Senior Program Specialist; Commuter Connections at Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments – Washington, District of Columbia

The Senior Program Specialist leads program administration and project management for the Commuter Connections program. This position independently manages multiple concurrent projects, serves as staff lead for stakeholder workgroups and committees, and drives program optimization efforts. The Senior Program Specialist demonstrates applied knowledge of transportation demand management (TDM) and exercises sound judgment with general supervision from senior management. This position proactively identifies and resolves challenges, makes informed decisions on project direction, and interfaces directly with external stakeholders. The Senior Program Specialist provides mentorship to junior staff and may carry limited supervisory responsibilities.

The Senior Program Specialist is responsible for managing multiple concurrent projects and leading program administration for elements of the Commuter Connections program, while also identifying and implementing program optimization opportunities, leading stakeholder workgroups and committees, and monitoring the progress of various projects. Samples of work include, but are not limited to:

• Project management activities for the regional Guaranteed Ride Home program and multiple Vanpool Subsidy Programs.
• Contractor oversight activities for select Commuter Connections programs, including scope development, project management, and financial review.
• Collaborate with internal team members to implement the goDMV Commuter Competition.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for assigned Commuter Connections programs. Authors technical documentation and templates to aid in program implementation.
• Communicate with program participants to convey program eligibility requirements, onboarding, tech troubleshooting, etc.
• Engage in procurement activities for the program, including requesting vendor quotes and authoring Statements of Work.
• Report annually to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) National Transit Database (NTD) as part of the Commuter Connections ‘Pool Rewards Vanpool Subsidy program.
• Makes presentations of significant activities to the committee groups as assigned.
• Establishes and maintains excellent contacts and working relationships with public and private sector agencies and organizations as appropriate.

Supervisory responsibilities:

This position may include supervisory responsibilities, including direct supervision and/or mentorship of one or two team members and/or interns.

Minimum Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in city and regional planning, urban transportation, public administration, public policy, environmental studies, business, or a closely related field and six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in city and regional planning, urban transportation, public administration, public policy, environmental studies, business; OR
• Master's degree in city and regional planning, urban transportation, public administration, public policy, environmental studies, business, or a closely related field and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in public policy, transportation, urban planning, program management, or a related field.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.

Desired Competencies

• Public Program Implementation: Demonstrates working knowledge of program operations, including the ability to author, refine, and apply Standard Operating Procedures and Program Management Plans. Independently leads project implementation across multiple concurrent assignments while providing support to overlapping projects within Commuter Connections. Identifies optimization opportunities and takes initiative to improve program outcomes.
• Project Management: Manages multiple projects simultaneously, including those with contracted support and internal team members. Develops and refines statements of work, tracks project milestones and deliverables, and coordinates with support teams to issue contracts, conduct procurement, and processes invoices. Gathers and interprets program data to inform data-driven decisions on optimization efforts. Monitors budgets and ensures work remains on schedule and within budget.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Proactively identifies problems before they arise, collects relevant data, and draws well-supported conclusions to keep projects on track. Troubleshoots and resolves issues efficiently, evaluates program effectiveness, and adjusts processes to improve efficiency. Comfortable interpreting complex technical instructions, managing abstract and concrete variables, and performing quantitative analysis including percentages, rates, and ratios. Reads, analyzes, and synthesizes technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents to inform program decisions.
• Communications & Interpersonal Skills: Provides professional and effective support to program participants and stakeholders, including written guidance and technical assistance. Serves as staff lead for workgroups and/or committees, drafting agendas, recording meeting highlights, recruiting speakers, facilitating discussion, and regularly delivering presentations and briefings to internal and external audiences. Presents technical findings clearly to non-technical audiences and responds effectively to inquiries and concerns from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders, and the public. Demonstrates experience in public speaking, leading group discussions, and producing clear and concise memos, reports, and program documentation. Builds productive working relationships with team members and regional stakeholders at all levels, including senior management and boards of directors.
• Organizational Skills: Works independently with minimal direction from supervisor to determine priority deliverables and manages day-to-day tasks across multiple concurrent projects. Reports progress using project management tools. Provides regular guidance to junior staff on task implementation and best practices.
• Technical & Software Proficiency. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams) and web conferencing platforms (Webex, Zoom). Ability to manage and analyze data in spreadsheets, including creating pivot tables and publishing tables/graphs in Microsoft Excel. Ability to administer program tasks within custom software for program implementation.