Program Development Director - National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Job Description Summary ** NOTE A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION ** The Program Manager provides senior-level, non-supervisory leadership for the development, coordination, and delivery of applied transportation research programs within the Cooperative Transportation Research Programs (CRP), including the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), Behavioral Traffic Safety (BTSCRP). Reporting to the Director and working closely with both the Director and Deputy Director, the Program Manager serves as a primary staff partner to the program oversight committee. The position ensures that oversight committee priorities, decisions, and guidance—together with external stakeholder input—are effectively translated into internal program delivery activities and coherent research portfolios. The role exercises substantial independent judgment, manages a portfolio of complex and high-visibility research projects, and engages extensively with senior volunteers, sponsors, and stakeholders across the transportation community. The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides leadership in transportation innovation through objective, evidence-based research and convenes experts from government, industry, and academia to address complex transportation challenges. Within TRB, the CRP are applied research programs—including NCHRP, ACRP, TCRP, and BTSCRP, and others—that develop practical, implementable solutions to current and emerging transportation issues through stakeholder-driven research and collaboration. Job Description Responsibilities Oversight Committee & Program Development • Work in close cooperation with the Director and Deputy Director to support the program oversight committee in identifying, refining, and prioritizing research needs. • Prepare analyses, options, and recommendations to support oversight committee deliberations and approval of research projects. • Contribute substantively to program development by integrating oversight committee guidance, stakeholder input, and operational considerations. • Ensure oversight committee decisions and priorities are clearly communicated and addressed through internal delivery activities. Oversight Committee Meeting Planning & Support • Lead planning and coordination of oversight committee meetings, including agendas, schedules, materials, and decision frameworks, in cooperation with the Director. • Develop executive-quality briefing materials, background papers, program updates, and decision documents. • Document committee decisions, track action items, and coordinate follow-up to support timely implementation. Stakeholder Engagement & Environmental Scanning • Independently engage with federal, state, local, and private-sector stakeholders to identify emerging research needs, trends, issues, and concerns. • Conduct environmental scanning of transportation policy, practice, technology, and research developments. • Synthesize stakeholder input and present insights to the Director, Deputy Director, and oversight committee to inform program direction and delivery. Coordination with TRB Committees & NASEM Offices • Serve as a primary liaison with relevant TRB standing committees, task forces, and panels to inform research needs identification and promote alignment. • Coordinate with other National Academies divisions and offices, as appropriate, to leverage institutional expertise and avoid duplication. • Maintain awareness of related work across CRPs and NASEM to support integrated program delivery. Program & Portfolio Management • Manage an assigned portfolio of complex research projects approved by the oversight committee. • Manage selected complex or high-profile research projects personally, including contractor oversight and delivery of final products. • Oversee contractor performance, schedules, budgets, and deliverables with minimal supervision. • Identify and resolve project-level issues independently and escalate strategic, fiscal, or reputational risks as appropriate. Governance, Quality & Compliance Alignment • Ensure adherence to TRB and National Academies policies governing committee operations, peer review, ethics, and conflicts of interest. • Work closely with centralized CRP quality, compliance, contracting, and training functions to ensure projects meet institutional standards. • Support consensus-driven committee processes with objectivity and professionalism. Communication & Influence • Prepare concise, decision-focused written materials for senior volunteers, sponsors, and leadership. • Communicate clearly and confidently with oversight committee members, stakeholders, contractors, and colleagues. • Influence outcomes through expertise, analysis, and collaboration rather than formal authority. Requirements Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Knowledge of cooperative or committee-driven research programs and familiarity with transportation research sponsors and policy environments. • Understanding of the National Academies’ mission, structure, and culture. • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complex portfolios and competing priorities. • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. • Ability to negotiate funding and manage high-risk or complex research initiatives. • Ability to train, develop, and support staff. • Ability to operate with substantial independence, sound judgment, and discretion in a complex organizational environment. • Ability to solve complex problems involving significant variety and to serve as a resource to others in resolving issues. • Ability to work effectively in team-based settings and build and sustain collaborative relationships across departments and stakeholder groups. • Ability to perform effectively in complex, high-impact environments with multiple priorities and demands. Minimum Education/Training Requirements Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to transportation, public policy, research management, or a closely related field; or a master’s, or bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with significant professional experience demonstrating advanced subject matter expertise, leadership in complex projects or programs, and independent research, analysis, or policy development responsibilities. Minimum Experience • Ten years of related professional experience. Demonstrated impact on the advancement of science or policy through the successful completion of National Academies’ activities or equivalent outside activities and through effective dissemination of these activities. • Significant experience managing applied research projects or programs. • Demonstrated experience supervising and developing professional staff in a complex organization. Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: None Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources. Other Details Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls Reports to the Division Director. Independently establishes goals and objectives. May supervise staff. Mental And Physical Capabilities Ability to be visible on camera for meetings when remote. Ability to use a computer and applicable hardware/software to perform responsibilities. Ability to use multiple technology collaboration platforms, including collaboration tools. Examples: Microsoft Teams, Asana. Ability to Focus/concentrate on tasks and multi-task, when needed Begin work at the required time, per approved schedule. Ability to lift/carry laptop and other mobile devices between work and home. Ability to commute to work. Ability to travel between National Academies’ facilities and offsite sponso