Grants and Capital Projects Senior Transportation Planner

We're looking for a detail-oriented and collaborative Senior Transportation Planner to join one of the most exciting and dynamic teams within the City of Raleigh. This senior position in the Transit Division’s finance team manages our diverse portfolio of multi-year projects, including facility construction projects and numerous federal and state grant programs. This role communicates extensively with federal and state agencies and with our regional transit partners to help bring the City’s vision of improving and expanding the public transportation network for Raleigh residents to life.

The ideal candidate thrives in a structured process-oriented environment. This individual is incredibly organized and develops effective systems to manage a large volume of files, tasks and deadlines. The City’s transit system is rapidly growing, so a curiosity to learn new things and a desire to dig in and do the research to solve problems is critical. We’re looking for an individual who strives for continuous improvement and will bring new ideas and perspectives. Full accountability and a commitment to consistently deliver high-quality work is a must. The ideal candidate must be a team player willing to roll up their sleeves to help ensure the success of the team.

The Transportation Department – Transit Division seeks to provide quality public transportation to Raleigh and surrounding Wake County municipalities. Our goal is to increase mobility options and access for all users of the transportation system. The Transit Division works closely with the other key functions of the Transportation Department including, Mobility, Infrastructure and Strategy and Streets and Right-of-Way Maintenance to provide transportation solutions for Raleigh, Wake County and Triangle area residents and visitors. 

Join our team of over 30 passionate public transit professionals keen on making an impact to the mobility options provided in the region. We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, and we value opinions and ideas from all to enhance the quality of our public transit services. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to help manage the financial and reporting requirements of the projects that enable the City to serve and enhance the experience of the City’s transit passengers. 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Manage all stages of the federal and state grant lifecycle, including develop grant applications, prepare and submit required reporting, and perform financial reconciliations in accordance with award terms and federal, state and local requirements

• Serve as liaison for all reviews and audits. Coordinate with auditors, reviewers, management and staff to compile all requested documentation. Resolve all follow-up items

• Maintain calendar of federal and state grant deliverables. Ensure that all financial and programmatic requirements are submitted in a timely manner. Develop proficiency in navigating electronic grant management systems (including Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Award Management System - TrAMS) to successfully submit all requests

• Manage the Transit Division’s multi-year project inventory. Track financial activity for each project. Work closely with staff to confirm project status and timely completion

• Maintain current and comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local grant policies. Regularly attend trainings, read authoritative literature, and stay abreast of changes in regulations. Provide guidance and training to staff

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations
• Best practices in community engagement 
• Civil engineering, urban and regional planning, including transportation planning and multi-modal solution
• Landscape architecture, and land development principles and practices
• Transportation Improvement and Pedestrian Safety projects and Assessments Program
• Principles and practices of program administration and management 
• Principles and practices of project management 
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research 
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis 
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies related to the field of transportation planning
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations 
• Customer service principles
• Modern office practices and procedures including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications such as word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications
• Relevant software applications including, but not limited to MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, iMaps, and ArcGIS

Skill in:

• Coaching and mentoring others
• Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, providing project management, and process and logistics coordination
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices
• Monitoring, tracking and reporting large amounts of data and comfortably navigating large spreadsheets
• Overseeing and providing technical guidance to consultant team
• Authoring and preparing original reports, technical documents and presentations
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment)
• Documenting any changes in adopted resolutions, ordinances, laws, or state statutes affecting City policies and procedures
• Managing a project or program

Ability to:

• Engage with federal, state and regional stakeholders and disseminate information tactfully and professionally
• Analyze requests received from citizens, clients, attorneys, paralegals, consultants, contractors, and other City departments and colleagues to determine appropriate course of action
• Monitor, track and report financial information
• Review complex technical information including conceptual engineering design plans
• Manage projects effectively and efficiently
• Maintain and update project reports and data
• Effectively convey and exchange information
• Work individually and within a group setting
• Prioritize competing demands

ADA and Other Requirements:

Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Work Environment:
Employees will frequently work in an office environment and will occasionally work in an outdoor environment, near moving traffic and in a vehicle.

Work Exposures:
Employees will occasionally be exposed to individuals who are hostile or irate.

The City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.