Transportation Grants Coordinator

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Transportation Grants Coordinator position will support the development and implementation of the City’s transportation funding and grant strategy.  The position will serve as a core member of a team charged with making Philadelphia’s transportation system more resilient, sustainable, and equitable over the coming years. The candidate will primarily support two interrelated functions in grant and project development as well as long-range planning.  

 The first function involves tracking and monitoring funding opportunities and matching those with the City’s long-range capital infrastructure needs.  This will include tracking unfunded projects and updating existing projects as well as coordinating with internal partners to streamline and consolidate the project development process.   

The second function involves developing and preparing grant proposals as well as tracking submitted proposals. The candidate will work closely with OTIS staff and staff within departments represented by OTIS to prepare grant proposals to secure funding for a variety of infrastructure projects. US DOT-administered discretionary grant programs and related formula grant programs funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will be an important focus. The candidate may also help support post-award activities such as grant administration, management, reporting, compliance, and closeout.  

Successful candidates will understand the importance of strategic thinking in setting funding priorities, combined with a methodological and analytical approach to identifying, tracking, and complying with funding requirements. The Transportation Grants Coordinator will need strong written, verbal, and presentation skills to communicate grant program goals, rules, and requirements.    

Essential Functions:

Coordinate with OTI senior leadership, OTI staff, Streets Department, and other departments to prepare grant proposals and secure funding for transportation-related projects.

Identify funding opportunities offered by government agencies, foundations, and corporations to meet the strategic, financial, and operational transportation needs of OTI and the Streets Department.

Navigate and understand applicable federal and state rules and regulations governing grant awards.

Submit grant applications on behalf of OTI and the Streets Department.

Support project staff in grant preparation and reporting.

Serve as a liaison among OTI, the Streets Department, the Mayor’s Policy Office, the Mayor’s Grants Office, other City departments (as applicable), and funders. Coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and other applicable entities.

Analyze federal, state, and City legislative and policy initiatives to determine potential funding impacts on the city’s transportation programs and offer recommendations to OTI’s senior staff regarding the City’s position.

Work with OTI and the Streets Department to scope and develop a six-year capital plan.

Work with the Streets Department to facilitate quarterly grant meetings with the Streets Department, and other partner departments, as needed.

Assist the Streets Department in fielding requests for application support from third parties, such as other City departments or non-profit organizations. Support OTI and Streets Department staff to manage grants from award to closeout.

Provide training for new staff on grants management and reporting requirements.

Work with OTI and the Streets Department to identify and develop strategies that prioritize projects to optimize the grants administration process.

Track deadlines and deliverables to ensure staff meets grant-related responsibilities.

Provide quality assurance that the grant proposal is complete and in accordance with a funder’s requirements.

Monitor paperwork and other related documents connected with grant-funded programs.

Monitor payments and receivables and track funding received.

Support the policy and planning work at OTI, as required, including assisting with public engagement and data analysis on transportation projects, bike share and bus shelter program support, and electric vehicle policy. Catalog and track grant applications; evaluate application results.

Maintain a library of grant program guidelines, a catalog of grant applications, and track and evaluate application results. 

 

Coordinate with OTIS senior leadership, OTIS staff, Streets Department, and other departments to prepare grant proposals and secure funding for transportation-related projects.  

Identify funding opportunities offered by government agencies, foundations, and corporations to meet the strategic, financial, and operational transportation needs of OTIS and the Streets Department.  

Navigate and understand applicable federal and state rules and regulations governing grant awards.  

Submit grant applications on behalf of OTIS and the Streets Department.   

Support project staff in grant preparation and reporting.  

Serve as a liaison among OTIS, the Streets Department, the Mayor’s Policy Office, the Mayor’s Grants Office, other City departments (as applicable), and funders.  Coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and other applicable entities.  

Analyze federal, state, and City legislative and policy initiatives to determine potential funding impacts on the city’s transportation programs and offer recommendations to OTIS’s senior staff regarding the City’s position.  

Work with OTIS and the Streets Department to scope and develop a six-year capital plan.    

Work with the Streets Department to facilitate quarterly grant meetings with the Streets Department, and other partner departments, as needed.   

Assist the Streets Department in fielding requests for application support from third parties, such as other City departments or non-profit organizations.   

  

Support OTIS and Streets Department staff to manage grants from award to closeout.  

Provide training to new staff on grants management and reporting requirements.  

Work with OTIS and the Streets Department to identify and develop strategies that prioritize projects to optimize the grants administration process.    

Track deadlines and deliverables to ensure staff meets grant-related responsibilities.   

Provide quality assurance that the grant proposal is complete and in accordance with a funder’s requirements.   

Monitor paperwork and other related documents connected with grant-funded programs.   

Monitor payments and receivables and track funding received.   

Support the policy and planning work at OTIS, as required, including assisting with public engagement and data analysis on transportation projects, bike share and bus shelter program support, and electric vehicle policy.  

  

Catalog and track grant applications; evaluate application results.  

Maintain a library of grant program guidelines, a catalog of grant applications, and track and evaluate application results.   

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Transportation Grant Literacy.  Proficient in identifying transportation funding opportunities, including those for multimodal transportation systems.  

Planning and Evaluating.  Possesses exceptional organizational skills; demonstrated time management skills, including an ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining attention to detail; analytical skills; basic financial management skills, including developing and monitoring budgets and financial reporting.  

Written Communication.  Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.  

Oral Communication.  Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.  

Interpersonal Skills.  Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.  

Ability to work independently upon clear direction.  

Ability to work under pressure.  

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).  

Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.  

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