Emergency Preparedness Specialist - Continuity of Operations Planner (9280)

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

$82K — $102K *
Transportation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree required; five years of experience in Continuity of Operations.
  • Valid driver's license is a must.
  • Experience in public transportation operations is preferred.
  • Ability to multitask and perform several tasks simultaneously is essential.
  • Excellent verbal and strong technical writing skills are needed.
  • Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and continuous improvement of SEPTA's Continuity of Operations Program.
  • Coordinate Business Impact Analyses and risk assessments to identify continuity requirements.
  • Assist departments in identifying mission essential functions and critical systems for operational sustainment.
  • Support continuity training and validation activities based on FEMA guidance.
  • Develop corrective action and after-action reports following exercises and incidents.
  • Assist during Emergency Operations Center activations to support recovery coordination during incidents.
  • Prepare reports and briefings regarding continuity readiness for executive leadership.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage with minimal or no premiums.
  • Participation in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan.
  • Paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays for work-life balance.
  • Wellness programs and resources to support overall well-being.
  • Tuition reimbursement for education and career advancement support.
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
  • Free SEPTA Transportation Pass for unlimited access to all services.
Full Job Description
We are seeking to hire candidates for our Emergency Preparedness Specialist - Continuity of Operations Planner (9280). Opening Date: 08/21/2026 Closing Date: 09/04/2026 Job Grade: SAM 40 Salary Range: $82,342.00-$102,908.00 OVERALL DESCRIPTION The Emergency Preparedness Specialist - Continuity of Operations Planner is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving SEPTA's Continuity of Operations Program to ensure the continuity and recovery of essential functions during emergencies, disruptions, and other incidents that impact normal operations. The incumbent coordinates continuity planning activities across the Authority and works with departments to identify mission essential functions, critical dependencies, alternate operating strategies, and recovery requirements. The Continuity of Operations Planner develops and maintains continuity plans, conducts business impact analyses and risk assessments, facilitates continuity training and exercises, and supports operational recovery efforts during incidents. The incumbent ensures continuity planning efforts align with federal, state, and local requirements and industry best practices for organizational resilience and continuity planning. The position requires strong analytical, planning, project management, and communication skills, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with departments across SEPT A and external partners. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Leads the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SEPTA's Continuity of Operations Program and associated continuity plans. 2. Coordinates Business Impact Analyses, risk assessments, continuity assessments, and mission essential function analyses to identify continuity requirements and recovery priorities. 3. Assists departments in identifying mission essential functions, key personnel, critical systems, vital records, and alternate operating facilities required to sustain operations during disruptions. 4. Supports continuity training, discussion-based, operations-based, and continuity validation activities utilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency continuity guidance and Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program methodology. 5. Supports the development of corrective action plans, after-action reports, and improvement plans following exercises and incidents and tracks implementation progress. 6. Supports internal and external Emergency Operations Center activations and assists with continuity and recovery coordination during incidents affecting SEPTA operations. 7. Prepares reports, briefings, presentations, and metrics for executive leadership regarding continuity readiness, plan status, and organizational resilience initiatives. 8. Conducts periodic reviews, assessments, and audits of continuity plans to ensure plans remain current, effective, and aligned with operational changes and with regulatory requirements. 9. Represents SEPTA in regional emergency planning committees and task forces as directed. 10. Collaborates with partner agencies to ensure SEPT A's continuity of operations program is integrated into the regional emergency management system. 11. Participates in the development and implementation of education campaigns for SEPTA employees on emergency preparedness as it related to continuity of operations. Assists in the preparation of informational materials such as brochures, posters, and digital content to raise awareness about SEPTA continuity procedures. 12. Supports SEPTA's emergency response efforts during emergencies, working with Incident Commanders and Emergency Operations Centers. Assists in post-incident recovery efforts, including damage assessments, service restoration, and after-action reporting, following the procedures in SEPTA's emergency response plans. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE - Bachelor's Degree required; five (5) years' experience in Continuity of Operations. - An equivalent combination of experience and education (one year of formal education equating to two years of work experience) may be considered in lieu of the above requirements. - Must possess a valid driver's license. - Experience in operations in the Public Transportation Industry preferred. - Must demonstrate the ability to pursue/perform multiple tasks simultaneously. - Must have excellent verbal and strong technical writing skills. - Required PC experience with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint. IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE - Certified Business Continuity Professional or Associate Business Continuity Professional preferred. - FEMA Professional Continuity Practitioner (Level I) or Master Continuity Practitioner (Level 1), preferred. - Associate or Certified Emergency Manager, preferred. - Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining Continuity of Operations Plans, Business Continuity Plans, and recovery strategies in a transportation, public sector, critical infrastructure, or highly regulated environment, preferred. - Experience conducting Business Impact Analyses, continuity risk assessments, and operational resilience assessments, preferred. - Familiarity with ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management Systems and industry best practices related to organizational resilience and continuity planning, preferred. - Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and emergency preparedness requirements applicable to transportation agencies, preferred. - Experience designing, developing, conducting, and evaluating discussion and operations based continuity exercises, preferred - Working knowledge of the DHS Homeland Security Emergency and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), preferred. • Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage - Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums. • Retirement Security - Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future. • Work-Life Balance - Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones. • Employee Wellness - Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. • Invest in Your Growth - We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement. • Student Loan Assistance - Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt. • Free Travel Perks - Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services! Join the Best in Transit! Apply Today Click Apply Now and take the next step in your career with SEPTA! Have Questions? For more information, please visit How We Hire Careers Page.

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