"Research Scholar, School Planner"

Location:

Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:

This position will contribute to multiple initiatives at ITRE that support local, state and national Public Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade school district operational needs through technical expertise and project leadership. This position combines transportation, land use, and community needs utilizing current best practices in K12 Operations and quality Applied Research.

The primary function of this position is to support School & Community Aligned Master Planning ("SchoolCAMP"), a research and public sector consulting program designed to assist Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with comprehensive planning, alternatives development, impact analysis, and implementation of school facility development and boundary planning that is sensitive to local community needs and school transportation concerns. The successful individual will facilitate quality, trusting relationships with LEA leadership and staff, school board members, community partners, local elected officials, industry advocacy groups, and the research community. This position will independently shape the research direction for school planning and transportation mobility/accessibility research and technical assistance projects within the broader SchoolCAMP Project.

Lead ITRE SchoolCAMP Educational Facility Master Planning initiatives

This position will independently shape the research direction for school planning and transportation mobility/accessibility research and technical assistance projects within the broader SchoolCAMP Project. They will provide direct, applied research and technical assistance in the area of School Transportation - comprehensive of all modes of school travel, including public transportation (transit), pedestrian, bicycle and yellow school bus service. The program manager will actively conduct research in school transportation supported by local, state and federal clients and engage in business development and management of awarded School Transportation research and technical service projects.

To achieve these objectives, this position will :

• Employ principles of land use and transportation planning, system-level planning and data-driven decision making;
• Use GIS, Data Collection, Database Structures and Data Analytics;
• Work with applied migration of data and information that support public education and operational decision making;
• Create written final reports and publicly present delivery to clients.

Project Management

• Engage in business development and contract procurement including grant proposal writing for research program funding;
• Serve as PI on mid- and large-sized externally funded projects (Foundation and Public Health-supported research; Government Institutions such as NCDOT, MPO/COG, County, School District);
• Develop, design and conduct complex research programs spanning transportation and school planning as P.I. or Co-P.I.;
• Be responsible for project timelines;
• Manage budgets, business accounts and invoicing;
• Author proposals and grant applications;
• Liaison to other departments and research units within NCSU as well as community institutions;
• Maintain a visible and active presence at local, state and national stakeholder convenings;
• Attend and present at meetings in support of Public School Systems, Municipalities and Counties in North Carolina and beyond.

In addition to serving as a leader and project manager for ITRE SchoolCAMP Educational Facility Master Planning initiatives, supports the development and growth of the ITRE Bike-Ped and Transit Research and Practice Groups.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Minimum Experience/Education:

• Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree plus 7 or more years of independent research experience, or substantive relevant experience and education.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven complex, multi-partner Project Management skills
• Knowledge of Principles of Public Education, Land Use and Transportation Planning
• Experience with large data collection, cleaning, organization and descriptive statistical analysis
• Experience with stakeholder and community engagement
• Experience with mixed methods participatory planning
• Familiarity with ArcGIS / QGIS and geospatial software platforms

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred Degree: Graduate degree in Urban & Regional Planning, Public Education, Geography and/or Geospatial Systems, Engineering, and/or Public Policy.
• Preferred Training: AICP Certification; GIS Certification; Project Management Professional (PMP); Recognized Educational Facility Planner (REFP)

Required License or Certification:

N/A