Technical Architect - Disaster Recovery Runbooks

*SC CLEARED*
Technical Architect - Disaster Recovery Runbooks
3 Month contract initially
Based: Remotely
Rate - £400 - £450 p/d via Umbrella

We have a great opportunity with a world leading organisation where you will be provided with all of the support and development to succeed. A progressive organisation where you can really make a difference. We have a great opportunity for a Technical Architect - Disaster Recovery Runbooks on a long term program of work.

The Technical Architect is accountable for the design, development, and validation of end to end disaster recovery (DR) runbooks, establishing a consistent, technically credible recovery approach for each in scope IT service.
The role ensures alignment with DR standards, BIA driven recovery requirements, and operational executability.

Key Responsibilities:
* Conduct detailed analysis of BIA outputs to understand service criticality, RTO/RPO, and recovery sequencing requirements.
* Work with stakeholders to:
* Understand application architecture, dependencies, and failure modes,
* Define "minimum viable recovery" states per service.
* Design technically sound DR recovery approaches, including severe failure scenarios where environments are fully lost.
* Develop, test, and refine service specific DR runbooks, ensuring:
* Clear recovery sequencing,
* Explicit decision points,
* Operational clarity.
* Lead structured walk through and table top testing of recovery runbooks.
* Provide formal handover to Application Support teams, ensuring clarity of ownership and ongoing maintenance.

Key Skills & Experience:
Disaster Recovery & Resilience Expertise
* Strong understanding of Disaster Recovery (DR) concepts, patterns, and best practices
* Experience designing end to end recovery approaches rather than partial or component level recovery
* Practical experience defining minimum viable recovery (MVR/MVI) states
* Understanding of severe failure scenarios (eg full environment loss, data corruption)

Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Interpretation
* Ability to analyse and interpret BIA outputs
* Translate business recovery requirements into technical recovery steps
* Strong grasp of RTO/RPO principles and their technical implications
* Ability to challenge unrealistic recovery objectives based on technical constraints

Runbook Design & Technical Documentation
* Proven experience creating operational runbooks from scratch
* Strong technical writing skills, producing:
* Clear, structured, unambiguous instructions
* Explicit pass/fail and go/no go decision points
* Ability to define standards, templates, and quality guides
* Experience producing documentation suitable for operational execution under pressure

Systems & Application Architecture Understanding
* Deep understanding of:
* Application architectures (monolith, microservices, SaaS, COTS)
* Infrastructure components (compute, storage, network)
* Cloud and hybrid environments
* Ability to identify dependencies, sequencing, and failure points
* Strong skills in dependency mapping and recovery order definition

Cloud & Platform Knowledge
* Experience with cloud recovery patterns (backup/restore, rebuild, redeploy, rehydrate)
* Understanding of:
* Cloud native services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS recovery considerations)
* Identity, networking, and access dependencies during recovery
* Ability to vet and validate cloud DR solutions for feasibility

Testing, Validation & Assurance
* Experience designing and leading:
* Table top exercises
* Runbook walk throughs
* Strong ability to:
* Validate recovery logic and sequencing
* Identify gaps, risks, and unrealistic steps
* Comfort owning issue identification, refinement, and resolution tracking

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
* Strong ability to work with:
* Application Support SMEs
* Infrastructure and platform teams
* Solution Architects and business stakeholders
* Skilled at eliciting undocumented system knowledge
* Ability to gain operational buy in for recovery approaches

Analytical & Problem Solving Skills
* Structured, methodical approach to problem analysis
* Ability to design recovery under incomplete or imperfect information
* Strong judgement to identify:
* Stop points
* Escalation triggers

Risk acceptance scenarios
Governance, Standards & Assurance Mindset
* Comfortable working within:
* DR standards and patterns (eg CIP aligned frameworks)
* Quality gates and assurance criteria
* Ability to define "what good looks like" and assess compliance
* Strong sense of accountability for technical correctness

Communication & Leadership Skills
* Clear, confident communication of technical recovery designs
* Ability to explain complex recovery concepts in practical terms
* Comfortable leading recovery discussions and testing sessions
* Strong documentation and handover discipline

Desirable skills/knowledge/experience:

* Proven hands on experience designing and documenting end to end Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions
* Demonstrable experience creating DR runbooks from scratch, where no prior artefacts existed
* Strong experience translating Business Impact Analysis (BIA) outputs into executable technical recovery processes
* Experience owning recovery design for multiple business critical applications in parallel
* Practical experience defining and validating RTO/RPO aligned recovery approaches
* Experience working with Application Support SMEs to extract undocumented system knowledge
* Experience leading table top exercises, walk through testing, or recovery simulations
* Experience refining recovery procedures based on testing outcomes

This is an excellent opportunity on a great project of work, If you are looking for your next exciting opportunity, apply now for your CV to reach me directly, we will respond as soon as possible.

Due to the nature and urgency of this post, candidates holding or who have held high level security clearance in the past are most welcome to apply. Please note successful applicants will be required to be security cleared prior to appointment which can take a minimum 10 weeks. LA International is an award-winning partner of choice for many of the world's most influential companies and government organisations. Holding Enhanced Government Security Accreditation, we are recognised as the European market leader in the delivery of Security Cleared talent to organisations that demand the very highest levels of security, compliance and assurance.

An award-winning organisation, having secured the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade over multiple years. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.

Please Note: If a high volume of applications is received, only candidates shortlisted will be contacted.