Cyber Exercise Planner Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Associate Director Ohio Cyber Range Institute, School of Public and International Affairs
Posting Start Date: 8/19/26
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors
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About The School of Public and International Affairs
The School of Public and International Affairs, in support of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI), seeks an Associate Director to focus on supporting Ohio Local Government Cyber Readiness. This position will oversee the Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement for Local Government project (O-PCI). This OCRI-led project, itself, is currently funded in part by the state of Ohio through a Department of Homeland Security Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency State and Local Cyber Improvement Grant. O-PCI is a cyber training and exercise program and curriculum delivered across the state of Ohio for local government entities to improve their cyber defenses and resiliency. The Ohio Cyber Range Institute is a cyber education, workforce and economic platform for the state of Ohio powered by the University of Cincinnati. The Associate Director will report to the Executive Staff Director of the OCRI.
Job Overview
Deliver on the OCRI initiatives to support Ohio local government cyber readiness. Manage and scale Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement (O-PCI) in support of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI). Lead the program to reach an operational scale that can support thousands of local government entities across Ohio. This job requires strong leadership, communication and management skills with an understanding of the local government environment. It does not require cybersecurity subject matter expertise; however, experience with cybersecurity education and training is beneficial.
Essential Functions

• Manage the administrative structure and processes of O-PCI.
• Oversee O-PCI marketing and communication strategy.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams at OCRI responsible for creating and delivering O-PCI training content via an online learning management system, in-person exercises, and via the Ohio Cyber Range.
• Oversee and improve O-PCI processes to monitor results and collect feedback to determine effectiveness, identify areas for improvement and accelerate the scaling of the program to more local government entities.
• Monitor and align budgets with planning and make recommendations on budget to grant PI.
• Act as a primary program point of contact with local government officials and OCRI Regional Programming Centers.
• Produce and share reports with OCRI leadership, state of Ohio partners, and federal partners.
• Serve in an Operations Team Leadership role in OCRI, to effectively leverage OCRI assets for the O-PCI program and identify mutually beneficial outcomes between the O-PCI program and other OCRI products and services.
• Provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff and student associates (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.).
• Perform related duties required to achieve the goals of the Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement for Local Government project. This job description can be changed at any time.
• Serve as a public representative for O-PCI and OCRI with local, state, federal and media partners.
• Coordinate with Associate Director for Regional Programming Centers on the development and improvement of the Persistent Cybersecurity Clinic Internship Program in collaboration with OCRI Regional Programming Centers.

Required Education
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Public Administration, or related field
Nine (9) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement
Required Experience
Five (5) years of related experience
Experience in local and state government employment or local and state government contract/grant work
Experience in program management
Additional Qualifications Considered
Master's Degree preferred
Experience in local, state, or federal government work environments
Experience with technology or cyber security related policy or technical issues
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) Eligibility may vary by position and FTE status. 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.
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. Click here for a list of acceptable documents.
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 UC HR at jobs@uc.edu.
Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.
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