Continuity Planning & Grants Specialist, Public Safety

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.

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.

Bachelor's Degree

• 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.

• 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.