Description
Director, Center for Transportation Research

Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Introduction: The University and College invite applications and nominations for the position of Director, Center for Transportation Research  (CTR). The position provides the strategic vision and leadership to ensure excellence in transportation-related research, administration, outreach, and workforce development that aligns with the University’s land grant mission, advancing the university, the State, and the nation.

The University and Region: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is the state’s flagship, land-grant university and a Research I university housing 11 colleges and 900+ programs of study. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, its undergraduate and graduate programs are repeatedly ranked among top national programs. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains; and a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Clayton Homes, DENSO Manufacturing, Discovery Inc., Local Motors, PetSafe/Radio Systems Corporation, Regal Cinemas, Pilot/Flying J, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Center: Founded in 1972, CTR operates under the auspices of UTK’s Tickle College of Engineering (TCE), and contributes greatly to the overall transportation-related research, education and outreach programs of the University.

The Center has three mission priorities:

Harness the full resources of the University of Tennessee in the conduct of transportation research. Develop and educate the transportation workforce. Assist and advise operators and users of the transportation system.

Qualifications
CTR currently oversees research/training/outreach activities with annual expenditures of approximately $9M/year.  Its staff of about 55 members interacts with faculty and staff members across the campus, partners at other universities and transportation centers, state agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, and the Federal government. 

This position requires:

A creative leader and experienced strategist. Exemplary communication and collaboration skills needed to sustain and create productive and positive relationships with internal and external partners, stakeholders and constituents. The skills necessary to inspire new and innovative strategic initiatives that will maintain and grow the Center’s areas of research, outreach and workforce development for the benefit of the State and national interest.The ability to identify funding opportunities and assemble teams to secure funding that will build a diverse, relevant, and effective transportation research portfolio. Leadership to foster collaboration with faculty and researchers both within and external to UTK.The experience and commitment to holistic diversity as it pertains to recruitment, retention, and development of staff. The experience necessary to implement and manage plans, personnel, budgets, facilities, and equipment in a manner consistent with State and University policies.

Appointment type:

The primary responsibility of this position is to serve as the Director of the TCE Center for Transportation Research.  The appointment can be as a staff member, research faculty member or tenure-line faculty member depending on the qualifications of the applicant and the agreed job expectations at the time of hiring.  The Director reports to the TCE Associate Dean for Research and Facilities. 

Required qualifications:

Master’s degree in an appropriate transportation-related research discipline, Experience as a director or associate director of a university-based transportation research center or its equivalent in an academic or government setting, including research and fiscal administration, and A record of securing external funding from local, state, and federal agencies, industry, national laboratories, and other sources.

Preferred qualifications:

PhD or appropriate terminal degree in transportation-related research disciplineA record of peer-reviewed scholarship in the transportation field, andFive or more years’ experience as a director or associate director of a university-based transportation research center

For full consideration, interested persons must submit a letter of application, resume, and contact information of three (3) professional references. Questions may be directed to Brooke M. Swart, Executive Recruiter at bswart@utk.edu. 

Job: Executive/Administrative
Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville
Organization: Transportation Center
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Dec 17, 2021, 8:42:33 AM