Associate Program Officer - National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Job Description Summary:

** Resume and Cover Letter Required **

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) are private, non-profit institutions that serve as the nation’s premier source of independent, objective, and expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world. Each of the Academies (the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine) consists of members elected by peers in recognition of distinguished achievement in their respective fields. Academy members are among the world's most distinguished scientists, engineers, physicians, and researchers, with more than 300 members counted among Nobel laureates.

About the Cooperative Research Program:

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is one of seven divisions of the National Academies and provides leadership in transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial, and evidence-based information exchange, research, and advice regarding all modes of transportation. TRB mobilizes expertise and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation challenges accomplished through the hard work and dedication of more than 8,500 volunteers and a staff of 120 professionals.

Through its Cooperative Research Program (CRP) division, TRB manages over 600 research projects at any given time in the areas of airports, behavioral traffic safety, highways, and transit. TRB publishes approximately 800 peer-reviewed research papers per year and maintains the largest transportation research bibliographic database in the world with over 1.3 million records.

Sponsors of TRB include State Departments of Transportation; the U.S. Department of Transportation and its agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; the Department of Energy; the Environmental Protection Agency; and a number of transportation-related foundations and non-profit organizations.

JOB SUMMARY:

The selected candidate will also assist the NCHRP Program Manager with the administration of the program. The APO plays a vital role in planning, training, implementing, and providing administrative support to the entire NCHRP staff. At the direction of the CRP deputy director, the APO will continually assess and direct a wide range of programmatic activities that meet and advance program objectives, including the coordination and preparation of materials for the NCHRP governing board, project oversight committees, and panels; and the development of reports, meeting notes, websites, and databases.

Job Description:

The Associate Program Officer will have multiple areas of primary responsibility including:

Administers and manages programs and project activities in support of various cooperative research programs and provides administrative support to the deputy director of the CRP Division and manager of NCHRP.  Coordinates, trains, and oversees the work of support staff handling clerical, administrative, and logistical aspects of meetings. Compiles and summarizes information for the development/revision of a variety of documents; Serves as a liaison between NCHRP and related external customers and organizations, including committees and panel members, TRB sponsors, and affiliates. Coordinates the logistics for the program webinar series and prepares meeting notes; and Coordinates the work of staff to successfully provide administrative support for programs. Proceeds on own initiative in compliance with policies, procedures, and practices, but receives guidance or expertise from supervisor or higher-level staff when needed.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Administers assigned program(s) or project(s). Where applicable and with senior staff oversight, recruits potential committee/panel nominees.  Communicates with and facilitates the flow of information among committee chairs, members, consultants, program or project sponsors, and staff.

• Prepares reports on program or project activities including meeting notes. training materials, and job aids.

• Organizes meetings, develops agendas, invites presenters and participants, oversees meeting logistics and multimedia presentations, and prepares written summaries.

• Develops written materials and coordinates/oversees publication of materials. May edit reports, facilitate response to review