Transportation Assistant jobs in Orange, CA

Overview

Why OCTA:

Discover work that moves you in a dynamic and innovative setting. Be part of a team delivering Orange County’s transportation network of today and creating a vision for the future.

OCTA is the county’s transportation planning commission and public transit operator. With a focus on safety and accountability, we plan, fund, and implement countywide projects that include bus and rail transit, freeways and express lanes, rideshare, microtransit, paratransit, active transportation, and environmental programs.

We’re passionate about creating a balanced, equitable and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. 

Our employees rated OCTA as a top workplace in Orange County. Come join us on our mission of keeping Orange County moving.

Overview:

Under general supervision, plans, analyzes, coordinates, implements and assists in the development of the programming and administration of multi-modal transportation funding programs and related activities.  Incumbents may be assigned to Discretionary Funding Programs, Formula Funding Programs or Measure M Local Programs.

Discretionary Funding Programs focus on pursuing competitive program funds from regional, state, and federal fund sources and may issue calls for projects utilizing state or federal funds.  Formula Funding Programs aligns formula funds with high priority OCTA projects and ensures that projects of regional significance are included in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program.  Measure M Local Programs focuses on distributing and administering funds from Orange County’s transportation sales tax, Measure M or OC Go to local agencies and works with those agencies to ensure they comply with program requirements and maintain eligibility to receive funds.

Transportation Funding Analyst - This is an exempt position in Salary Grade ­­195: Min $86,328.00 – Mid $103,593.00 – Max $120,859.00 annually. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

Transportation Funding Analyst, Associate - This is a non-exempt position in Salary Grade ­­185: Min $37.65 – Mid $45.17 – Max $52.70 hourly. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

The position will remain open until a candidate is selected.

Responsibilities

This list is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and is not designed to be interpreted as an exhaustive listing of all tasks required of employees assigned to this job.

Displays High Integrity & Honesty: Takes personal responsibility, acts with honesty and consistency.

Has Technical and Professional Expertise: Has the technical skills, product knowledge and professional skills to do the job.

• Maintains project specific funding and programming information and schedules for multiple federal, state, and local funding programs, measures, and/or propositions. Maintains records related to recipients, funding allocations, project details, and expenditures using spreadsheets and databases. 
• Prepares and conducts workshops for local agencies, calls, projects, and/or eligibility criteria. Prepares and provides status and reports to applicable committees.
• Administers or supports calls for projects to provide funding to local agencies under various funding programs.
• Prepares and assists in the preparation of grant applications. Reviews and processes payments and reimbursement requests. Assists with internal and external financial, performance and grant related audits and reviews.
• Participates in the preparation of various required federal, state, and local programs and plans such as the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and the Measure M Regional Capacity Program (RCP), etc., in accordance with mandated guidelines.  
• Assists in the management of project funding. Supports the monitoring of project implementation status as well as tracks progress against time and funding requirements. 
• Prepares various reports for management, policymakers, and funding agencies.
• Develops scopes of work and participates in vendor selection for transportation related projects as well as monitoring the performance of selected consultants/ contractors.
• Prepares and distributes meeting agendas, meeting minutes, correspondence, etc., for administration of various programming meetings.

Works in a Collaborative Manner with Others: Works in a collaborative manner with others, helps resolve unproductive conflict.

• Assists in assessing agencies and projects for eligibility for federal, state, and local funding programs consistent with various measures’ ordinances and/or funding guidelines and assists in coordinating with agencies and project managers to ensure continued or future eligibility. 
• Prepares and maintains guidebooks and guidelines for funding related programs, requirements and processes as well as serves as liaison between the local agencies and the agency.  Assists in the development and provides training/workshops related to funding programs. 

Learning Agility: Seeks feedback actively and strives to improve based on that feedback. Strive for continual improvement.

• Remains current on changing federal, state, and local grant rules and regulations and comments on proposed grant related legislation, rules, guidelines, and requirements.
• Represents the agency and responds to inquiries at meetings of public and professional groups which may include cities and federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors and/or the general public. 

Drives for Results: Operates with speed and intensity, translates long-term goals into immediate actions.

• Updates funding program manuals, leads workshops for local agencies, and provides measure related eligibility information to applicable committees to support continued or future eligibility.
• Participates in the development and monitoring of financial programming documents as well as assists with the development of agreements and documents necessary to receive or to provide funding.
• Assists in the development and presents written, oral and visual reports, presentations, analyses, maps, charts and other graphics for the Board of Directors, policy, and stakeholder committees such as the Technical Advisory Committee, agencies, community groups, private organizations, internal staff and members of the public. 
• Participates in conducting research, interpretation, analysis, programming, forecasting and preparation of applications, allocations, and reports for existing and new federal, state, and local funding sources.  Participates in making recommendations including specific funding strategies that are consistent with agency goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Describes funding alternatives and supports recommendations to management and policy makers to ensure that the region fully leverages all available funding.

Qualifications

Transportation Funding Analyst - Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in planning, public/business administration or management, finance, economics, marketing, communications, social sciences, or a related field with a minimum of two years of experience in transportation, or financial analysis, or grant writing, or grant management, or related field.

Transportation Funding Analyst, Associate - Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in planning, public/business administration, finance, marketing, communications, social sciences, or a related field.  Related experience preferred. Coursework in an area of study that supports the work to be performed is desirable.

Working Conditions/Physical Activities:(The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. OCTA provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

Positions in this class typically require:

• Work may be performed in a stressful, fast-paced office environment, depending upon assignment.
• Ability to understand verbal communication and to respond effectively.
• Reaching, Finger Dexterity, Grasping, Feeling, Talking, Hearing, Seeing, and Repetitive Motions in computer use.

Compensation and Benefits:

OCTA offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision health insurance programs, flex time (may be available), paid sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement, deferred compensation plan, educational reimbursement, excellent in-house training programs, free transportation passes for the employee and dependents, wellness and ergonomic programs, and much more. OCTA has a hybrid remote work program. Eligibility is dependent on manager’s approval.

OCTA is an equal employment opportunity employer that recruits, hires, and promotes qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, military and veteran status, or other legally protected status.