• Transportation Planner II (Grade 6):      $ $48,364 – $68,532
• Transportation Planner III (Grade 7):     $53,163-$75,385
• Transportation Planner IV (Grade 8):     $59,584- $84,431

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is seeking a Transportation Planner for the Program Coordination Team to support the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB’s) Human Service Transportation Coordination Program. The successful candidate will perform professional level planning and grants management activities for the TPB, the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Washington metropolitan area. The TPB’s Human Service Transportation Program awards grants on a competitive basis to non-profit agencies, local governments and private transportation companies to provide specialized transportation to persons with disabilities; older adults and low-income commuters.  The TPB is the designated recipient of two Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs under SAFETEA-LU: Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) for low-income commuters and the New Freedom for persons with disabilities. The TPB is expected to become the designated recipient for a new program under MAP-21, Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults.   Work activities will include the following:

(1)   Serve a lead role in administering approximately 45 grants totaling $25 million from FTA’s Job Access and Reverse Commute, New Freedom, and Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility programs. Activities include managing the grants in FTA’s online grants management software (TEAM), developing FTA required submission and compliance information such as the Program of Projects and DBE reports, and working with approximately 30 subgrantees and COG’s Office of Administrative Services on FTA required documentation, monthly invoices, quarterly Federal Finical Reports (FFRs) and milestone reports, and annual performance reports.

(2)   Provide staff support to the TPB’s Human Service Transportation Coordination Task Force which includes human service and transportation agency representatives from the local jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland and Washington, D.C. The Task Force is responsible for guiding updates to the Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan and developing priority projects for grant funding.

(3)   Assist with update of the Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan, with the guidance of the Human Service Transportation Coordination Task Force, to set priorities and evaluation criteria for MAP-21’s  Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility Program.

(4)   Assist with the project solicitation for Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility Program grants which is expected to occur between January and April 2014. This activity includes publicizing the grant opportunity, conducting pre-application conferences for potential applicants, reviewing applications for completeness, and staffing the selection committee which will make funding recommendations to the TPB.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Requires (1) knowledge of principles and practices of transportation planning and/or human services; (2) knowledge of or experience with Federal, State, or local grant administration; (3) financial management or project management experience desired and experience with FTA’s Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system a plus; (4) strong software skills in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), experience with presentation graphic programs such as InDesign, a plus (5) strong oral and written communication skills ; and (6) the ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees, grantees, elected officials and the public.

Transportation Planner II: This position requires two years working experience in transportation planning or human services, and a bachelor’s degree in planning, human services, public administration, or an appropriate related field. Federal, State or local grants administration and project management experience desired.  Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills, and abilities will be considered.

Transportation Planner III: This position requires three years working experience in transportation planning or human services, and a master’s degree in planning, human services, public administration, or an appropriate related field. Federal, State or local grants administration and project management experience desired.  Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills, and abilities will be considered.

Transportation Planner IV: This position requires at least four years working experience in transportation planning or human services and a master’s degree in planning, human services, public administration, or an appropriate related field, and Federal, State or local grants administration and project management experience. Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills, and abilities will be considered.

EEO EMPLOYER

To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter, salary history, and resume to:

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments/ Human Resources

777 North Capitol Street, NE  Suite 300

Washington, DC  20002-4239

Visit our website at:  www.mwcog.org  or  Fax:  202-962-3715