Program Development Director - National Cooperative Highway Research Program

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 126,880 - 198,250; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement and savings benefits

Education assistance

Job summary

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking a Program Development Director for the National Highway Cooperative Research Program. This role involves leading the development and coordination of transportation research projects, engaging with state DOTs, and managing complex research portfolios.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. or significant professional experience, ten years of relevant work, and strong skills in communication and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Ten years of related professional experience.
• Experience managing applied research projects or programs.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead program oversight committee and prioritize research needs.
• Coordinate oversight committee meetings and develop materials.
• Engage stakeholders to identify research needs and trends.
• Serve as a liaison with TRB committees and NASEM offices.
• Manage complex research projects and oversee contractor performance.

Skills

Knowledge of cooperative research programs

Strong organizational skills

Strong analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to manage complex portfolios

Ability to engage and influence stakeholders

Education

Ph.D. in relevant discipline

Master's or Bachelor's degree with significant experience

Job description

Overview

Job Description Summary

The Program Development Director, National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP), leads the development, coordination, and delivery of applied transportation research produced through NCHRP. NCHRP is funded by participating State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and managed by the Transportation Research Board. NCHRP undertakes research to solve problems facing state DOTs administrators and engineers. 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 Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) is a group of applied research programs—such as the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), and Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program (BTSCRP)—that develop practical, implementable solutions to current and emerging transportation issues through stakeholder-driven research and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Oversight Committee & Program Development: Work 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 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.

Education & Experience

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.

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 (e.g., Microsoft Teams).
• 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 sponsor/partner locations.
• Ability to work in different time zones, when travel is outside of current location.

Work Environment

Hybrid office/telecommute environment; expected onsite percentage 60%. Occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations.

Compensation & Benefits: An estimated compensation range for this position is $126,880 - $198,250. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range. This is a benefits-eligible position. Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.

Disclaimer

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units.

Job Family

PROG

Employee Type

Employee

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

City/State

Washington, District of Columbia