About WSDOT
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
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
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:
• Program Administration: Knowledge of principles, methods, and practices for administering programs, including grants management, contract oversight, stakeholder coordination, and performance accountability.
• Grants and Contract Compliance: Knowledge of grant management systems, contract monitoring procedures, reporting standards, documentation practices, and closeout requirements to ensure adherence to state and federal regulations.
• Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance: Skill in evaluating grantee performance, identifying compliance risks, and providing practical technical assistance and training to support successful program delivery.
• Financial and Document Review: Skill in reviewing and interpreting grant applications, scopes of work, contracts, budgets, invoices, and reports to verify accuracy, eligibility, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Skill in conveying complex programmatic, technical, and compliance information clearly and professionally through written, verbal, and facilitated communication with diverse partners and audiences.
• Professionalism and Continuous Improvement: Ability to foster collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning while building trusted relationships with internal teams, transit agencies, nonprofit providers,
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
It is preferred that qualified c