Grants Specialist

Kansas City Area Transportation Authority•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

This position supports the KCATA’s efforts to develop funding opportunities by working closely with planning, project management, and other departments / sponsors to plan, submit, implement and track complex grant proposals. This includes the development, preparation, implementation, execution, administration and oversight of multiple grants and special funding programs that are deadline and milestone driven to ensure compliance, timeliness and competitiveness, and assists in the preparation and administration of the capital budget.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business, Finance or a related field.
Two (2) or more years of grants management and writing experience; Federal, State and other grant sources preferred.
An equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities may be considered.

Responsibilities

Lead administration and oversight of the 5310 Program, including annual risk assessments, subrecipient monitoring, compliance reviews, performance evaluations, and ongoing program oversight.
Manage federal, state, and local grant programs to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, procedures, reporting requirements, and financial/technical standards.
Identify, research, and pursue new funding opportunities, including federal, state, local, and special funding sources that align with KCATA priorities.
Develop, write, and submit grant applications, coordinating with internal teams, subject matter experts, and stakeholders to craft competitive proposals and manage timelines.
Support the Federal Programs Officer and Grants Manager in expanding and managing operations grants and related funding streams.
Develop and maintain grant-related policies, guidelines, and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and internal standards.
Assist in capital budget development and financial forecasting, ensuring alignment between grant funding, capital needs, and long‑term financial planning.
Prepare, submit, and monitor grant applications and reporting, including use of federal and state grant systems such as FTA TrAMS, FEMA ND Grants, and FTA ECHO‑Web.
Maintain accurate systems and data for capital expenditures and grant activity, ensuring timely reporting, internal information flow, and communication with project managers and leadership.
Support all grant administration processes, including internal approvals, documentation, audit responses, inquiries, and maintaining compliance across all deadlines and requirements.