As communities around the country face complex challenges, the need for disaster recovery and crisis management specialists continues to expand. Many community organizations, businesses, and government agencies are actively working to develop response plans for natural disasters, prevent and mitigate cyber threats, and prepare for the possibility of large-scale crises. With growing risks worldwide, those who pursue disaster recovery careers can combine leadership, technology, and emergency planning skills to ensure safety and build resilience in their communities.
For anyone who wants to leverage their specialized knowledge to improve crisis response and recovery efforts, learn more about this essential and rewarding career path.
What Is Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management?
Both disaster recovery and crisis management are strategic approaches to mitigating large-scale crises within a community or an organization. While there are distinct differences between the two, both efforts are designed to minimize disruption and ensure that an organization or community can return to normalcy as soon as possible.
Difference Between Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management
Key differences exist between disaster recovery plans and crisis management efforts. According to IBM, disaster recovery focuses on continuity in the event of a significant disruption, with most business continuity disaster recovery plans outlining the steps that need to be taken during an unexpected event.
Crisis management, on the other hand, is a strategic approach to responding to a large-scale crisis that extends beyond business operations. It often focuses on how to involve key stakeholders and how to protect the integrity of the brand or organization throughout the crisis.
Types of Careers in Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management
Careers in disaster relief, recovery and crisis management can be both stressful and gratifying. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the leading disaster recovery careers require professionals to have a proactive plan ready to implement in the event of an unexpected, large-scale crisis.
Public Sector Roles
Government agencies and nonprofit organizations often employ disaster recovery and crisis management professionals in order to protect communities and improve response efforts in the event of an unexpected disaster.
Some advanced disaster recovery roles in the public sector include:
Emergency Management Specialist
According to the BLS, emergency management specialists work to prepare response plans that can be swiftly implemented in the event of a full-scale emergency. Many focus on natural disaster emergency planning, but they also may work to create response plans for other types of emergencies — such as mass casualty events or terrorist attacks.
FEMA Roles
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a government agency that operates as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Those who pursue advanced disaster recovery roles at FEMA may be responsible for providing leadership and directing financial assistance during an unexpected crisis, striving to build or improve federal programs that improve crisis management or collaborating with community organizations to develop effective response plans.
Homeland Security Officer
Homeland security professionals work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a variety of capacities. Some roles, such as those in the U.S. Secret Service, focus on protective missions for senior officials. Others are stationed at international borders or work to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Private Sector Careers
Private sector businesses and organizations can be significantly impacted by natural disasters, cybersecurity threats or other emergencies, requiring them to invest in disaster recovery and crisis management efforts.
The following are examples of crisis management jobs available in the private sector:
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Specialist
Business continuity and disaster recovery refers to the process of creating a business continuity response plan that ensures the organization can continue to operate in the event of an emergency. A BCDR specialist is a high-level professional who specializes in crafting contingency plans for a variety of crises, such as:
- Natural disasters
- Large-scale outages
- Cybersecurity attacks
- Mass casualty events
Corporate Risk Manager
Corporate risk managers may focus on key areas like financial risk management, strategic risk management or organizational risk management. Risk management involves identifying, evaluating, preventing and addressing risks that may impact the vitality of the organization.
Nonprofit and NGO Roles
Nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may receive public funding and support, but they operate outside the confines of the government itself. However, these vital agencies may play an important role in disaster relief and recovery.
Possible crisis management jobs at nonprofits and NGOs include:
Community Disaster Program Manager
Community disaster program managers are specialized professionals who often work for nonprofit organizations and serve as liaisons between the organization and government agencies. For example, the American Red Cross hires community disaster program managers responsible for coordinating volunteer efforts and collaborating with local government agencies to identify the needs in a community impacted by a disaster.
International Relief and Humanitarian Response Positions
Emergency management professionals have the skills and experience required to pursue international relief and humanitarian response positions. According to UNICEF, such efforts require all professionals to work on the ground, often providing direct aid to those who are most in need around the world. It is one of the most challenging and emotionally taxing jobs in emergency management — but also among the most impactful and fulfilling.
