Program Manager

Grays Harbor Transit (WA); East Hoquiam (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Grays Harbor Transit in Hoquiam, WA seeks a Program Manager to oversee strategic planning, management, and administration of planning and development functions. The role directs long-range transit planning, service planning, marketing, communications, grants administration, procurement, asset management, and major capital projects.

Responsibilities include cross-department collaboration, ensuring compliance with federal/state requirements, and leading capital project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of progressively responsible experience in public transportation planning, grants administration, procurement, or capital project management.
• Experience working with federal or state transportation programs and public agencies in Washington State is preferred.
• Prior supervisory or project leadership experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for long-range transportation planning, service planning, marketing, communications, community outreach, grants administration, procurement, asset management, and capital projects.
• Coordinate cross-departmental efforts and ensure compliance with federal/state requirements.
• Lead or supervise staff and prepare reports, budgets, and strategic recommendations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project management

Grants administration

Budgeting

Public procurement

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning/Urban or Regional Planning/Public Administration/Business Administration/Project Management

Job description

Department: Administration Location: Hoquiam, WA

Job Type: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt Union: Non-Represented

Position reports to: General Manager

Manage or Supervise: Procurement Coordinator and Communication Specialist

Position Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for the strategic planning, management, and administration of the agency's planning and development functions. This position plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates long-range transit planning, service planning, marketing, communications, community outreach, grants administration, procurement, capital asset management, and the development and implementation of major agency capital projects. This position works collaboratively across departments to advance organizational priorities, improve service delivery, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Development

• Lead and oversee the agency’s long-range transportation planning, transit service planning and strategic development initiatives
• Review regional, county, city, and local comprehensive plans to evaluate impacts on transit services and recommend operational adjustments to the General Manager and management team.

• Analyze census data, demographic trends, land use changes, economic development and travel patterns to identify future transit service needs
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Finance, and other departments to develop long-range service, vehicle replacement, and expansion strategies.
• Develop capital improvement plans that support agency growth, service expansion and long-term operational needs.

Capital Projects and Project Management

• Serve as agency project manager for major capital procurement and capital construction projects from concept to successful closeout.
• Coordinate project development, grant compliance, procurement activities, consultant management, design review, construction oversight, and project reporting.
• Ensure projects comply with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and other state and local funding requirements.
• Lead cross-departmental project teams to successfully implement strategic agency initiatives.

Grants Administration

• Direct grant planning, application development, grant administration, reimbursement, reporting, and closeout activities.
• Identify and pursue federal, state, and local funding opportunities that support agency priorities.
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements and reporting obligations.

Marketing, Communication & Outreach

• Direct agency marketing, public information, communications, customer engagement, and community outreach programs. Serves as the agency’s Public Information Officer.
• Develop public involvement strategies supporting service planning, capital projects, and agency initiatives.
• Represent the agency with community organizations, governmental agencies, regional planning organizations, and the public.

Regulatory Compliance and Asset Management

• Serve as the Agency's Title VI Officer responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and maintaining the agency's Title VI Program in accordance with federal and state requirements.
• Serve as the Agency ADA Coordinator, ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related accessibility requirements.
• Oversee the Agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, including compliance, reporting, and good faith efforts.

• Ensure adherence to all applicable federal and state civil rights, accessibility, and public transportation regulations.

• Direct agency compliance reporting, including, but not limited to, Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM), Transit Development Plan (TDP), State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), National Transit Database (NTD), Annual Asset Certifications and Assurances, and Capital asset inventory reporting for rolling stock and facilities.
• Maintain oversight of agency asset inventories and capital replacement planning.

Procurement and Asset Disposal

• Oversee procurement activities related to capital projects, equipment, vehicles, professional services, and construction contracts. Ensure compliance with procurement policy, prevailing wage and other regulatory requirements.
• Supervise the disposition of surplus agency property in accordance with agency policy and applicable laws.
• Obtain governing authority approval for surplus property declarations and oversee disposal through sale, trade, transfer, or other authorized methods.

Leadership and Administration

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for assigned staff.
• Develop department budget, work plans, performance measures, and staffing plans.
• Establish department policies, procedures, and operational objectives consistent with agency goals.
• Participate as a member of the agency's leadership team in strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for the General Manager, governing authority, and external agencies.
• Lead and coordinate special projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of agency operations and strategic objectives.

Required Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Public transportation planning and operations, including long-range and service planning, regional transportation and land use planning, and demographic and travel trend analysis.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and other federal, state, and local requirements applicable to transit programs, grants, procurement, capital projects, and regulatory compliance.
• Grant development and administration, including funding applications, reimbursement, compliance, reporting, and closeout.
• Transit capital project development and project management, including procurement, consultant management, construction, contract administration, and project closeout.
• Public procurement laws and contracting practices, including federally funded procurement, prevailing wage requirements, and disposition of publicly funded or surplus property.
• Transit asset management, capital replacement planning, and transit reporting requirements, including TAM, TDP, STIP, NTD, and applicable certifications and assurances.
• Title VI, ADA, DBE, and other civil rights, accessibility, and nondiscrimination requirements applicable to public transportation.
• Budget development, financial management, public administration, strategic planning, organizational leadership, and employee supervision.
• Marketing, communications, public involvement, customer engagement, and community outreach principles and practices.
• Microsoft Office Suite and financial, accounting, grant, project management, and related information systems.

Skills in:

• Developing and implementing strategic, long-range transportation, service, capital, and organizational plans.
• Analyzing demographic, financial, operational, land use, asset, and performance data to identify needs and support recommendations.
• Managing complex capital projects, grants, procurements, contracts, and regulatory requirements involving multiple departments and external partners.
• Interpreting and applying federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, grant requirements, and contractual provisions.
• Developing budgets, work plans, performance measures, regulatory reports, spreadsheets, policies, procedures, and other program documentation.
• Supervising and developing employees and leading multidisciplinary and cross-departmental teams.
• Developing effective marketing, communications, public involvement, and community engagement strategies.
• Preparing and presenting clear reports, correspondence, presentations, and recommendations to management, governing officials, public agencies, community partners, and the public.

Ability to:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for multiple programs, projects, and organizational initiatives.
• Plan, organize, prioritize, and manage complex work while meeting changing priorities, regulatory requirements, and deadlines.
• Analyze complex issues, evaluate alternatives, exercise sound judgment and discretion, and develop practical solutions.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with employees, governing officials, public agencies, consultants, contractors, community partners, and the public.
• Work independently and collaboratively while leading cross-functional efforts and promoting accountability and teamwork.
• Effectively represent the agency before governing bodies, government agencies, regional organizations, community groups, and the public.
• Incorporate and demonstrate Grays Harbor Transit’s Core Values in leadership, decision-making, communication, and workplace interactions.
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive or confidential information.

Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning, Urban or Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, or a closely related field, and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public transportation planning, grant administration, procurement, capital project management, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. Experience working with federal or state transportation programs and public agencies in Washington State is preferred. Prior public transportation experience and supervisory or project leadership experience are also preferred.