Job Details

Emergency Planning Specialist

Position Number: 7321849
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Occupational and Environmental Safety

Emergency Planning Specialist

Requisition Number: 73378
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 20-Jul-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Emergency Management team at CU Boulder encourages applications for an Emergency Planning Specialist! This position will support the projects and objectives of the University of Colorado Boulder Emergency Management program. It will collaborate with divisional and institutional staff to assist with all EM priorities, with a primary focus on emergency planning priorities.

Under the oversight of the Emergency Preparedness Program Manager, the Emergency Planning Specialist will both develop institutional-level emergency plans and assist campus partners in the development of their organization-specific emergency plans. These planning efforts may include but are not limited to emergency response plans, risk mitigation plans, and business continuity plans.

This position will also participate in other functions of the Emergency Management unit, such as emergency management for university events, training and development of the campus community, weather monitoring and response, development of emergency management policies and procedures, and implementation of incident response during campus emergencies.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CU-Boulder Events & Emergency Management Department is housed in the Division of Public Safety. Our primary function is to provide the planning and coordination of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery of natural and human-made disasters occurring on or near the campuses of CU Boulder. The work of emergency management is a cooperative effort among all aspects, departments, and divisions of the university including Police, Academics, Student Government, Facilities Management, Athletics, and local fire, law enforcement, and public safety agencies.

Charged with the responsibility to facilitate emergency management activities on campus, emergency management personnel work with numerous campus departments and partners in the community to ensure an effective and efficient response to emergencies affecting the campus and its affiliates. We strive to provide the highest quality of service possible to our customers: the students, faculty, staff, affiliates, and visitors of the University of Colorado Boulder.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

University Emergency Planning

Under the direction of the Emergency Preparedness Program Manager, develop university-level emergency plans for functions including but not limited to business continuity, risk mitigation, and emergency response.
Assist with the review and growth of the university's Emergency Operations Plan and hazard-specific annexes to that plan. Author new content for the EOP or annexes as directed by department or divisional leadership. Collaborate with other Emergency Management personnel to identify the most relevant or urgent topics for new annex development and timelines for implementation.
Support the tri-annual reviews of the university's Emergency Operations Plan, including assessing possible structural and content changes and vetting for ongoing alignment with industry standard processes.
Lead the development of Incident Action Plans (IAPs) for unanticipated emergency incidents and support the inclusion of emergency response content within the Event Action Plans (EAPs) for planned events.
Research and stay informed of federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting emergency plans, and ensure that university plans adhere to those requirements.

Collaborator Emergency Planning

Collaborate with internal interested parties at the University of Colorado Boulder in developing emergency plans that support maintaining their organization's essential functions, emphasizing forms of planning that include but are not limited to continuity of operations, risk mitigation, and emergency response.
Develop a range of emergency plan options to support varying team member needs and complexities, from basic emergency response checklists to comprehensive operational and mitigation plans.
Support the development, implementation, and review of emergency plans internal to the Division of Public Safety and its operations.
Work with university customers to develop, document and maintain their business continuity capabilities. Meet with individual organizations to discuss and/or train in Continuity of Operations (COOP) processes and facilitate their development.
Serve as a site assessment provider to help campus collaborators evaluate their organizations and facilities to identify safety gaps that could be mitigated through improved emergency planning. Collaborate with these participants to identify and implement the appropriate planning measures to reduce organizational emergency risks.

Emergency Plan Drills and Exercises

In support of the Training and Exercise Specialist, assist with the design and presentation of emergency plan drills and exercises presented to campus partners, and participate in roles including exercise evaluator, facilitator, or subject-matter expert.
Support the development of drills, exercises, facilitated discussions, or other methods to help university work units identify their organizational planning needs and their gaps in procedures and resources.
Collaborate with the other members of the Emergency Management team to accomplish our overall training and exercise program for testing institutional and divisional emergency readiness.

Other Emergency Management Initiatives

Collaborate with other Emergency Management personnel on team tasks and processes, including:
Participation in the response to incidents and emergencies impacting the university, including in the operation of the university's Emergency Operations Center or incident command.
Coordination of the university's Incident Management Team and Executive Management Policy Group.
Emergency management duties required to support major university events.
Participation in the Emergency Management weather monitoring and response responsibilities.
Development of policies and procedures pertaining to emergency management.
Emergency readiness assessments such as Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment.

Administration, Representation, and Other Duties

Develop and maintain emergency and disaster recovery resources, contacts, and listservs.
Conduct the necessary administrative tasks associated with institutional emergency planning (e.g. maintaining contact lists, scheduling meetings, tracking and auditing task/project completions).
Serve as an alternate CU Boulder emergency management liaison to internal and external partner and collaborator groups.
Engage in public presentations, briefings, and community outreach activities.
Assist with other duties as assigned by the Director of Emergency Management or Emergency Preparedness Program Manager.

What You Should Know

Standard business hours, M-F, with occasional need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. May be called into the office during times of crises. This position may be eligible for a hybrid modality.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range is $70,000- $76,490.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be driven. Be willing. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Emergency Management, Business Administration, Management, Public Administration, or a related field. Equivalent work experience may substitute year-for-year for education.
One or more years of prior professional experience related to emergency planning, emergency management, and/or incident response.
Certification, or evidence of training, related to the Incident Command System (ICS) and/or the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

What You Will Need

Skills in analysis and problem solving.
Excellent oral/written communication skills and the ability to prepare and present professional reports and program materials.
Ability to work with diverse constituencies internal and external to the university and to engage with all partners in a positive and respectful manner.
Demonstrated use of strong communications skills, including the ability to remain calm, professional and positive during stressful circumstances, and willingness to work as a good teammate.
The ability to collect, organize, retain, analyze and produce information related to emergency management.
Experience in emergency management or planning concepts, practices, and policy development.
Ability to work independently and prioritize work assignments and resources.
Working knowledge of computer systems, database and spreadsheet management, and workplace productivity software.
The ability to use technology to work and communicate, and the ability to assist in developing strategies for the use of technologies such as online collaboration tools, video conferencing, etc.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by July 20, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Emergency-Planning-Specialist/73378