Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

Working Title:  Research Scientist

Role Title: Scientist II - 59132

Job Open Date: 10/07/2022

Job Close Date: 11/06/2022

Open Until Filled: No

Is this position funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package)?: No

Hiring Range: $65,030 - $96,000

Agency: Department of Transportation (501)

Agency Website: http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/jobs

Location: Charlottesville - 540

Position Number: 08639

Job Posting Number: 1107557

Type of Recruitment: General Public - G

Does this position have telework options?: Yes

Bilingual/Multilingual Skill Requirement/Preference: No

Job Type: Full-Time (Salaried)

Job Type Detail: Full-Time Salaried - Non-Faculty- FTS-1

Pay Band: 05

Job Description

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) is excited to announce an opportunity to serve as a Research Scientist at the Virginia Transportation Research Council. This position is located in Charlottesville, Virginia on the campus of the University of Virginia.

This position will independently organize, coordinate, conduct, and implement the findings of the most advanced, extensive, and technically complex research in technical specialty areas and to provide innovative and improved technology and practices through applied and conceptual research, technology transfer and technical assistance. These specialty areas will either be multimodal transportation planning or water resources engineering

Position specific responsibilities and duties will include, but not limited to:

Conduct Research: Conceive, plan, direct, and conduct technically complex research in diverse areas of specialty using scientific methodology. Advise Director and manager on proper direction for research program and coordinates Council’s and VDOT’s participation in national research programs. Work with scientists in related fields. Deliver a research program to satisfy needs of Transportation Planning and/or Environmental Research Advisory Committees.

Implement and Disseminate Findings: Maintain frequent contacts with VDOT division management to facilitate implementation. Disseminate research findings through papers, refereed publications, and through presentations to state and national audiences.

Technology Assistance: Provide technical assistance, management consulting, and technology transfer to a broad spectrum of VDOT personnel, FHWA, and other state and local government officials, and external customers.

Professional Development: Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of the subject matter by keeping abreast of current literature and practices. Develop and maintain relationships with other professionals in the field including VDOT, federal agency, university staff, and other groups in the transportation community. Maintain membership in a national professional association or group. Attend appropriate conferences, institutes, and meetings. Maintain professional competence through participation in task groups, seminars, and technical societies such as TRB, AASHTO, APA, ASCE, and NAEP and review current literature.

VDOT employees serve the citizens of the Commonwealth and travelling public daily through our mission to plan, deliver, operate and maintain a transportation system that is safe, moves people and goods, enhances the economy, and improves quality of life. VDOT is the third largest state maintained highway system in the country, maintaining over 58,000 miles of roads, bridges, and tunnels, and employing over 7700 people through a diverse workforce. Our culture includes teamwork, transparency, nimble learning, creativity and collaboration that values differences.

In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDOT offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

We have Shared Values and a Code of Ethics. Your success in our organization depends upon modelling these values, therefore visit http://www.virginiadot.org/about/missionandvalues.asp to review them and, if in agreement, we welcome you to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Planning, or related field. Equivalent applicable experience or training may substitute for degree.
• Knowledge of multimodal transportation planning or water resources engineering
• Knowledge of research methods including quantitative and qualitative research techniques, experimental design, and statistical principles.
• Ability to create, develop, and manage a diverse research program.
• Experience conducting research projects, analyzing data using statistical methods and advanced theory, making recommendations, and promoting implementation of results.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with diverse audiences and to conduct meetings and make presentations at departmental, national and international levels.
• Ability to provide technical assistance and technology transfer activities to VDOT and other agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of transportation planning including demand forecasting, multimodal planning, freight, and equity analyses and/or knowledge of resiliency planning with a focus on flood risk prediction, stormwater modeling, and infrastructure adaptation.
• Professional experience in the above fields including experience serving as a leader in specialty areas and provide expertise at a national level.
• Knowledge of the national and international research in specialty areas, current research needs, and related state-of-the-art technology.
• Advanced knowledge of experimental mechanisms, multimodal planning, or water quantity modeling as it relates to infrastructure resiliency.
• Advanced knowledge of VDOT specifications, policies, procedures, practices, and operations.
• Additional advanced degrees in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Planning, or related field.
• Professional Engineering (PE) licensure or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification or ability to acquire one or both.

Special Requirements

This position requires a fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check and Work History Verification with references.

VDOT is an emergency operation agency. Positions physically working within Central Office locations may be designated upon request and coordination among the respective District Engineer or Administrator and Chief. Assignments are updated annually. Not all designated employees are provided an emergency operations assignment.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800- 552-5019.

Special Instructions to Applicants

State applications or resumes will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:59 pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). State applications or resumes submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered.

Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State application or resume. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided; therefore, it is essential provide detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application or resume, or application materials lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility.

This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is an Equal Opportunity Employer by both policy and practice. For more information about our employment practices, please visit “Information for VDOT Employees and Applicants”: http://www.virginiadot.org/jobs/information_for_employees.asp

Additional positions may be filled from this recruitment.

VDOT utilizes a market based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

Salary negotiations cannot exceed the posted salary range.

Once onboarded, this position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.

Additional positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.

Contact Information

Name: Jeff Fowler

Email: jeff.fowler@vdot.virginia.gov

Address: VDOT, Central Office Human Resources