Federal Funding & Grants Specialist - Washington State Ferries

Federal Funding & Grants Specialist

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is an essential part of Washington's transportation network. Every year, we carry nearly 20 million passengers across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands on more than 400 sailings a day. Our dedicated teams with over 2,100 people work together to serve our communities and shape the future of ferry travel.

WSF, a division of WSDOT, is currently seeking a Federal Funding & Grants Specialist to lead the strategic planning, analysis, and coordination of federal funding and grant programs that support WSF's capital and operating priorities. As WSF's primary subject matter expert on federal and state grant programs, this position provides strategic guidance to executive leadership and represents WSF's funding interests with federal agencies, state partners, and regional planning organizations.

This role helps maximize funding opportunities, strengthen grant management practices, and ensure alignment with applicable requirements and WSF priorities. The position's work is critical to securing and effectively managing resources that support safe, reliable ferry service and the communities that depend on Washington's marine transportation system.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the Federal Funding & Grants Specialist will:

• Serve as WSF's subject matter expert on federal and state grant programs, policies, regulations, and funding requirements.
• Develop and maintain grant policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with federal requirements.
• Lead federal funding strategy, forecasting, planning, and evaluation of grant opportunities.
• Coordinate federal funding activities with grantor agencies, WSDOT, regional partners, and internal WSF programs.
• Lead competitive grant application development, project eligibility reviews, funding recommendations, and grantor responses.
• Provide federal funding expertise for WSF capital, operating, long-range, and regional transportation planning.
• Review grant documentation, reporting, and compliance materials and provide technical guidance across WSF.
• Monitor and communicate federal policy changes, funding opportunities, deadlines, and compliance requirements.
• Uphold WSF's strategic priorities (Service Excellence, Improved Communication, and Empowered People) and values (Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate), ensuring they are embedded in WSF's culture through leadership actions.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

• Federal Grants Knowledge & Expertise
  • Demonstrated knowledge of federal transportation grant programs, laws, regulations, and funding distribution processes, including FTA, FHWA, DHS, FEMA, and MARAD programs.
  • Knowledge of federal grant planning, application, budgeting, programming, and administration throughout the full grant life cycle.
  • Knowledge of federal electronic grant management systems, including TrAMS and Grants.gov.
• Strategic Planning & Analysis
  • Ability to lead strategic planning for the use of federal funds; develop and maintain federal revenue forecasts; and reconcile available federal funds against programmed uses across capital and operating programs.
  • Skill in researching, evaluating, and recommending federal funding opportunities to executive management.
• Policy Development & Advisory Services
  • Ability to develop, maintain, and analyze grant policies, procedures, and practices.
  • Skill in performing management analysis to identify efficiency improvements in grant administration.
  • Ability to prepare clear, accurate analysis and briefing materials for executive management, OFM, and legislative staff.
• Lead Work Collaboration
  • Ability to provide lead work collaboration and technical guidance across WSF on federal funding and grant matters based on subject matter expertise.
  • Skill in coordinating work activities across WSF to ensure alignment with federal requirements and program deadlines.
  • Ability to review work products for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with federal requirements.
  • Ability to serve as WSF's primary liaison with federal grantor agencies, MPOs, RTPOs, and regional planning bodies.
  • Skill in organizing, facilitating, and representing WSF in interagency meetings and regional planning forums.
• Communication
  • Ability to communicate complex grant and funding information with precision and clarity, both verbally and in writing, to audiences ranging from federal agency staff to WSF executives and legislators.
  • Ability…