Grants Manager

About the Organization

Are you looking for a different type of state government job? Something with a little more excitement and a more fast-paced and fluid environment? How about an opportunity to be part of one of the most remarkable transportation projects in California's history? The California High-Speed Rail Authority is a small and dynamic state agency that is looking for employees who are interested in a challenging and rewarding job opportunity.

About the Role

Under the general direction of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (Authority) Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Grants Manager is responsible for developing and implementing policies related to pursuit of new sources of funding, pre and post application and award grant management, support for grant applications of partner jurisdictions, use of local and in-kind match to match existing and new sources of federal funding, leveraging of state-funding to support stakeholder agreements. New policy development will also include the creation, implementation and coordination of federal oversight policies and procedures related to federal coordination and communications. New policy directives would also include creation of internal policy that will be implemented across the agency governing management of and modifications to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved grant budget and scope. The administrative duties of managing the requirements of the Authority’s grant funding program. The Authority has current federal grant sources and will pursue future grant opportunities in order to deliver the high-speed rail system. This position will administer the Authority’s grant program which includes managing, monitoring and reporting on the Authority’s federal and state grants, providing grant agreement and policy analysis and recommendations related to the oversight of grants and matching funds, preparing and submitting grant agreements, progress reports, budget revision amendments and initiating grant close-out.

The Authority is a State agency with a highly visible, unique and specific transportation purpose, which does not currently mirror the function and structure of other state agencies. As such, the role of this position requires a subject-matter expert with specialized experience in both transportation policy and administration that does not reside in current civil service classifications. One of the high-speed rail project's primary funding sources consists of billions of dollars from the United States Department of Transportation (administered through the FRA). The position will serve as the primary point of contact between the Authority's Executive Management Team and the FRA for negotiations on issues of federal grant policy, strategic amendments to existing funding agreements and new sources of funding to maximize the use and flexibility of existing and new funding sources in the best interest of the Authority. This position will plot the strategic policy direction of current and future sources of federal funding, while also ensuring agency-wide integration of a myriad of complex federal requirements across multiple disciplines, consulting teams and stakeholder agencies. The position serves as a strategic expert resource to upper management as well as technical resource to other divisions and project managers, ensuring that those responsible for managing various programmatic requirements affected by grant funding are in compliance with State and Federal regulations. This position is long-term and will involve a continuous applied effort to manage the full length of the grant program for Phase 1 through 2029.

Location

The High-Speed Rail Authority headquarters building is located in downtown Sacramento on the corner of 8th and L Street. We are located one block away from the 8th and Capitol light rail stop, as well as the 7th and Capitol light rail stop. The building is also within walking distance of DOCO, the California State Capitol Park, a farmer’s market during summer months, and Old Sacramento.

Desirable Skills

• Skill in analyzing and evaluating grant applications and proposed agreements;
• Technical writing and proofreading skills, including ability to draft grant and contract language;
• Presentation skills; ability to lead meetings and respond to technical inquiries;
• Problem solving, conflict resolution and analytical skills;
• Skill in operating a personal computer using word, spreadsheet and relational database software;
• Experience with scheduling projects;
• Bachelor’s degree in appropriate discipline, plus five years of relevant grants management experience;
• Possess an extensive working knowledge of the federal guidelines and specific experience managing and overseeing U.S. Department of Transportation competitive grant programs;
• Broad base of relevant technical knowledge and skills related to financial budget management;
• Strong planning, administrative, organizational, personnel and budget management skills;
• Experience administering, implementing and overseeing grants and cooperative agreements to state agencies in support of transportation policy objectives;
• Experience monitoring payment disbursements;
• Experience serving as liaison with federal funding agencies and external customers to clarify, interpret and resolve account issues.
• Ability to deal effectively with and represent the Authority to a wide range of state and federal agencies, sub grantees, financial institutions, vendors, consultants and others including basic negotiating skills;
• Substantial working knowledge to exercise grant management processes and techniques consistent with sound business, industry and construction practices;
• Experience handling multiple projects simultaneously;
• Reason logically and creatively and utilize a variety of analytical techniques to resolve complex governmental problems;
• Analyze data and present ideas and information effectively both orally and in writing;
• Review and edit written reports, utilize interdisciplinary teams effectively;
• Establish and maintain project priorities;
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office suite applications; Internet research and database programs.

Minimum Qualifications

To learn more about the minimum qualifications, please click here.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.