Remote Technical Program Manager Intern Jobs in Edmond, OK

About RKCS

RK Consultancy Services, Inc. (RKCS) is a Minnesota-headquartered, minority-owned, 8(a)-certified small business providing program management, advisory, and technology services to state, local, and federal government agencies since 1998. RKCS holds active master contract vehicles with the State of Minnesota, the State of South Dakota, and cooperative purchasing vehicles including GSA Schedule 70 and TIPS.

RKCS serves as prime contractor on a regional transit program management and advisory services engagement, supporting a public transit authority in transitioning from long-range planning to full implementation readiness for a multi-corridor regional transit system.

Engagement Context

The Customer was established to plan, fund, develop, and implement a regional transit system. The Authority has adopted Locally Preferred Alternatives (LPAs) for four regional corridors and is preparing for a voter referendum on a dedicated regional funding source anticipated within 12 months of contract execution. The selected consultant will serve as program integrator, coordinating planning, funding, technical, procurement, and organizational activities across all workstreams.

This is not a construction management or operations role. It is a planning-to-implementation transition role requiring federal program expertise, multi-jurisdictional coordination experience, and the ability to produce Board-ready decision support materials under a concurrent pre- and post-referendum work structure.

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager will serve as RKCS's primary delivery lead on the Customer engagement. This individual will be responsible for managing the integrated program across seven defined workstreams: program management and controls, program planning and work plan development, funding planning and alignment, technical planning and project development support, procurement planning, organizational readiness and staffing framework, and on-call advisory support.

The role requires full ownership of the RKCS deliverable quality commitment to Customer. The Senior Program Manager will report to RKCS leadership and coordinate daily with Customer's Director of Strategic Initiatives and relevant leadership, technical, and finance committee staff.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management and Controls

• Develop and maintain an integrated program schedule reflecting milestones, dependencies, and critical path activities across all workstreams.
• Implement program control mechanisms including a risk register, monthly status reports, procurement readiness tracker, and a decision log updated within 48 hours of any key program decision.
• Prepare and present materials for Customer Board meetings, Technical Committee, and Finance Committee; document all key decisions and recommended next steps.
• Coordinate across all workstreams and subconsultants to maintain alignment with program priorities, sequencing, and timelines.

Funding Planning and Federal Program Strategy

• Lead development of a multi-year funding strategy document by Month 3, coordinated with Customer's financial consultant and economist.
• Support Customer's entry into and advancement through the FTA Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, including New Starts and Small Starts pathways.
• Monitor and support Customer's pending FTA Direct Recipient application; prepare supplemental documentation as required.
• Evaluate state, local (member city IGA), and federal (FRA/CRISI) funding sources for alignment with program sequencing and corridor development timelines.

Technical Planning and Project Development

• Advance adopted-LPA corridors through Project Development readiness, with particular focus on commuter rail environmental procurement sequencing and railroad access coordination advisory support.
• Develop planning-level technical memoranda including feasibility assessments, conceptual cost inputs, and service enhancement frameworks for near-term initiatives deliverable within existing operator structures.
• Coordinate technical activities across member cities, existing transit operators, MPOs, FTA, and partner agencies; facilitate project-level meetings and document decisions and action items.

Procurement Planning and Organizational Readiness

• Develop procurement sequencing plans and procurement-ready scopes of work for priority procurements, including the commuter rail environmental study, to support immediate post-referendum initiation.
• Develop a minimum viable organizational framework (MVOF) by Month 4 defining core Customer functions, staffing priorities, delivery modes, and lead times for Years 1 and 2.
• Recommend phased staffing approach aligned with program timing, funding availability, and referendum outcome scenarios.

Required Qualifications

Education

Master's degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or Transportation Policy. Bachelor's degree with commensurate experience will be considered.

Experience

12–18 years in transit or transportation program management, including at least 5 years as a program lead or senior advisory role on a capital program exceeding $200M.

Federal Transit Programs

Demonstrated experience with FTA CIG program (New Starts or Small Starts), including Project Development application preparation and financial rating support. FRA or CRISI experience is a plus.

Multi-Jurisdictional Coordination

Documented experience managing stakeholder coordination across at least three independent agencies or jurisdictions, including MPO coordination and Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) structuring.

Planning-to-Implementation Transition

Demonstrated experience in the pre-implementation phase of regional transit capital programs — specifically the period between LPA adoption and NEPA/Project Development entry. Construction management experience alone does not satisfy this requirement.

Referendum or Funding Election

Prior experience supporting a transit agency through a sales tax referendum or equivalent voter-approval process, including financial modeling support, public information coordination, and post-approval activation planning.

Deliverable Quality

Demonstrated ability to produce concise, decision-oriented work products suitable for Board and executive use. Writing samples or portfolio work products from comparable engagements required at interview.

Certifications

PMP (Project Management Professional) certification preferred. AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) or equivalent transportation planning credential is a differentiator.

Travel

Willingness to travel to the Customer’s offices for Board meetings, committee meetings, and stakeholder workshops. Estimated 4–6 onsite visits per quarter in Year 1. Role is primarily remote outside of required in-person events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with state DOT, regional MPO coordination, or prior regional transit authority engagement in a comparable market.
• Experience with Class I railroad access coordination in the context of commuter rail feasibility or environmental review.
• Experience developing minimum viable organizational frameworks for transit authorities in a pre-revenue, pre-implementation environment.
• Prior work with APTA member agencies on active CIG program portfolios (DART, VIA Metropolitan Transit, Sun Rail, or comparable peers).

What RKCS Offers

RKCS places its professionals in high-complexity, high-visibility public-sector engagements where their expertise directly shapes program outcomes. The Customer engagement is RKCS's flagship transit advisory contract and represents a defining program management opportunity in the firm's government advisory portfolio.

Compensation

Competitive hourly rate or annual compensation commensurate with experience.

Engagement Type

W-2 employee or 1099 contractor position. Structure determined based on candidate profile and engagement requirements.

Term

Year 1 contract (August 2026 – August 2027) with renewal option at Customer and RKCS discretion.

Work Model

Primarily remote. Required in-person participation at Customer Board meetings, committee meetings, and stakeholder workshops at the Customer’s location.

RKCS Support

Dedicated RKCS account management, administrative support, and access to RKCS bench resources for surge capacity as engagement demands evolve.