CECILIA A ARRITOLA
Boise
Summary
Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm. Brings demonstrated success in driving community-led initiatives that promote justice and racial equity.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Grants Management Specialist
Office of Secretary of Transportation (OST)
03.2023 - 09.2025
- Manage technical assistance, planning, project development, and capacity building work for tribal and rural communities through the DOT Thriving Communities Program. An important component of our work included writing and publishing community profiles for those communities that we worked closely with.
- Facilitate deference learning activities for communities within the Main Street cohort, which is all participating rural and Tribal communities to assist in project advancement.
- Conducted close oversight and monitoring of all community and capacity builder work plans to ensure close alignment with overall program goals, community priority priorities, and equitable outcomes.
- Ensured oversight and compliance of federal requirements in cooperative agreements including Title VI, public involvement, anti-discrimination, and local hire provisions.
- Coordinated post-award activities such as contract negotiation, implementation planning, and progress monitoring for successful project execution.
- Provided grant administration support to the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, to include participation in the grant application reviews, scoring, and selection process.
- Regular Coordination with the OST Office of the Tribal Affairs team to provide updates on tribal community activities, and to ensure we are providing support that is needed to advance their goals.
- Supported and managed community planning activities that coordinated transportation/infrastructure, climate, health, tourism, accessibility, housing, and other infrastructure needs. Support also included identifying additional funding or project support, regional engagement/partnership identification, specialized technical assistance, or planning support to each community.
- Facilitated regular engagement with cities, counties, committees, Tribal councils, municipal leadership, non-profits, and economic development entities.
- Managed consultant contracts to ensure transformative projects are delivered to each community nationally. Ensured that innovative engagement strategies were being deployed by the contracted team to communities.
- Presented and facilitated public involvement sessions virtually and in person.
- Served as a member of the Proposal Review team for the Reconnecting Communities Institute and Reconnecting Communities Program pilot grant program.
- Ongoing, thorough review of all NOFOs, Letters of Interest applications, and supporting grant management efforts within OST.
- Supported program development by identifying new funding philanthropic, federal, state, non-profit sources and cultivating relationships with potential funders for all 36 participating communities.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with communities through regular communication, guidance, and support.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams within several departments of DOT to provide grant support to TCIP communities, ensuring full funding support to advance grants and their infrastructure goals.
Senior Transportation Planner
Idaho Transportation Department
04.2019 - 03.2023
- Served as the Project Manager/Task Lead for planning projects within Garden City – to include corridor studies, landscaping improvements, mixed-use development, drainage and design study, bicycle/pedestrian plan, etc. In this role, I worked closely as an ITD representative on various projects and plans for Garden City. This involved coordination with various stakeholders, Garden City Development staff, and ITD leadership.
- Provided leadership in the initial planning phases of a corridor plan for SH-44 that assisted ITD and the key land use agencies in mitigating impacts that the development would have on the transportation system.
- Facilitated the charette with local planning agencies and an online meeting with the public providing opportunity to review and provide feedback on study concepts for improved water management systems and future projects to increase connectivity and mobility along the Chinden corridor.
- Close Coordination with Metropolitan Planning Organizations, local Highway Districts, Economic Development Groups, Cities, and Counties.
- Managed the National Electric Vehicle Implementation (NEVI) Program for Idaho which included program administration, interagency coordination, consultant agreement oversight, scoping, budget and invoicing, public involvement, statewide engagement, testing, open house forums, and regional project prioritization.
- Experience in implementing state purchasing policies and procedures as relates to developing consultant agreements for planning and development projects.
- Provided guidance for all 5 of our Idaho MPOs statewide, providing long-range planning support, financial forecasting, budgeting, audits, provided reporting guidance, and project selection for certain types of Federal funding.
- Evaluated economic growth potential and forecast requirements in terms of population, employment, transportation costs, future land use.
- Developed and recommended alternative transportation improvements which best reflect state and community needs.
- Developed and administered consultant agreements and programming documents for expenditure of planning funds.
- Established methods of monitoring and evaluating projects; local coordination of transportation issues, prioritizing needs, and facilitating projects.
- Prepared agendas and items for department board meetings, present various planning topics as needed.
Grants/Contracts Officer (Strategic Planning Lead)
Idaho Transportation Department
05.2017 - 04.2019
- Administered and monitored behavior safety programs to include the development of media campaigns, grant administration, evaluation & reporting program outcomes, provided training and technical assistance to sub-recipients.
- Acted as liaison between the state and federal government and grantors.
- Assisted grants officer team with developing, managing, monitoring, and setting up grant budgets and agreements/contracts to the financial system in compliance with state and federal requirements including 23 CFR Part 1300 and all associated regulations.
- Presented at workshops and commission meetings, provided program updates quarterly.
- Provided technical assistance in grant development processes, conducting pre-award conferences and additional trainings as needed.
