Project Liaison

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.  

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $58,910 - $71,170 (GS.11)

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position.

Department: City Planning

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:
Incumbents in this classification are responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating the implementation of long-range plans (Regional Transportation Plan, land use plans, Capital Improvement Plan, and Climate Action Plan). They ensure that project construction, operations, and maintenance considerations are incorporated in long-range plans and that the vision, intention, and goals of long-range plans are realized in project implementation. Working with project managers, they identify barriers to project delivery and direct resources to ensure project completion. This position requires sustained, in-depth coordination and collaboration with multiple departments and external organizations. Work requires limited supervision and the use of independent judgment and discretion.

SERIES LEVEL: 
The Project Liaison is a stand-alone position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Serve as a liaison between the assigned department and other departments and external agencies for project planning, financing, logistics, and implementation; communicate and coordinate with project managers, fiscal analysts, management staff, consultants, contractors, and others to identify critical project implementation paths, create and monitor project schedules and budgets, identify risks to project schedule and budget, and make adjustments as necessary; coordinate complex, multi-department projects and initiatives; resolve complicated barriers to project completion.

Design, coordinate, and implement specialized projects related to department and City initiatives.

Participate in long-range planning processes; understand and concisely convey the purpose, intention, vision, and goals of long-range plans and projects to a variety of audiences.

Collect, analyze, and review a variety of data and information; formulate recommendations based on findings.

Participate in project progress meetings with project managers, contractors, architects, engineers, and other applicable parties; conduct visits to project sites.

Create and implement strategies and policies for implementing long-range plan goals with departments and interdisciplinary teams across the City.

Manage work processes and procedures as needed to assure success; identify and mitigate risk, ensure adherence and compatibility with departmental goals, objectives, and strategic initiatives.

Stay abreast and on the cutting edge of relevant subjects through independent research, maintaining professional affiliations, and attending workshops and training sessions when appropriate.

Assist in the procurement and oversight of professional consulting and/or contracting services.

Represent the department and/or the City at a variety of meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events or groups in order to receive and convey information pertaining to City plans, policy, projects, or programs.

Responsible for moving projects into project development and coordinating project development with internal and external partners.

Advises on planning processes on the feasibility of proposed projects.

Matches projects with grant funding sources and writes grants.

Responsible for implementing a planning process.

Assist departments with public interaction on projects.

Running planning implementation projects.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned. 

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any): 
When assigned to work in the Parks and Outdoors Department:

Oversee grant administration for the four-year, $6 million Urban and Community Forest grant award, including reporting, budgeting, partner agreements, invoicing, compliance, and potential supplemental grant applications.

Lead the project partnership by coordinating project partner meetings and communication, connecting partners to appropriate city staff, and making sure project deliverables stay on track.

Work with project partners, including UTC GIS, to develop and use GIS applications for collecting and analyzing data for grant-funded work prioritization and tracking.

Work with City staff in the Department of Parks and Outdoors and the Department of Public Works - Urban Forestry to identify and prioritize tree planting areas, tree care, invasive management, and riparian buffer restoration.

Oversee contract administration for the signage and outreach package.

Works with project partners and city staff on community engagement for the grant project.

Work with the Natural Resources Manager, City Forester, and other departments to adapt and implement policies and procedures to ensure the protection and longevity of the tree canopy on City-owned lands.  Examples are tree planting and care, tree health assessment, and integrated pest management.

Develop and implement staff training programs to follow these policies and procedures.

When assigned to work in the City Planning Department:

Promotes sustainability and the values of environmental stewardship and responsibility, including employee education and behavior, standard procedures, and policies.

Coordinates programs with other City departments; works with departments to provide technical support and staff training regarding energy efficiency, environmental impacts of work, and CAP implementation

Researches and identifies new opportunities for sustainability programs related to City operations, including but not limited to Solid Waste, Recycling, Facilities, and Fleet. Develops and implements program initiatives as approved.

Coordinates and manages grant administration and implementation.

Prepares resolutions relative to sustainability initiatives.

Responds to inquiries and coordinates interdepartmental meetings related to sustainability elements for the City.

Maintains associated reports, including, but not limited to, annual office summary, Biennial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, Biennial CAP reports, and grant reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s Degree with training emphasis in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering Technology, Construction, Project Administration, Planning, Sustainability, Ecology, Environmental Management, or other related field, and four (4) years of previous experience in project management or eight (8) years of relevant experience; or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
When assigned to work in the Parks and Outdoors Department:
Valid Driver’s License
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
Professional Engineer (PE) certification preferred.
American Institute of Architects (AIA) designation preferred.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) certification preferred.

When assigned to work in the City Planning Department:
Valid Driver’s License
LEED accreditation preferred.
Renewable Energy Professional (REP) certification preferred.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
Carbon Auditing Professional (CAP) certification preferred.
Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP) certification preferred.
Certified Decarbonization Professional (CDP) certification preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of project management principles and practices; problem-solving methods; workflow and process analysis methods and enterprise software applications. Strong communication skills; attention to detail, schedule, and budget maintenance.

Skill in using a computer and related software applications; managing projects; analyzing and integrating project goals with available resources; facilitating meetings; analyzing problems and recommending solutions; managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines; presenting information; resolving and mediating conflict; influencing others; conducting negotiations and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: NO
Child Sensitive: NO
Dept of Transportation (CDL): NO

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check 

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KNV 4/13/2026

KJF