TTI Senior Research Scientist

Texas A&M Transportation Institute•Bryan, TX

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Who are we? The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is an agency of the State of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System. For 75 years, TTI has addressed complex transportation challenges and opportunities with innovation, objectivity, and unmatched technical expertise. Our staff delivers excellence, value and thought leadership to ensure our research sponsors achieve their goals. Our Mission and Vision Our Vision - TTI leads in the creation of knowledge that transforms transportation for the benefit of society. Our Mission - TTI delivers practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the movement of people, data and goods through research, education and technology transfer. Our Work Environment Entrepreneurial culture Affiliation with Texas A&M University students and faculty Ability to work with nationally recognized experts Ability to help train the next generation of transportation professionals Premier office and research facilities and equipment Accredited laboratories and safety proving ground Outstanding research support services Hybrid work environment/telecommuting Flexible work hours Family friendly High staff retention rates Leadership development and wellness programs Data allowance and home office equipment reimbursements Relocation assistance (if eligible) Tuition reimbursement program (if eligible) Our Employee Benefits TTI employees can choose from several health coverage options offered by The Texas A&M University System for themselves and their families, as well as numerous other benefit programs. https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/ What you need to know TTI is a Texas based agency. This position has the flexibility of a hybrid remote option with two days in a TTI Texas based office. This can be discussed further during the interview process. The salary range for position is commensurate. Final salary will be determined based on the applicant's qualifications and experience. Job Summary: This position requires an achieved recognition of technical/scientific leadership nationally or internationally as a result of original scientific research. Incumbent serves as a strategic key advisor, is widely recognized by key customers/grantors/investigators as being central to their mission and plays a key role in the acquisition of research funding and identifying sources of new contract funding. Incumbent in this position is expected to initiate complex research projects or programs, serve as PI, promotes TTI research, develops new sponsor, identifies future direction of research and actively develops and nurtures research opportunities. Supervises, develops and mentors junior researchers. Builds teams within program, division and across TTI. Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of funding derived from research program or specific projects. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Requirements

Masters degree in related field
10 years related work experience
Demonstrates superior scope and breadth of research through the creation of new concepts, applications, processes, designs or the identification of new areas of research.
At this level, the individual researcher generally will have contributed inventions, new designs, or techniques that are of material significance in the solution of important transportation problems.
In a supervisory capacity, plans, develops, coordinates, and directs a number of large and significant projects or a project of major scope and importance.
May be responsible for an entire scientific and/or engineering program when the program is of limited complexity and scope.
Supervisory responsibilities usually encompass subordinate supervisors or team leaders (3-5) with at least one in a position comparable to the Senior level.
Ability to lead technology transfer and implementation activities.
Ability to develop and lead major proposals and multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to manage time, budgets, and financial records for projects.
Understand contracting procedures to advance successful proposals to funded research projects.

Nice To Haves

PhD degree in related field
20 years related work experience
Previous employment/experience with a university-based transportation research agency and/or private transportation consulting company
Demonstration of previous project work experience with federal and state departments of transportation as well as the National Academies of Science in the areas of surface transportation operations, safety, planning, and data.
Experience with data science functions including the collection, storage, management, and analysis of data to support decision-making
Experience with traffic incident management performance measurement and management including knowledge of secondary crash data collection and analysis
Experience developing guidance documents and training materials

Responsibilities

Applied research and management duties (55%) Conceives, plans and conducts research in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity. Demonstrates superior scope and breadth of research through the creation of new concepts, applications, processes, designs or the identification of new areas of research. Contributes inventions, new designs, or techniques that are of material significance in the solution of important problems. Responsible for the overall direction and management of a work program, which includes the day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the program’s research functions. These duties include project management, supervision, data collection, data analysis, and work coordination. Must demonstrate ability to manage multiple projects as principal investigator through managing time, budgets, and progress of work to meet sponsor expectations. Serve as the primary contact with sponsors for complex projects that involve multi-disciplinary teams representing different divisions and programs. Plan, schedule, coordinate, and report detailed phases of research and development projects. Evaluate and document data collection requirements and activities. Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for project tasks. Assemble, organize, document, and archive datasets.Develop data models and metadata. Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics and trends. Develop and/or run applications to conduct the research. Analyze and document business processes. Analyze and develop potential new techniques, policies, procedures, and recommendations. Manage, communicate, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams comprising research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff. Ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. Leads multi-disciplinary teams to perform research, technology transfer, and implementation projects. Build teams within program, division and across TTI. Manages time, budgets, financial records, and progress of research to meet sponsor expectations.
Business development (20%) Propose and lead new initiatives; guide programs of national or international significance. Primary resource to customers in identifying future problems, research trends and opportunities. Develop and maintain relationships with sponsors, including non-traditional ones. Proactively brainstorm, develop and present innovative project ideas and concepts and research needs statements to potential sponsors. Identify opportunities to take the program’s skillset to ventures outside the realm of transportation where new business opportunities may exist for TTI. Build potential teaming relationships with other partners. Plays a lead role in the development and implementation of new and/or expanded technical capabilities that will impact future research projects; reputation leads to ability to attract major funding. Identifies and pursues independent research funding opportunities. Independently maintains or contributes to extramurally-funded research. Directs major proposal preparation and presentation.
Report preparation and presentations (10%) Presents papers, leads symposia and chairs committees; participates on advisory/policy boards, journals and societies; serves as peer reviewer of major technical programs; networks nationally and internationally. Compile, document and present results in formats required for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepare technical documentation, including data collection, analysis and summaries. Prepare project reports and other deliverables as required. Prepare and give presentations to existing and potential sponsors, academic settings, or conference setting. Prepare, schedule, conduct, and document research meetings.
Staff management and supervision (10%) Manage, develop, and mentor staff, including professional and career development needs, provide continual and annual performance evaluation feedback, approve time and effort, and approve leave requests. Supervise senior and junior staff general work performance including day-to-day direct assignments for junior staff.
Other non-essential duties as deemed necessary (5%)

Benefits

Entrepreneurial culture
Affiliation with Texas A&M University students and faculty
Ability to work with nationally recognized experts
Ability to help train the next generation of transportation professionals
Premier office and research facilities and equipment
Accredited laboratories and safety proving ground
Outstanding research support services
Hybrid work environment/telecommuting
Flexible work hours
Family friendly
High staff retention rates
Leadership development and wellness programs
Data allowance and home office equipment reimbursements
Relocation assistance (if eligible)
Tuition reimbursement program (if eligible)
TTI employees can choose from several health coverage options offered by The Texas A&M University System for themselves and their families, as well as numerous other benefit programs.