Massachusetts Jobs

Position Summary With the passage of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, MassDOT and other state agencies have been presented with unprecedented opportunities to obtain funding for transformative infrastructure projects. This is an exciting time for MassDOT and the Commonwealth as it prepares to compete for new federal funding for high impact projects across the state. The Grants Program Coordinator will be instrumental in connecting funding opportunities with local and regional needs, developing grant applications, communicating between MassDOT departments and other state or federal agencies, and organizing grant-related information. All municipal facing work will be conducted with an emphasis on supporting rural and environmental justice (EJ) communities. Duties and Responsibilities The selected applicant will be assigned to the Municipal Grants Engagement section of the Office of Transportation Planning and will manage several federal programs as well as liaise with MassDOT’s regional partners. Specific duties include the following: * Grant Research and Identification: Proactively research and identify relevant federal, state, and local grant opportunities for transportation projects. Stay up-to-date on new and evolving funding programs, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic goals. * Grant Preparation and Submission: Manage the preparation of MassDOT grant applications and supporting documentation in an organized and timely fashion with great attention to detail on behalf of MassDOT and occasionally in coordination with consultant teams. Applications may involve technical components such as benefit-cost analyses (BCAs), budgets, and responses to merit criteria, among others. * Stakeholder Coordination: Lead discussions within MassDOT Divisions, state and federal representatives, municipal staff, and regional stakeholders in identifying project priorities and funding needs. Act as liaison between different local, state, and federal agencies on matters related to grant funding. * Communicating Grant Activities: Assist the Manager of Municipal Grants Engagement with communications between various MassDOT departments and divisions related to funding opportunities to gather or disseminate information, obtain concurrence on certain topics, schedule meetings, and similar tasks. * Grant Administration and Compliance Oversight: Ensure the proper administration of federal grants that have been awarded to MassDOT or that MassDOT will manage by overseeing the post-award process, including financial management, reporting, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This involves tracking grant expenditures, managing disbursements, and ensuring that all activities adhere to the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. * Grant Tracking: Develop reports that track all grants awarded, applications in progress, and applications not awarded. Play a key role in improving processes related to the tracking of federal grants. * Public Engagement: Provide guidance to municipalities on the appropriate funding programs for their projects, including both state and federal opportunities. This includes organizing and hosting webinars or meetings to discuss funding programs and MassDOT’s role in supporting applicants. * Targeted Engagement: Oversee targeted outreach to communities with projects that are well suited for a particular grant program with an emphasis on reaching rural and/or environmental justice communities. * Technical Assistance to Municipalities: Assist municipalities with the development of grant funding applications as appropriate with an emphasis on reaching rural and/or environmental justice communities. Preferred Qualifications While there is an expectation that the individual in this role will still have room to develop and hone some skills, the ideal candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate the following skills or interests: * Project management – an ability to assist the group in the management of administrative tasks associated with consultant support projects, including the development of work scopes, procurement of consultant services, management of consultant teams, budget oversight, etc. The Office uses public resources to complete transportation planning studies and reports, and also often employs private consultants in these efforts. It is imperative that the candidate know how to manage a budget and schedule on-time and within budget. * Business administration - The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in business administration, particularly as it applies to transportation planning projects. This includes experience with budget development, oversight, and management of both public and private funds, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget. The candidate should be comfortable with benefit-cost analyses (BCA) and other financial tools used to justify investments in transportation projects. Additionally, they should be able to collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to align project goals with financial constraints, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. * Strong communication skills – an ability to write clearly and efficiently in white papers, memos, and emails for a range of public audiences and internal and external stakeholders; an ability to communicate messages visually through assorted graphics and PowerPoint presentations for internal and public audiences; confident public speaking skills. The diversity of information and audiences relevant to this position make the ideal candidate one who can both understand and communicate across a range of topic areas, but also learn and appreciate the perspectives of these varied audiences. * Analytical skills – an ability to review, digest, and draw conclusions from data related to a range of transportation planning or policy issues; a comfort manipulating data and conducting analysis using excel, GIS, and other analytical tools. * Professional work ethic – a proven capacity and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment characterized by multiple and overlapping deadlines; an ability to be flexible and respond to changes in direction from MassDOT/MBTA leadership; an ability to independently execute tasks both with direct support as well as with more limited oversight. * Encourage and sustain positive team dynamic –The nature of transportation planning requires collaboration and teamwork. The ideal candidate should like to work in teams and know how to create and improve team dynamics to ensure good transportation planning. * Demonstrated interest and passion for improving public transportation in Massachusetts – including an understanding of the factors that make public transportation competitive; a familiarity with the political, media and government context within which the MBTA and other public transit providers in the Commonwealth operate; and an interest in creatively pursuing their own ideas to improve the experience of transit riders. This position is eligible for a five thousand dollar ($5,000) signing bonus (“Signing Bonus”) if you are newly hired to the Unit E collective bargaining unit at MassDOT. The Signing Bonus will be paid in two parts: 1) $3,000 (less applicable taxes) included in the employee’s first paycheck. 2) $2,000 (less applicable taxes) after the successful completion of the employee’s probationary period. Only candidates external to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation are eligible for the sign-on bonus. About MassDOT * The 4,000 employees of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) takegreat pridein connecting the Commonwealth’s residents and communities. MassDOTis responsible fordeveloping, implementing, and coordinating transportation policies and projects for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to efficiently plan, design, construct, andmaintaina safe statewide transportation system which effectively meets the transportation needs of the Commonwealth. Information about MassDOT’s inclusive culture and career opportunities can be found at mass.gov/massdot-careers. MassDOT’s divisions include Highway, Registry of Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, and Rail & Transit. Headquarters (Planning & Enterprise Services) provides business and administrative support and policy leadership for each of the four (4) divisions.   *Minimum Entrance Requirements This requisition will remain open until filled; however, first consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. Current MassDOT employees should use their internal MassCareers account to apply. All job applications must be submitted online through MassCareers to be considered. Please provide a complete, accurate and current resume / application for MassDOT to review in order to determine if your submitted materials meet the minimum entrance requirements for the position. Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or technical experience in urban planning, regional planning, land use planning or transportation planning, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in urban or regional planning or transportation, civil or environmental engineering may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.* II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning or transportation, civil or environmental engineering may be substituted for the required experience.* Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. Special Requirement: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required. * For questions regarding the job posting, please email the MassDOT Talent Acquisition Team at talentacquisition@dot.state.ma.us. * For general questions regarding MassDOT, call the Human Resources Service Center at 857‐368‐4722. * For a disability‐related reasonable accommodation or alternative application method, call the ADA Coordinator, Lucy Bayard, at 857‐274‐1935. *Comprehensive Benefits When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. * The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.* Job: Science* *Organization: Massachusetts Department of Transportation *Title: *Grants Program Coordinator (Transportation Program Planner II) Location: Massachusetts-Boston-10 Park Plaza Requisition ID: 24000932