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Role Description

WSDOT is currently seeking a Community Transportation Planner to serve as the South Central Region’s (SCR) public transportation contract manager, overseeing operating, planning, and mobility management grants that support transit agencies, nonprofit community transportation providers, and tribal partners across Yakima, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties. This position may work remotely from within one of these counties, with the specific work location determined based on employee preference and business needs.

In this role, you will deliver customer service, technical assistance, and training to help grantees successfully navigate the Grant Management System (GMS), prepare applications, submit reports and invoices, and maintain compliance with state and federal requirements. The SCR Community Transportation Planner will conduct policy and program reviews, support development and updates of required civil rights and accessibility policies, perform virtual and in-person site visits, and collaborate closely with regional and local partners including transit providers, metropolitan and regional planning organizations, and internal WSDOT teams to ensure accountable and effective use of public funds.

Our top candidate will demonstrate strong grant and contract management expertise, regulatory compliance knowledge, collaborative relationship-building, and clear, service-oriented communication.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Community Transportation Planner will:

• Independently perform and lead teams on delivery of contract management, process development, and technical assistance.
• Provide oversight of contracts including performance monitoring, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations including development of state/federally required grantee policies, managing relationships with stakeholders, and ensuring contract closeout in assigned region.
• Ensure grantees are delivering services described in grant contracts and in accordance with state and federal requirements.
• Provide grant contract oversight, review quarterly reports, complete administrative site visits, complete biennial check-ins, review Title VI plans, and review invoices, contract amendments, and proposed scopes of work.
• Review transportations providers’ state and federally required policies.
• Travel and conduct on-site visits to provide customer service, technical assistance and ensure compliance.
• Act as a first point of contact to provide public transportation service technical assistance.
• Act as a subject matter expert on operating, planning and mobility grant projects within assigned region.
• Perform internal review of operating, capital, planning and mobility grant applications.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles, methods, and practices for administering programs, including grants management, contract oversight, stakeholder coordination, and performance accountability.
• Knowledge of grant management systems, contract monitoring procedures, reporting standards, documentation practices, and closeout requirements to ensure adherence to state and federal regulations.
• Skill in evaluating grantee performance, identifying compliance risks, and providing practical technical assistance and training to support successful program delivery.
• Skill in reviewing and interpreting grant applications, scopes of work, contracts, budgets, invoices, and reports to verify accuracy, eligibility, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Skill in conveying complex programmatic, technical, and compliance information clearly and professionally through written, verbal, and facilitated communication with diverse partners and audiences.
• Ability to foster collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning while building trusted relationships with internal teams, transit agencies, nonprofit providers.
• Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Requirements

• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute regional monitoring activities, site visits (virtual and in-person), and compliance evaluations while exercising sound professional judgment.
• Working knowledge of public transportation laws, regulations, and guidance, including Federal Transit Administration programs (Sections 5310, 5311, 5339), applicable circulars, state requirements, and Washington Executive Order 14-04, and the ability to apply them effectively in program administration.
• General knowledge of multimodal transportation networks, land use considerations, and industry best practices supporting coordinated and accessible community transportation services.
• General knowledge of public transportation performance, governance, policy, funding, planning, transit operations, special need transportation, transportation demand management, transportation planning, legislative relations, local government relations, and system-wide multimodal transportation analysis.
• Skills to lead and/or participate in teams to provide expertise to collaboratively make decisions, establish and meet timelines, and deliver results that meet customer needs.
• Experience interpreting complex and technical information and communicating verbally and in writing in a simple and easy to understand manner to diverse audiences.
• Experience handling customer questions and complaints, communicating with customers, and providing solutions politely and efficiently while following procedures, understanding department products and services, maintaining pleasant and professional image.
• Ability to meet all team deadlines and responsibilities, listen to others and value opinions, help team leader to meet goals, welcome newcomers and promote a team atmosphere.
• Skills to communicate well both verbally and in writing, create accurate and punctual reports, deliver presentations, share information and ideas with others, and have good listening skills.

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more.