencies, maintain CI records in the CMDB, and optimise DR documentation for automation readiness. • Conduct DR tests, capture lessons learned, and drive continuous improvement of recovery procedures. • Define and monitor DR KPIs, identify bottlenecks, and promote automation and orchestration opportunities. • Manage crisis management systems to ensure they are operational, tested, and ready for disaster scenarios. • Deliver training and communication to build organisational DR awareness and stakeholder engagement. • Ensure DR activities integrate with Business Continuity, Release & Deployment, and Major Incident Management processes. • Evaluate emerging DR technologies and prepare requirements for future capability upgrades.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸dr lifecycle
• ▸risk assessment
• ▸cmdb
• ▸automation
• ▸testing
• ▸crisis management

What You Bring

The successful candidate will demonstrate ownership, organisational resilience and a solution‑oriented mindset. You must be analytical, able to translate complex technical information into actionable recovery plans, and communicate confidently with senior stakeholders. Adaptability, calmness under pressure and a passion for technology and continuous professional development are essential. Performance will be measured against metrics such as alignment of DR plans with ISO 22301, achievement of RTO/RPO targets, mean time to complete tests, automation of DR actions and stakeholder feedback on exercise effectiveness. These KPIs ensure that the DR capability remains predictable, efficient and continuously maturing. The role requires proven experience in managing Disaster Recovery or IT Service Continuity within a complex, global environment, and a track record of implementing resilience frameworks aligned with ISO 22301. Broad knowledge of IT infrastructure—including servers, networks, cloud and hybrid environments—and the ability to analyse dependencies are critical. Experience delivering training, producing clear documentation, and supporting internal and external audits is also required. Desirable qualifications include ISO 22301 certification, experience with crisis communication platforms, and familiarity with automation/orchestration tools. • Proven experience managing Disaster Recovery/IT Service Continuity in complex global environments. • Strong knowledge of ISO 22301 or similar resilience frameworks and governance of DR exercises. • Broad IT infrastructure expertise (servers, networks, cloud, hybrid) with dependency analysis skills. • Ability to influence technical and non‑technical stakeholders across multiple regions. • Demonstrated capability in producing clear documentation and delivering structured training. • Experience supporting internal and external audits for DR and Business Continuity. • ISO 22301 certification or equivalent BC/DR accreditation (desirable). • Experience with crisis communications systems or emergency command‑centre platforms (desirable). • Familiarity with automation/orchestration tools used in DR recovery (desirable).

Requirements

• ▸iso 22301
• ▸disaster recovery
• ▸automation
• ▸cloud
• ▸stakeholder management
• ▸documentation

Benefits

Mott MacDonald does not currently sponsor Skilled Worker visas under the UK immigration route, but welcomes candidates eligible for alternative routes. The organisation offers hybrid agile working, promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, and provides accessibility support throughout the recruitment process. Employees benefit from a comprehensive package that includes pension matching up to 7 %, life assurance, private medical insurance, health cash plans and a wide range of wellbeing programmes. The hybrid model provides 33‑35 days of holiday (increasing after five years), generous family and carers leave, and flexible benefits that can be extended to families. An employee‑ownership model offers performance bonuses and a direct voice to senior leadership, while professional development is supported through mentorship, training subscriptions and diverse learning opportunities. • Pension matching up to 7 % and life assurance up to 4‑6 × salary. • Private medical insurance, health cash plan, and comprehensive wellbeing programmes. • Minimum 33‑35 days holiday (35 days after 5 years) with leave buy/sell option. • Enhanced family leave: 26 weeks paid maternity, 24 weeks shared parental, paid paternity, additional caring days. • Employee‑ownership model with performance bonuses and direct voice to senior leadership. • Professional development budget, mentoring, and training subscriptions.

Work Environment

Office Full-Time