Technical Advisor - Transportation Market (Finance)

We are a creative team of architecture, engineering and design professionals who serve both public and private sector clients. Together, we share one Core Purpose: To plan, design, and consult to create healthy and thriving communities. Our offices are full of genuine, fun, and down-to-earth people who believe in fostering an inclusive culture where all employees feel they belong. Loving where you work, who you're working with, and what you're working on is important to us, which is why we put our people first-they're at the heart of everything we do. From professional growth and development support and opportunities to give back to your community, to flexible work schedules and competitive benefits, we have a genuine interest in the whole you. So, if you're just as passionate about what you do as we are, then we'd love to hear from you!

Our transportation and utility services professionals offer practical, forward-thinking expertise in a wide range of practice areas, including active transportation, bridge design, roadway design and traffic engineering, intelligent transportation systems, utility and broadband services, grant writing, program management and so much more! From interstates and intersections to bridges and bike paths, we invite you to join us in designing transportation systems that connect us to the people and places we care about most.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advisory services to clients to help them navigate and interpret complex federal and state transportation regulations and guidelines.
• Support clients in identifying, applying for, and managing grant funding opportunities, including underutilized or lesser-known federal and state programs.
• Act as a liaison between local agencies and federal/state entities (e.g., FHWA, USDOT), helping bridge communication gaps and ensuring successful collaboration.
• Guide local government clients in understanding federal funding processes and assist them in formulating the right questions during project scoping and planning.
• Deliver internal training sessions (e.g., Lunch & Learns, one-on-one support) to educate staff on federal regulations, funding sources, and compliance strategies.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and review support on proposals, particularly related to advisory services and strategies involving federal funding.
• Strengthen client relationships by identifying and solving complex challenges that may impact program implementation or funding eligibility.
• Identify enterprise-level opportunities through increased awareness of client initiatives and long-term goals that may lead to follow-on work.
• Expand firm positioning for USDOT and FHWA-related contracts, leveraging prior experience with HQ, Division Offices, and Federal Lands programs.
• Maintain and grow executive-level relationships across state and local agencies, particularly in Tennessee, to support strategic pursuits and client engagement.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills when briefing client executives and elected officials on funding programs and strategies.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams (e.g., planning, engineering, environmental) to align regulatory and funding strategies with project delivery.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Planning, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience working with transportation agencies, grants, or federal programs (including experience with USDOT, FHWA, or similar entities).
• Proven success navigating and interpreting federal transportation regulations, including alignment with Title 23 and related guidance.
• Familiarity with federal funding programs, including IIJA/BIL, RAISE, INFRA, and other discretionary and formula-based opportunities.
• Ability to present complex regulatory and funding strategies to both technical staff and executive-level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated passion for mentoring, training, and sharing knowledge with internal teams.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and juggle multiple priorities.

Gresham Smith is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. Everyone is invited to apply!

Gresham Smith will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, headhunters, contract recruiters, search firms, or employment agencies. An executed GRESHAM PLACEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) is required prior to any payment obligation for either a referral or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously executed PSA, GRESHAM SMITH explicitly reserves the right to recruit and hire those candidate(s) at its discretion and without any financial obligation whatsoever to the recruiter or agency. Any such unsolicited resume or candidate contact information, including those submitted directly to GRESHAM SMITH'S hiring managers or any other employee, shall become the property of GRESHAM SMITH upon receipt.