Business Continuity Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.:

Incorporated in 1964, Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc. (“DCMA”) is a New York-based registered securities broker-dealer, a futures commission merchant, a primary dealer of U.S. Treasury securities, and a member of the New York Stock Exchange and other major U.S. exchanges. Our main focus is on the sales and trading of Japanese, Asian, and U.S. equities, fixed income instruments, financial futures, and investment banking for institutional customers. DCMA’s ultimate parent company is Daiwa Securities Group Inc., one of the largest brokerage and financial services groups in Japan.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Business Continuity Program Manager who will be responsible for ensuring that our organization has effective business continuity plans in place that can withstand potential disruptions. In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining and refreshing all BCP policies, standards, and documentation, coordinating disaster recovery testing, and working with compliance and legal departments to ensure plans meet regulatory and industry standards. Reporting to the Head of Information Technology, this business-critical role will lead and oversee the Firm’s BCP program.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the Firm’s Business Continuity Program, including the ongoing maintenance, governance, and enhancement of BCP policies, standards, playbooks, plans, and related documentation.
• Partner with departmental leaders and business continuity coordinators to ensure firmwide and department-specific BCP documentation, testing processes, and recovery procedures remain current and aligned with business needs.
• Maintain the Firm’s Operational Resilience framework by conducting annual Business Impact Analyses, validating RPOs/RTOs, assessing critical business processes and applications, and identifying areas of vulnerability.
• Coordinate firmwide disaster recovery testing, including business-critical application testing, file restore testing, SIFMA industry-wide DR testing, and RegSCI testing, including after-hours and weekend support as required.
• Serve as a key member of the Firm’s Emergency and Crisis Management Teams, Pandemic Planning Committee, and Cyber Response Teams, supporting coordinated response planning across business and control functions.
• Provide 24x7 support during events requiring activation of all or part of the Firm’s business continuity plans, acting as a primary point of contact for senior management and facilitating cross-functional response efforts.
• Partner with Risk Management, Internal Audit, Information Security, Legal, Compliance, and Third-Party Risk Management to ensure business continuity plans meet regulatory, audit, industry, and vendor readiness requirements.
• Manage business continuity reviews conducted by Internal Audit, external auditors, and Compliance, ensuring findings, comments, and remediation items are addressed in a timely and effective manner.
• Lead quarterly governance meetings with departmental coordinators and executive management to report on testing progress, escalate issues, and drive accountability for remediation and program improvements.
• Manage and maintain the Firm’s business continuity site in Iselin, NJ, ensuring readiness to support business operations during disruption events.
• Advance the maturity of the Business Continuity Program by identifying opportunities to strengthen resilience, enhance recovery capabilities, and automate manual processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in Business Continuity Planning, Disaster Recovery, and the design and maintenance of an enterprise-wide Business Impact Analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidance, e.g., RegSCI / SIFMA Classic, etc.
• Familiarity with SQL databases / queries and reporting services like Crystal Reports and PowerBI.
• Must have the ability to travel to Iselin, NJ every 2 weeks.
• Ability to work weekends and after hours to coordinate off-hours BCP tests with various vendors, and regulatory bodies (SIFMA, FIA, etc.).
• Strong project management, leadership, and customer service skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently under tight deadlines and minimal guidance.
• Availability to provide 24x7 support during emergencies and significant disruption events.

Work Arrangements & Availability:

• This position operates in a hybrid work environment and requires onsite presence at our midtown Manhattan office a minimum of three days per week, and your ability to visit our BCP site in Iselin, New Jersey at least once every 2 weeks. 
• Your hybrid / in-office days are determined by management based on business and operational requirements.
• You must be able to provide onsite support during business-critical incidents, technology outages, audits, and operational events including early morning coverage beginning as early as 7:00 AM when required.

Company Culture and Benefits:

Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc. has a vibrant company culture made up of a diverse team of professionals. We seek to foster an atmosphere in which our employees understand, respect, and inspire each other. We will continue to build a culture that encourages everyone at DCMA to take pride in their work. How we work — individually, with each other, and with our communities — is just as important as what we do and shapes who we are as an organization.

Our people are our most important asset, and as a result, we offer a competitive and robust total rewards package which includes, but is not limited to: 

• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental and Vision)
• Ancillary Insurance (Basic Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, and Short & Long-term Disability)
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts (FSA and HSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Parental Leave
• Family building benefits
• 401(k) with company match 
• Paid Time Off and holidays
• Professional development, educational assistance and training programs
• Community Engagement Programs

DCMA has a hybrid work program in place, with opportunities for remote work depending on the nature of the role and needs of your department. This was implemented to provide operational efficiency while simultaneously giving employees flexibility. At a minimum, employees are expected to work in the office three days per week.

DCMA provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. DCMA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, military or veteran status, or other attributes protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.