Special Projects Manager - Center for Local Planning
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Nashville, TN, United States
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- Not specified
- Category
- Not specified
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related field
- Experience: Minimum seven (7) years related experience including at least two (2) years supervisory experience, preferably in a state or local government, development district, or university context.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Strong project management skills, with the ability to plan, execute, and oversee multiple concurrent initiatives from inception to completion. Knowledge of grant funding
Nice to have
- Education: Master’s Degree in Business, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related field
- Experience: Experience related to land use or transportation planning in a local, state, or regional context preferred.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of and experience working within Tennessee’s local government planning framework, including relevant statutes, growth plan requirements, and City, County, and D
Full description
In this new position, the Special Projects Manager provides high-level project management, coordination, and technical support for non-routine and strategic initiatives of the University of Tennessee's Center for Local Planning (CLP). The position leads efforts to identify and secure new funding opportunities for the Center for Local Planning and fulfills relevant reporting requirements; designs and implements a comprehensive training program for CLP's statewide stakeholders, including cities, counties, and development districts; and manages cross-cutting projects that advance the Center's mission. The position collaborates with sister agencies within the Institute for Public Service (IPS), provides technical assistance to CLP field staff, and cultivates productive relationships with local government partners across Tennessee. The position will be hybrid in accordance with the University of Tennessee's Hybrid and Remote Work Policy.
Grant Development & Funding Acquisition
- Research, identify, and analyze potential grant and contract opportunities from federal, state, and private-sector sources aligned with CLP's mission and strategic priorities.
- Write and submit competitive grant proposals, including narratives, budgets, logic models, and all supporting documentation.
- Create detailed budget proposals and perform financial analyses to assess projected expenditures against available funding.
- Oversee the full lifecycle of awarded grants, including compliance monitoring, financial reporting, and deliverable tracking.
- Prepare and submit timely progress reports, financial statements, and closeout documents to funders.
- Interact with federal, state, and local agencies regarding program guidelines, accountability requirements, and funding opportunities.
- Maintain a grants pipeline tracker and calendar of upcoming funding deadlines for the Executive Director.
- Cultivate relationships with program officers at key funding agencies to stay informed of emerging opportunities.
- Identify and recommend fee-for-service and earned-revenue opportunities that diversify CLP's funding base.
Training Program Development & Delivery
•Design, develop, and implement a comprehensive training program for CLP's statewide stakeholders (cities, counties, development districts, and regional partners).
•Conduct needs assessments through surveys, interviews, and stakeholder feedback to identify priority training topics and knowledge gaps.
•Develop training curricula, workshop agendas, instructional materials, and participant resources on topics such as land use planning, zoning administration, comprehensive planning, and regulatory compliance.