Business Resilience Manager

About Cigna Cigna International is a leading global health services company dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and vitality of those we serve. Our Middle East & Africa (MEA) region spans the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, and select African markets — serving a diverse portfolio of individual, corporate, and government clients. We are committed to building a resilient and sustainable operating model that protects our customers, people, and stakeholders in an increasingly complex risk environment.

Summary Cigna MEA is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Business Continuity & Resilience Manager to establish, strengthen, and continuously improve the business continuity and operational resilience posture across the Middle East & Africa region. This role will serve as the central point of accountability for business continuity management (BCM), crisis management, and operational resilience — ensuring that frameworks are effectively designed, implemented, tested, and maintained in alignment with regulatory expectations and global best practices. 80% Business Continuity & Resilience|20% Operational Risk Support The Business Continuity & Resilience Manager will partner with functional leaders across MEA, including Operations, Technology, Claims, Clinical, Finance, Compliance, Information Security, and Third-Party Management, to embed a sustainable, regionally aligned approach to business resilience. The role will closely collaborate with the MEA Risk Management function and global operational resilience initiatives to ensure MEA practices are seamlessly integrated into the broader Cigna enterprise framework.

Business Continuity & Resilience (80%) Framework & Governance Design, implement, and manage a standardised Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework across all MEA entities, aligned with ISO 22301, regulatory requirements, and Cigna global standards. Establish and maintain governance processes for the identification, assessment, and management of business continuity risks, including clear escalation pathways. Develop and maintain Business Impact Analyses (BIAs), Business Continuity Plans (BCPs), Crisis Management Plans, and Disaster Recovery alignment across MEA functions and entities. Ensure BCM documentation is complete, accurate, regularly reviewed, and audit-ready. Testing, Exercising & Continuous Improvement Design and lead a comprehensive BCM testing and exercising programme, including tabletop exercises, simulation drills, and scenario-based walkthroughs. Track remediation of gaps identified through testing, incidents, and audits, embedding lessons learned into plans and procedures. Monitor and report on BCM maturity, resilience metrics, and readiness posture to senior leadership and relevant committees. Crisis & Incident Management Support the regional crisis management capability, including activation protocols, communication plans, and post-incident reviews. Act as a key coordinator during business disruptions, ensuring effective response and recovery in line with established plans. Maintain and test crisis communication channels and stakeholder notification procedures. Operational Resilience Drive the development of the MEA operational resilience programme, including identification of important business services, impact tolerances, and scenario planning. Align regional resilience activities with global operational resilience initiatives and ensure consistency with international standards and group-level expectations. Partner with Technology and Information Security teams to ensure alignment between BCPs, IT Disaster Recovery (DR) plans, and cyber resilience strategies. Regulatory & Compliance Ensure BCM practices meet the requirements of applicable regional regulators, including but not limited to CBUAE, SAMA, CBB, CBO, and relevant African regulatory bodies. Support regulatory submissions, examinations, and audits related to business continuity and