Senior Program Officer - National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Job Description Summary:

** 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, conducted by contractors, 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 several transportation-related foundations and non-profit organizations.

Position Overview:

The Senior Program Officer will manage and oversee research projects within the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), a key applied research initiative within the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The NCHRP is designed to develop practical, near-term solutions to a broad range of transportation issues. This role involves leading and facilitating research efforts in collaboration with expert volunteered panels across diverse transportation topics, such as safety, traffic engineering, geometric design. NCHRP does not conduct research directly; the research is conducted by contractors.

This position requires strong communication, project management, and technical knowledge as well as the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and provide guidance on complex transportation research projects.

This position offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment with opportunities to influence the future of transportation research. The Senior Program Officer will play a vital role in advancing innovative solutions to real-world transportation challenges.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities:

For more information about the NCHRP and its impact on the transportation industry, visit the program’s official website: NCHRP Overview.

Project Management & Oversight

• Lead and manage multiple NCHRP projects, ensuring they align with NCHRP goals and objectives.
• Oversee the execution of research projects by providing guidance and direction to contractors to ensure high-quality, timely outcomes.
• Evaluate research reports, identify key findings, and ensure the practical application of results to transportation issues.

Facilitation & Coordination

• Organize and facilitate project panel meetings, ensuring proper follow-up with stakeholders, including documentation of meeting outcomes.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination among panel members, stakeholders, and research teams.

Expert Panel Coordination

• Work closely with expert panels, guiding the development of project scopes and refining research questions.
• Facilitate communication between panel members and contractors, ensuring alignment on project objectives and progress.

Research Guidance & Monitoring

• Provide ongoing oversight