Skills Needed for Advanced Careers
In addition to having a strong foundation in emergency management, natural disaster relief, border security and cybercrime prevention, those interested in advanced disaster recovery roles should focus on developing the following skills to grow their careers:
Communication and Crisis Leadership
According to the Center for Creative Leadership, clear and concise communication is a necessity when leading during a crisis. While communication skills serve as the foundation for crisis leadership, other critical skills include the ability to effectively delegate, remain calm and be adaptable in the face of evolving circumstances.
Analytical Skills
Modern disaster recovery specialists and crisis management professionals must perform strategic risk assessment, be familiar with advanced statistical and data-analytics tools, and apply disaster informatics skills in order to provide targeted and precise relief.
Technical Knowledge
Technical knowledge is a necessity in this field, as disaster recovery and crisis management professionals are required to have a strong working knowledge of IT systems and logistics. Additionally, they need a strong foundation in cybersecurity as well as the techniques used to prevent and mitigate cyberattacks.
Education and Credentials for Advancement
No matter if you are interested in cybercrime prevention or want to focus on humanitarian relief efforts, investing in your education and earning advanced credentials can help you prepare for the top disaster recovery careers.
Degree Requirements
The degree requirements for disaster recovery careers and crisis management jobs may vary based on the organization and whether the position is available within the private or public sector. By investing in a comprehensive degree program, you can develop the advanced skills required for this evolving field.
Bachelor’s vs. Master’s vs. Doctoral Pathways
According to the BLS, most entry-level emergency management positions require candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field. However, by pursuing a graduate degree, you can acquire the comprehensive knowledge and specific skill set required for advanced disaster recovery roles. A master’s degree in homeland security and emergency management can uniquely position you for success in this field.
Certifications That Boost Careers
Certification credentials in emergency management and disaster response can help boost your career, as these programs are designed to allow professionals to specialize in niche areas of the field.
Some of the leading disaster recovery and crisis management certifications include:
Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP)
The Certified Business Continuity Professional certification is offered through DRI International. Widely recognized throughout the industry, the CBCP certification is designed for experienced industry leaders looking to demonstrate their expertise in disaster response and recovery.
Disaster Recovery Certified Specialist (DRCS)
The BCM Institute offers the Disaster Recovery Certified Specialist credential, or DRCS. Developed specifically for those in management-level positions, this certification program enables professionals to develop advanced skills in impact tolerance, process mapping and scenario testing.
FEMA Training Programs
FEMA training programs are available to professionals who want to specialize in crisis management and who often partner with FEMA in their professional roles. These unique and innovative programs are designed to bridge the gap that exists between federal disaster response and immediate local response.
Emerging Areas in Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management
As communities and organizations work to address a variety of evolving risks, emerging areas are expected to shape the disaster recovery and crisis management fields in the coming years.
Disaster Informatics and Predictive Analytics
Disaster informatics is a specialized branch of data science focused on leveraging the power of data to improve disaster response plans and streamline mitigation processes. Disaster informatics is a relatively new discipline that is rapidly expanding, particularly as advanced technology continues to make informatics techniques more refined and reliable.
Social Media for Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management
Given the wide reach of social media, many crisis management experts and disaster recovery professionals are leveraging these powerful platforms to elevate response efforts. Knowing how to use social media safely and responsibly during a crisis is critical, as the spread of misinformation can hamper disaster relief and recovery efforts.
Responsible AI in Emergency Planning
When used responsibly, artificial intelligence (AI) tools can enhance the emergency planning process by predicting resources needed, forecasting the needs of a particular community or streamlining communication efforts. For example, the Department of Homeland Security has recently used AI technology to provide hazard mitigation assistance, predict workforce deployment during a disaster and improve planning processes that focus on community resilience.
Develop the Key Skills Required for Advanced Disaster Recovery Roles and Crisis Management Positions
Professionals who pursue advanced disaster recovery careers may find themselves immersed in a fast-paced, high-action environment that allows them to have a direct impact on the communities they serve. The Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Management degree at Keiser University Graduate School offers a broad scope, exploring emergency management alongside cybercrime prevention, counterterrorism, border security and more. Graduates are equipped with the high-level skills valuable in advanced disaster recovery roles and senior-level crisis management jobs.
Contact a graduate admissions counselor to learn more about our emergency management degree program.
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