Business Continuity Lead

About the role

The Business Continuity Lead supports the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the business continuity program across the Rush University System for Healthcare, including hospitals, Rush University, ambulatory locations, and administrative functions. The role focuses on operational continuity and is responsible for reviewing, validating, updating, and maintaining Business Impact Assessments and Business Continuity Plans. The Business Continuity Lead works directly with clinical, academic, administrative, and operational leaders to identify mission-essential functions, establish recovery priorities, document dependencies, and develop practical continuity strategies. This position also serves as a super user of the designated business continuity planning system and supports routine system administration, reporting, plan maintenance, and user guidance. The role coordinates closely with Emergency Management, Information Technology Disaster Recovery, Cybersecurity, Facilities, Supply Chain, and other enterprise partners. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision, and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Review, validate, update, and maintain Business Impact Assessments and Business Continuity Plans.
• Work with clinical, academic, administrative, and operational leaders to identify mission-essential functions, establish recovery priorities, document dependencies, and develop practical continuity strategies.
• Serve as a super user of the designated business continuity planning system; support routine system administration, reporting, plan maintenance, and user guidance.
• Coordinate closely with Emergency Management, IT Disaster Recovery, Cybersecurity, Facilities, Supply Chain, and other enterprise partners.
• Exemplify the Rush mission, vision, and values and act in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Risk Management, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Nursing, or a related field; or ten years of relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Five years of relevant experience in business continuity, continuity of operations, mission assurance, emergency management, healthcare preparedness, operational resilience, healthcare operations, risk management, or a related field.
• Experience reviewing, developing, or maintaining Business Impact Assessments and Business Continuity Plans.
• Experience working in a large, complex, or matrixed organization.
• Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, exercises, or planning sessions with cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Experience working with individuals outside of direct reporting relationships to build alignment, resolve issues, and advance organizational objectives.

Qualifications

• Business continuity, emergency management, continuity of operations, or related professional certification preferred.
• FEMA Incident Command System coursework, including ICS‑100, ICS‑200, and ICS‑700, preferred.
• Experience with healthcare regulations and standards (TJC, DNV, CMS, CARF, etc) preferred.

Skills

• Business impact analysis and continuity planning.
• Facilitation of meetings, workshops, exercises, and cross‑functional planning sessions.
• Stakeholder engagement and alignment across clinical, academic, administrative, and operational teams.
• System administration and user support for business continuity planning tools.
• Reporting and plan maintenance.
• Coordination with emergency management, IT disaster recovery, cybersecurity, facilities, and supply chain.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations and standards (TJC, DNV, CMS, CARF).
• FEMA ICS‑100/200/700 familiarity.

Schedule

• Position offers flexibility for hybrid/remote work, subject to management agreement.