Associate Analyst – Funding and Transit

SACOG is seeking a transportation professional who enjoys collaborating across the agency and with partners, as well as working on their own to support two connected areas of work: SACOG’s regional transportation funding programs and its transit program administration responsibilities. The position includes support for SACOG-led state and federal transportation funding programs, funding estimates and program monitoring. The positions also supports SACOG’s responsibilities administering and monitoring Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding to the region’s transit agencies, and other transit-related funding, reporting, and compliance activities. This position will help ensure a coordinated approach to regional funding.

The Associate Analyst – Funding and Transit will work on a variety of funding and transit activities on the Transportation Team, including support for SACOG-led regional funding programs; coordination of FTA requirements related to Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) duties; technical support for transit reporting and funding activities; and performing other tasks as assigned. This position will be required to work collaboratively with a variety of external partners, including public transit operators, federal agencies, local municipalities, other regional agencies, and state partners, as well as other SACOG teams. This position combines regional transportation funding with transit program administration responsibilities, requiring the ability to work across multiple program areas.

This position will report directly to the Transit Program Manager, but will also work closely with the Funding and Grants Program Manager. 

We know and appreciate that everyone brings their own talents to a job. If we could have it all, here’s what ideal candidate would look like to us:

• Strong organizational skills, including time management, ability to set priorities, and ability to anticipate deadlines
• Adaptability and flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple assignments competing requirements and deadlines
• Dedication to collaboration across SACOG teams and regional partners
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Strong critical thinking skills, including the ability to make effective decisions amidst uncertainty

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience with transit and transportation planning;
• Understanding of state and federal transit programs and transportation planning regulations
• Understanding of and experience with state and federal transportation funding sources, eligibility rules, programming cycles, and grant requirements, especially for FTA programs.
• Ability to develop funding estimates, needs assessments, forecasts, and track awards across multiple programs
• Skill in organizing and analyzing project and funding data to support development of performance monitoring indicators
• Ability to make presentations before various boards and/or committees in an effective and concise manner

The following is not required, but desired:

• Knowledge of the region’s transit network, including operators and key transit corridors.
• Experience with the FTA TrAMS grant management system.
• Ability to understand and explain changing state and federal transportation policies, regulations, and funding guidance, and communicate implications for SACOG programs and partners.
• Proficiency in advanced Excel tools and functions, with working knowledge of GIS and basic mapping applications. 
• Strong coordination and communication skills, including the ability to work with transit operators, local jurisdictions, planners, modelers, and consultants to gather data, clarify assumptions, and document methods. 
• Ability to collaborate with technical staff to support development of analytical frameworks that align data and analysis with transit agency priorities, regulatory requirements, and policy maker needs.

Education & Experience: 

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. We welcome applicants with non-traditional pathways to education and experience. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Transportation/Urban Planning, Public or Business Administration, Political Science or related field.
• Three (3) years of full-time progressively responsible program management work in transportation planning, transportation funding and/or transportation grants or two (2) years of experience equivalent to an Analyst II at SACOG.