- Coordinated financial planning & administration for all highway safety grant programs.
- Created content for newsletters, websites, social media, and blogs.
- Monitored grant programs and sub-recipient documentation for required federal award details, naming conventions, reporting, and eligible use activities related to specific grant funding type.
- Prepared project reports required under 23 CFR Part 1300 as directed by the Highway Safety Plan and the Annual Grant Application.
- Served as the primary Strategic Planning lead for the Strategic Highway Safety Plan to include developing and implementing strategies for each of the 11 focus areas, assisted with the implementation of individual task forces, provided technical data & information to committees as requested.
Grants/Contracts Officer
Idaho Transportation Department
11.2015 - 05.2017
- Developed contract templates, standardized documentation and ensured consistency across all agreements. Provided expertise and leadership in contract management, procurement, and grant development.
- Developed and managed program processes, procedures, performance measures, and quality assurance practices aligned with agency vision and strategic goals.
- Managed a portfolio of FMCSA contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
- Mentored team members, fostering collaborative work environment and continuous improvement culture within the contract and grants department.
- Facilitated cross-functional project teams to ensure timely completion of contractual obligations while maintaining quality standards.
- Identified contract risks and developed concise mitigation plan and detailed strategies.
- Established goals and priorities associated with DMV contract/grant initiation, management & closeout processes.
- Developed, designed, and implemented comprehensive contract management protocol that takes into consideration the lifecycle of all DMV division contracts and grants.
- Assessed risks inherent in contract changes and potential impacts, informing management in detail of concerns to avoid liabilities.
- Tracked contract milestones and updated stakeholders to facilitate project progress.
- Drafted, reviewed and revised contracts for accuracy and completeness.
- Facilitated communication between involved parties to enable timely contract sign-off.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
Project Facilitator
The Langdon Group
08.2012 - 03.2014
- Conducted outreach to increase based on identified audiences for the Trauma Advocacy Program.
- Initiated recruitment of statewide trauma safety advocates.
- Developed trauma prevention advocate rollout program to be implemented statewide.
- Planned and conducted peer workshops for the implementation of the Idaho Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
- Conducted group meetings, recruiting advocates for emphasis area groups.
- Developed document content and provided input for layout of all workshops related content.
- Coordinated with ITD staff for input on public revision and content.
Grants/Contracts Officer
Idaho Transportation Department
08.2008 - 06.2012
- Administered and monitored behavior safety programs (Unbiased Policing, Aggressive Driving, Motorcycle Safety) to include the development of media campaigns, grant administration, evaluation & reporting program outcomes, provided training and technical assistance to sub-recipients.
- Presented at workshops and commission meetings, provided program updates quarterly.
- Provided technical assistance in grant development processes, conducting pre-award conferences and additional trainings as needed.
- Financial management/administration for all highway safety grant programs.
- Proficient in working with electronic database systems and having working knowledge of programming and in HTML would be an advantage but not required.
- Coordinated and managed grant file updates and scheduled electronic maintenance with contractors.
- Created content for newsletters, websites, social media, and blogs.
- Monitored grant programs and sub-recipient documentation for required federal award details, naming conventions, reporting, and eligible use activities related to specific grant funding type.
- Prepared project reports required under 23 CFR Part 1300 as directed by the Triennial Highway Safety Plan and the Annual Grant Application.
- Coordinated grant budget balances with internal and external grant budget tracking systems.
- Provided training and technical assistance related to NHTSA grant administration processes and procedures for internal and external stakeholders on OHSP grant management, funding programs, and software.
Education
Associate of Arts - Ethnic Studies
College of Western Idaho
05-2027
Skills
- Grants Management
- Community Planning
- Inclusive Community Engagement
- Budget Monitoring
- Funding Alignment
- Effective Communication
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Program Management
Certification
Grants Management Certificate Program (2023)
SECRETARY’S DEI AWARD (US DOT EQUITY TEAM)
The Thriving Communities Program team was honored by Secretary Buttigieg for playing a key role in being part of advancing progress in institutionalizing equity as a core value and practice within DOT.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Emerging Leaders Program Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Boise | Graduated in May 2019
Secretary's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
On January 25, 2024 each of our Thriving Communities Program team members were recognized for progress in institutionalizing equity as a core value and practice at DOT, across all modes and at all levels.
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Grants Management Specialist
Office of Secretary of Transportation (OST)
03.2023 - 09.2025
Senior Transportation Planner
Idaho Transportation Department
04.2019 - 03.2023
Grants/Contracts Officer (Strategic Planning Lead)
Idaho Transportation Department
05.2017 - 04.2019
Grants/Contracts Officer
Idaho Transportation Department
11.2015 - 05.2017
Project Facilitator
The Langdon Group
08.2012 - 03.2014
Grants/Contracts Officer
Idaho Transportation Department
08.2008 - 06.2012
Associate of Arts - Ethnic Studies
College of Western Idaho