Planning specialist public safety

Continuity Planning & Grants Specialist, Public Safety

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation's best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 350,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called "the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $88.8 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC's success.

Job Overview

The Continuity Planning and Grants Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing the University's operational resilience and expanding its funding capacity for Public Safety, Student Affairs, and student-led initiatives. Effective collaboration between these departments fosters a comprehensive approach to student success-integrating safety, engagement, and advocacy. The partnership succeeds through aligned goals, transparent communication, and a united commitment to nurturing a safe and well-connected campus community.

Under the direction of the Director of EMA/Business Continuity this position is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of department and integrated continuity plans to ensure University-wide preparedness, response, and recovery from disruptions. In parallel, the role identifies and secures external funding opportunities by managing the full lifecycle of grant writing and compliance. Serving as a strategic liaison among departments, this position fosters cross-functional collaboration and ensures that all efforts align with the University's mission, priorities and compliance standards.

This position requires regular on-site presence, with remote work approved only in limited circumstances.

Essential Functions

Business Continuity Planning

• Responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing management of comprehensive business continuity plans to ensure preparedness, rapid response, and efficient recovery from operational disruptions.
• Conduct in-depth risk assessments, business impact analyses, and scenario-based planning to identify vulnerabilities and develop mitigation strategies for critical academic and administrative functions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders-including Public Safety, IT, Facilities, Student Affairs, and academic departments-to ensure continuity requirements are aligned with institutional goals and industry best practices.
• Design and facilitate engaging training sessions and workshops for faculty, staff, and student leaders to promote continuity awareness, emergency preparedness, and response capabilities.
• Coordinate and lead periodic testing of continuity plans through functional drills and tabletop exercises; analyze results and revise protocols based on findings and feedback.
• Develop continuity documentation, maintain version control, and oversee regular plan audits to support regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, and strategic risk management.
• Monitor emerging threats and trends in higher education and emergency management to proactively evolve continuity planning strategies.

Grant Writing and Funding Acquisition

• Identify, research, and evaluate grant funding opportunities from federal, state, and private sources to support university initiatives in public safety, student affairs, and student-led programming.
• Prepare and submit persuasive, high-quality grant proposals and support documentation, ensuring alignment with both funder guidelines and University priorities.
• Manage all stages of the grant application lifecycle, including coordinating with relevant departments, gathering necessary data, preparing budgets, and tracking deadlines.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with grant-making entities; represent the University in communications with funding agencies and partners.
• Track outcomes and impact of awarded grants; manage required reporting and ensure compliance with all applicable terms and conditions.
• Utilize University-sponsored research systems (SRS) and Kuali grant software to streamline submissions and maintain accurate records.

Relationships and Communciation

• Serve as a key liaison between Public Safety, Student Affairs, and other administrative units to support integrated planning and cohesive responses to continuity and funding needs.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to student groups on identifying funding sources and managing awarded funds responsibly and effectively.
• Develop and deliver reports, presentations, and executive summaries to university leadership and other stakeholders to communicate progress, insights, and outcomes of continuity and grant-related efforts.

Perform related duties basedd on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience

• Eight (8) years of professional experience in business continuity planning, emergency management, risk assessment, or a closely related field.
• Strong understanding of business impact analysis (BIA), risk assessments, and continuity planning methodologies.
• Experience conducting tabletop exercises, trainings, or emergency preparedness workshops.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to draft technical documentation and deliver presentations to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and with a variety of stakeholders.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Master's degree in emergency management, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Certifications such as Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), or related training.
• Experience in a higher education environment, with knowledge of academic operations and student affairs.
• Demonstrated experience researching, writing, and managing grant proposals for public, private, or institutional funding sources.
• Prior success securing and managing federal or state-level grants (e.g., FEMA, DOJ, DOE).
• Familiarity with grant management systems, particularly Kuali or similar University-sponsored research systems (SRS).
• Familiarity with incident management systems, crisis communication protocols, and risk mitigation strategies specific to educational institutions.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. ( UC Benefits Link ) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won't contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you'll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14-18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here:

Important : To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider "easy apply" applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 99949

SF:OMJ SF:RM SF:HEJ, SF:INS SF:HERC SF:DIV SF:LJN SF:IHE

Continuity Planning & Grants Specialist, Public Safety

Date:

Sep 9, 2025

Location:

Cincinnati, OH, US

Facility:

Main Campus