Transportation & Grant Specialist

University of New Hampshire

10d•$47,920 - $85,410

About The Position

The Transportation & Grant Specialist manages the full lifecycle of federal, state, and local transportation grants for the University of New Hampshire’s transit organization. This position oversees a portfolio of approximately 16 active Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants totaling $17 million, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, including FTA requirements and OMB Uniform Guidance. The role coordinates closely with planning, operations, finance, procurement, and external oversight agencies to develop grant-ready projects, monitor financial activity, and secure ongoing funding to support transit operations, capital projects, and mobility initiatives. The Specialist also serves as the primary liaison during audits, reviews, and regulatory monitoring, while advancing funding strategies and program development to support UNH Transportation Services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Transportation Planning, or a related field.
Minimum of five years of experience in grant management, preferably within a transit or transportation environment, including federal grant programs.
Experience in budget development/monitoring, financial analysis, procurement, and project management.
Strong understanding of federal transit funding, compliance frameworks, and grant administration requirements.
Proficiency in budgeting, financial monitoring, data interpretation, and reporting.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex regulatory and financial information.
High level of organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple grants, deadlines, and competing priorities.
Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders while managing responsibilities independently.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Experience with transit operations or capital project management.
Prior experience in audit or compliance environments involving federal funding.
Familiarity with regional transportation planning and metropolitan mobility funding processes.

Responsibilities

Grant Program Development & Management (45%) Research, identify, and recommend federal, state, and local grant opportunities aligned with the organization’s transportation priorities. Proactively pursue new funding to support transit operations, capital projects, and mobility initiatives. Prepare, review, and submit grant applications including narratives, budgets, scopes of work, and certifications. Coordinate with internal departments to develop grant-ready projects and track progress, deadlines, amendments, and drawdowns. Oversee administration, reporting, modifications, and closeout of 16 active FTA grants totaling $17 million. Manage modifications, reallocations, and close-out of grants, including final reports and documentation.
Financial Oversight, Budgeting & Compliance (35%) Integrate grant-funded projects into operating and capital budgets in coordination with finance and planning. Monitor and reconcile expenditures, cash flow, reimbursement requests, procurement actions, and cost allocations to ensure compliance. Prepare required financial and programmatic reports for leadership, board committees, and grant agencies. Interpret and apply federal regulations including FTA circulars and OMB Uniform Guidance. Serve as primary point of contact during audits, triennial reviews, and external oversight evaluations; maintain audit-ready documentation.
Stakeholder Coordination, Policy Development & Continuous Improvement (20%) Serve as liaison with funding agencies, state DOT, regional planning organizations, and internal/external project partners. Coordinate project milestones, deliverables, and timelines to ensure alignment with grant requirements. Develop and update policies, procedures, and workflows for effective grant administration and compliance. Recommend process improvements and remain informed about evolving regulations, legislation, and funding opportunities.