Local Engineer Liaison

Overview

The University of Kansas Transportation Center (KUTC) is seeking a Full-Time Local Engineer Liaison to provide outreach that will create safer communities in rural Kansas. This position will provide traffic engineering services, and act as a local liaison, particularly targeted to road and bridge agencies and street departments with limited or no in-house transportation safety engineering resources to conduct these activities on their own.

This position will play a crucial role in a proactive outreach approach with local agencies, including on-site technical assistance and training in safety and operations; as well as coordinate with the Kansas Department of Transportation, KUTC staff, and other related road safety activities. In coordination with KUTC staff and other stakeholders, the Local Engineer Liaison will assist with the development of local road safety plans and road safety briefs suitable for publication in KUTC newsletters or online to support the Kansas LTAP.

• 80% – Provide technical assistance to county and city public works agencies through Kansas LTAP
• Plan and conduct on-site visits to local agencies
• Coordinate and complete road safety assessments
• Perform safety engineering analyses and identify low-cost safety improvements
• Provide guidance on applying for safety improvement funding
• Assist with implementation of local road safety plans
• Respond to inquiries from local agencies
• Share and distribute relevant technology transfer materials
• Support the equipment loan program
• Develop reports for key stakeholders
• Design and deliver roadway safety training for local agency staff, elected officials, and law enforcement
• 10% – Collaborate with the KUTC Communications and Outreach Coordinator to prepare road safety and maintenance briefs, fact sheets, and articles for Kansas LTAP distribution
• 5% – Represent KUTC with transportation organizations and stakeholder groups involved in technology transfer activities
• 5% – Perform other related duties as assigned

The Local Engineer Liaison will provide outreach and traffic engineering services, acting as a local liaison for road and bridge agencies and street departments with limited or no in-house transportation safety engineering resources. Responsibilities include on-site technical assistance and training in safety and operations, coordination with the Kansas Department of Transportation and KUTC staff, and development of local road safety plans and briefs for publication.

The position will work with the Kansas LTAP program and coordinate with other road safety activities to avoid duplication of effort. The successful candidate will reside in Kansas and travel approximately 6-8 days per month across the state.

• Local roads are often not built to modern safety standards.
• Rural jurisdictions may have limited access to professional services and funding for safety improvements.
• Stakeholders in local safety decisions include city or county commissioners.
• Varying levels of safety awareness exist among local agencies.

• This is a primarily remote position.
• The employee must reside in the state of Kansas.
• The position requires regular in-state travel, approximately 6-8 days per month, to various locations across Kansas.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or closely related field.
• Five (5) years’ experience working directly for or with local transportation public works agencies.
• A valid Kansas Professional Engineer’s (PE) license or ability to obtain within one year of hire.
• Experience as a trainer for transportation engineering, highway safety, local road maintenance, or transportation operations topics as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience working with transportation manuals and guidebooks such as The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, The Roadside Design Guide, A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, and the Kansas Handbook of Traffic Control Guidance for Low-Volume Rural Roads as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience using engineering judgment in situations that do not comply with standard guidance, as evidenced by…