Program Manager III

Serves as the Director of Transit Programs. Assists the Deputy Secretary for Intermodal & Freight (l&F) in managing the State's intermodal needs. Responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of l&F's Transit Program. Provides leadership, oversight, and direction to the Transit Operations Manager and Transit Compliance Manager and their respective teams. Responsibilities Budget, Grant, and Contract Management: Oversees the full transit budget, grants and contracts lifecycle, including application, award, compliance, budget monitoring, and closeout. Reviews and approves annual budget submissions and ensures budget to actual reconciliations. Ensures subrecipient agreements and consultant contracts are developed, negotiated, and administered in accordance with applicable regulations. Directs that the transit portion of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) are updated and coordinated with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Councils of Governments (COGs), transit agencies, and internal staff to ensure timely approval of funding. Directs appropriate contract development, procurement coordination, performance monitoring, invoice review, and compliance with contract terms and federal and state requirements. Reviews escalated contract issues and ensures timely resolution of performance, compliance, or deliverable concerns. Establishes internal controls, ensures timely distribution of funds, determines allowability of expenditures, and performs indirect cost calculation reviews. Compliance and Asset Management: Oversees the Transit Compliance Program, Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan, vehicle lifecycle activities, annual subrecipient monitoring, and triennial reviews. Ensures all compliance activities are implemented consistently statewide. Directs oversight of compliance reviews, asset inspections, and corrective action plans. Leads the State Management Review process and other audit engagements to include gathering documentation, communication with FTA/contractor, and mitigation/resolution of findings. Develops, implements, and updates transit policies, procedures, guidance, for SCDOT and subrecipient use. Develops a multiyear risk‑based audit plan for subrecipient monitoring and compliance reviews consistent with guidance in the FTA Contractor Manual. Reports annual or triennial subrecipient findings to FTA, requests corrective action plans, and implements subrecipient monitoring. Transit Performance and Reporting: Ensures required performance reports, including but not limited to, Annual Transit Reports and National Transit Database (NTD) submissions, are completed accurately and on time in accordance with federal, state and agency requirements. Oversees development and tracking of performance measures and targets and ensures integration with statewide and MPO, COG, and transit agencies performance framework. Program Leadership and Oversight: Provides overall leadership and strategic direction for Transit Operations, Compliance, Asset Management, Performance, Training, and Outreach Programs. Ensures programs are administered in accordance with federal, state and agency regulations. Supervises and evaluates subordinate program managers and staff. Leads transit program risk assessments, identifies control weaknesses, ensures corrective actions are implemented and fosters a culture of compliance and ethical stewardship of federal and state funds. Training, Outreach, Stakeholder Engagement: Directs statewide transit training and outreach initiatives, including Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP), long‑range transit planning, working groups, and workshops. Serves as liaison to internal and external stakeholders and ensures l&F transit staff is attending and engaging with local governments, MPOs, COGs, transit providers, Transit Association of SC (TASC). Attends and recommends appropriate SCDOT staff to attend conferences and training. Supervises the administration and coordination of MPOs, COGs, and transit agencies to fulfill federal and state transit planning requirements, including but not limited to the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and Rural Planning Work Program (RPWP) to ensure transit is appropriately represented. Ensures l&F Transit is represented at MPO/COG meetings and Transit Agency Board meetings. Represents l&F's Transit Program at internal and external meetings as required. Coordinate with internal and external planning teams to ensure transit needs and performance are integrated into statewide, regional, and transit agency long‑range transportation plans. Performs other related duties as assigned. Qualifications A bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of relevant program management experience; or an approved acceptable equivalence. Physical Demands The physical demands for the essential functions of this position include sitting or standing at a desk for extended periods and working on a computer. May be required to lift up to 30 lbs. May be required to work outside of normal work schedule, especially during inclement weather and/or other departmental-related emergencies. Must be able to work in a team environment. Requires travel throughout the state and occasionally out of state and overnight travel. Must be able to satisfy daily and overnight travel requirements. Equal Employment Opportunity The South Carolina Department of Transportation is committed to a diverse workforce and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. #J-18808-Ljbffr