Transportation Grants Coordinator

Agency Description

The Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) is charged with driving change through our transportation and infrastructure systems. OTIS leads a portfolio of departments, including Streets Transportation, Streets Sanitation, Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), and the Office of Sustainability to provide cost-effective quality services with a focus on the resident. OTIS collaborates with a wide variety of organizations such as Amtrak, DVRPC, PATCO, PennDOT, and SEPTA.  OTIS has led the City’s response to the passage of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and related funding strategy.

Find out more here at www.phila.gov/otis

• 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. Successful candidates will be able to think strategically about the City’s transportation priorities, match those priorities with potential funding sources, and position Philadelphia as a compelling and competitive applicant. This will require strong analytical skills, clear communication, collaboration, and follow-through.
• The Coordinator will work with internal partners to understand and consolidate the City’s long range transportation infrastructure needs and streamline a project development process to prioritize safety, equity, feasibility and overall impact on the City. They will monitor funding opportunities and work to match those with projects that will advance the City’s infrastructure goals. The Coordinator must be able to write and present grant program goals, rules, and requirements to both project stakeholders and external audiences.
• The Coordinator will also be responsible for developing and submitting grant proposals as well as tracking those proposal through the selection and award process. 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.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Coordinate with OTIS senior leadership, OTIS staff, and OTIS operating departments, including Streets Department, Philadelphia Water Department, and the Office of Sustainability, to develop an infrastructure funding strategy.
• Work with OTIS and the Streets Department to scope and develop a six-year capital plan to address transportation infrastructure needs. Streets Department oversees 320 bridges and 2,525 miles of roadway and leads construction of City transportation capital improvement projects. Close coordination with Streets Department is required to ensure the City’s long-term transportation needs are adequately addressed and funded.
• Identify funding opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and corporations to meet the strategic, financial, and operational needs of OTIS and the Streets Department.
• Analyze federal, state, and City legislative and policy initiatives for potential funding impacts on City transportation projects or programs. Offer recommendations to OTIS leadership.
• Support OTIS and Streets Department at quarterly grant strategy meetings.  Interface with other partner departments, as needed.
• Support OTIS leadership in prioritizing third party requests for funding application support.
• Prepare grant proposals and secure funding for transportation-related projects.
• Submit grant applications on behalf of OTIS and the Streets Department in coordination with project staff.
• 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 during the preparation of grant applications.
• Navigate and understand applicable federal and state rules and regulations governing grant awards and communicate this to project staff as needed.
• Catalog and track grant program guidelines, City applications to those programs and evaluate application results.
• Support OTIS and Streets Department staff to manage grants from award to closeout.
• Work with OTIS and the Streets Department to identify and to optimize the grants administration process.
• Provide quality assurance by tracking grant deadlines and deliverables. Work with project staff to assure that funder requirements are met.
• Provide training to new staff on grants management and reporting requirements.
• Monitor payments and receivables and track funding received.
• Support other policy and planning work at OTIS, as required.  This may include assisting with public engagement, conducting data analysis for transportation projects, supporting other policy initiatives etc.

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.

Qualifications (Education and Experience)

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university. Master’s degree preferred.  Optimal candidate has a planning, public policy, urban studies, or related degree with experience in the transportation planning field.
• Two or more years of experience in grant writing and administration or equivalent.
• We welcome and encourage applicants with non-traditional career paths. If you don’t exactly meet the qualifications outlined here, please apply and describe in your cover letter how your own experiences equip you to excel in this position.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, references and resume. Applications without all required documents will not be considered. 

Salary Range: $60,000 – $65,000

Did you know?

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. 

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx