Are you looking for a meaningful career opportunity in a great environment? Look no further than the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Local Systems Bureau. The Local Systems Bureau is seeking qualified applicants for the Transportation Planner 2 position, which is known as the Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA Set-aside) Project Manager. The TA Set-aside Project Manager is responsible for managing the concurrent development of seventy-plus Federal-aid projects with local project sponsors. The TA Set-aside program awards federal funds to a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, and community improvements such as historic preservation, vegetation management, and some environmental mitigation related to storm water and habitat connectivity.
Location: We offer a remote working environment. If working remotely, applicants will be required to live in the state of Iowa and will be assigned to an Iowa DOT location, negotiable upon hire. This position is not required to report to the Iowa DOT location daily.
Shift Requirements: Full-time (40 hours/week), Monday-Friday. Flex hours allowed with Supervisor approval. Some travel will be required to meet with the public and local, state, and federal agency staff for pre-construction meetings, final audit reviews, as well as on other occasions as needed, such as for pre-award project evaluations and to resolve construction disputes.
Summary of Job Duties:
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Develop projects awarded funding through the $17 million Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA Set-aside) Program, as well as other projects awarded state or federal funding by the Department, as assigned.
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Prepare project agreements using the applicable approved template. Review any deviations from the agreement with the team leader and bureau director.
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Work with project sponsors, other Iowa DOT bureaus, and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff to ensure projects comply with the terms of the agreement and follow appropriate procedures.
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Identify areas of non-compliance and work with project sponsors to obtain a resolution. This will involve phone and email discussions as well as writing memorandums and reports.
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Investigate and resolve problems concerning design exceptions and general project development in consultation with the team leader and bureau director. Work with project sponsors, Program Management Bureau, Contracts & Specifications Bureau, and Federal Highway Administration staff to obtain FHWA authorization for project work, as needed.
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Manage existing grant program databases. Identify proposed improvements to data management that allows for the efficient administration of the grant programs. Implement improvements to allow for enhanced project monitoring. Assist grant program managers in accessing databases and running queries for a variety of research purposes.
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Monitor projects for the TA Set-aside program. Monitor project development and completion. Direct administrative staff to create revenue and expenditure tracking reports. Analyze reports to ensure projects are progressing in a timely manner and program funds are expended within state or federal required time periods. Work with project sponsors to increase work progress and complete on schedule. Monitor and evaluate project sites for appropriate construction activities and approve satisfactory completion. Write reports as necessary and review with the team leader and bureau director. Monitor project maintenance per the executed project agreement. Provide information and monitor project sponsor compliance with state and federal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI.
This position works with local project sponsors and designers and monitors project development and contract administration to ensure that projects comply with the terms of the project funding agreement and follow appropriate procedures. Projects are reviewed for continued program eligibility, concerns, and satisfactory performance throughout development of the project, during construction, and at the time of project close-out. The (TA Set-aside) Project Manager identifies any areas of non-compliance and coordinates the resolution of any issues with local project sponsors, designers, other Iowa DOT Bureaus, contractors, and, as applicable, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Project development and contract administration activities also include preparing project agreements, securing environmental clearances, authorizing funding obligations with the FHWA (as applicable), reviewing project plans and specifications with assistance, assisting with a local letting or Iowa DOT letting, providing assistance regarding the interpretation of specifications, monitoring construction progress, comparing construction material and service invoices against lists of reimbursable items, reviewing the final project, and completing a final audit. The project manager also helps to resolve any contract disputes.
This position is also responsible for managing existing grant program databases, completing various reports, and providing assistance to the program managers of Iowa's Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP), Federal Recreational Trails, Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE), State Recreational Trails, TA Set-aside, and Iowa Byways programs. This position will also need to plan and implement future improvements to data management to result in the efficient administration of the grant programs. Thus, a strong proficiency with database management is required, and familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS) is preferred. The project manager will interact with project sponsors, designers, contractors, planning agencies, user groups, the FHWA, and other Iowa DOT Bureaus through verbal and written communication and will use databases and web applications, including, but not limited to, Transportation Program Management System (TPMS), Masterworks, Financial Management Information System (FMIS), Doc Express, and Appia.
Required certifications/licenses:
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Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in the State of Iowa.
As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:
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Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
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Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
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Opportunities for professional growth and development.
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Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
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Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
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Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
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Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee Benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!
Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply now!
The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at:
[email protected].
Reasonable accommodation, such as an interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
