Director of Fuel Policy; Project POLICY ANL RP

Project Policy Analyst

Reporting to the Director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) and the Director of the Energy Futures Research Program, this executive‑level role provides leadership in the direct operational management of multiple major research initiatives, including personnel, contracts, budgets, reporting obligations, and overall program performance. The position additionally leads major research programs related to alternative fuels technology and policy, including the Biofuel Land Use Change Research Program (BLU‑C) and the Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative.

The role serves as a lead institutional resource on fuel‑related policy issues, informs policy positions and stakeholders, and contributes to funding development for multiple projects. It also links policymakers with UC Davis subject‑matter experts on energy and environmental issues and exercises broad delegated authority to set ITS‑wide policy and research priorities related to sustainable transportation and alternative fuels, thereby determining program direction across major institute initiatives.

Apply By Date: 06/02/2026 by 11:59PM

• 35% – Transportation Policy Development
• 25% – Research Leadership
• 20% – Research and Fundraising Engagement
• 20% – Operation and Administration

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, transportation, environmental policy, economics, engineering, or closely related field, and/or equivalent combination of education and extensive progressively responsible experience.
• Demonstrated expert‑level experience operating with substantial independence to lead complex policy or research initiatives with broad institutional, statewide, national, or international impact, including establishing strategic priorities, influencing policy decisions, and exercising delegated authority over program direction and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated experience directing large‑scale interdisciplinary programs, including oversight of budgets, contracts, personnel, compliance requirements, performance outcomes, and multi‑source funding strategies.
• Demonstrated experience representing an organization as a trusted expert in high‑level policy forums, building strategic stakeholder relationships, and advancing policy engagement through research‑informed recommendations.
• Demonstrated subject‑matter expertise and ability to independently interpret, shape, and influence policy on politically sensitive, high‑visibility issues, with demonstrated impact on policy development, implementation, or evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience influencing policy at the state, federal, or international level and working at the interface of academic research and public policy, including translating research into actionable policy outcomes and advancing equity, environmental justice, and inclusive policy development in transportation and energy systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with senior‑level stakeholders and communicate complex policy analyses and strategic recommendations effectively through executive briefings, policy engagement, and public‑facing interactions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in transportation, public policy, environmental policy, economics, engineering, or related field.
• Experience supervising graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and/or research staff in policy‑relevant work, including mentoring and supporting research development.
• Record of influential publications, policy reports, or recognized contributions shaping transportation, energy, or environmental policy.
• Knowledge of university research environments, including sponsored research administration and compliance frameworks.
• Proven success securing and managing large, complex, multi‑source funding portfolios (federal, state, foundation, industry).

The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) engages world‑class university expertise to deliver credible, timely research and analysis to inform transportation, energy, and environmental policy. The Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative focuses on alternative fuels, fuel…