Grants and Technical Assistance Program Manager

Summary:

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a grants and technical assistance program manager to provide project management, grant writing/management, and project selection support for programs/projects that are primarily funded by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), which is the agency designated under federal law as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Washington region.

Job ID/Number: DTP-102024

Posted Date: 9/5/2024

Job Location: Washington, DC

Position Type: Full-time

Division: Department of Transportation Planning

Description:

The successful candidate for this position would bring a combination of project management skills, coordination capabilities, and technical expertise to manage technical assistance programs which primarily serve the TPB’s local government members, as well as providing grant writing, grants management services, and grant support materials for the TPB’s member agencies.

The TPB’s local technical assistance programs include the Transportation Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program, the Regional Roadway Safety Program (RRSP), the Transit Within Reach (TWR) Program, and more. The programs provide short-term consultant services to local jurisdictions for small planning and preliminary design/engineering projects. They were established by the TPB to promote regional policies to encourage alternative modes of transportation, vibrant communities, and roadways that are safe for all users. In any given year there are between 10 to 20 individual projects to manage (ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 each).

In addition, the program manager would oversee the project selection processes for funding that is suballocated to the TPB from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program, a federal grant program that funds design and construction of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure at the local level (reviewing/selecting from approximately 25-40 applications per year in a short timeframe). This work requires close coordination with the region’s three state departments of transportation.

Lastly this position would track and monitor federal, state and other grant opportunities, especially opportunities where TPB members’ individual or collaborative pursuit could support TPB goals, and could provide grants writing and management services to the TPB’s members.

POSITION SUMMARY

The successful candidate for this position must have excellent project and program management skills, a strong knowledge of and interest in transportation and land-use planning, and should be comfortable performing routine, process-oriented tasks while also maintaining organizational awareness and thinking about ways to improve planning activities.

The successful candidate will:

• Manage multiple technical assistance projects from inception to completion, including solicitation for applications, project selection among competitive proposals, consultant procurement, and project implementation.
• Market and promote the technical assistance programs to potential applicants at the local level, as well as among stakeholders.
• Share information about completed technical assistance projects through webinars, website, and other peer exchange opportunities and events.
• Develop and maintain relationships among jurisdiction staff and consultants.
• Make presentations about technical assistance programs, projects, and related issues.
• Promote regional principles of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) through local technical assistance.
• Manage and conduct the solicitation and project selection for the DC, Maryland and Virginia Transportation Alternatives Program funding.
• Track and monitor federal, state and other grant opportunities.
• Write and track letters of support member jurisdictions ask for from TPB.
• Other duties as needed.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Experience in managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and keeping numerous projects and program cycles simultaneously on schedule.
• Experience in grant management, including the development of scopes of work, coordinating competitive bid opportunities, contract review, invoicing and accounting procedures, and performance reporting.
• Ability to troubleshoot and quickly solve problems to keep projects moving.
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills, including working with technical staff and elected officials.
• Excellent writing skills— including developing memoranda, reports, and website content—with the ability to summarize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and adjust processes and systems to improve performance and efficiency.
• Understanding and appreciation of the work of local planning and transportation agencies, especially related to active transportation and roadway safety.
• Experience and comfort with public speaking and leading group discussions, including ability to prepare, produce, and present clear, effective, and accurate reports and presentations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

No less than five years of project management experience working in transportation, urban planning, or a related field. Possession of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in transportation planning, engineering, public administration, or a related field is preferred. Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Strong skills required for Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). Experience with Microsoft Access or other database software. Experience with WordPress and/or SharePoint to support limited updates to existing websites (e.g., photo or text changes). ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) considered desirable.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, spreadsheets, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders and members. Ability to effectively present meeting related or MPO process information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to be at a computer for much of the day and to walk to in- or out-of-office meetings. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is a fast-paced environment and requires the ability to handle multiple tasks at any given time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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