Director, Research Operations

The Center for Applied Transportation Sciences (CATS) in the University of Arizona College of Engineering seeks an accomplished transportation professional to serve as Assistant Director for Operations. Reporting directly to the CATS Director, the Assistant Director provides senior-level scientific, operational, and strategic leadership across the Center's portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional transportation research programs and initiatives. The position is responsible for translating Center priorities into coordinated research and operational plans;

directing personnel, resources, and project activities; developing and securing externally sponsored research; and cultivating partnerships with government agencies, universities, and private-sector organizations. The Assistant Director serves as a senior representative of CATS and provides substantial independent judgment and leadership in Center-wide operations, research program development, personnel coordination, quality assurance, and long-range planning. This position also partially support Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI) of data sharing and project management.

CATS is a college-level research center established at the University of Arizona in 2021. CATS serves as a research, training, and capacity-building resource for regional governments, educational institutions, and private-sector organizations in the development of Smart Communities. The Center's research activities include, but are not limited to, Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO), transportation system performance management, intelligent transportation systems, transportation planning, smart mobility and Mobility on Demand (MOD), transportation safety, big data analytics, transportation system simulation and analysis, traffic operations, and emerging transportation technologies.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

• Provide senior-level scientific and programmatic leadership for a portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional transportation research programs conducted through CATS.
• Lead the conceptualization, development, planning, and execution of research initiatives in areas including Transportation Systems Management and Operations, intelligent transportation systems, transportation planning, smart mobility, transportation safety, big data analytics, large-scale transportation system simulation and analysis, traffic operations, and emerging transportation technologies.
• Serve as Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, or senior research leader on sponsored projects and exercise substantial independent judgment in establishing research priorities, methodologies, technical approaches, and project objectives. Proactively identify research and funding opportunities; lead or substantially contribute to competitive proposal development, grant writing, and presentations to funding sponsors.
• Develop and advance innovative research techniques, analytical frameworks, modeling methodologies, and technical approaches. Lead or co-author peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and professional presentations and disseminate research findings through local, national, and international professional forums.

• Provide senior operational…