Job Title Director, TTI Center for Ports and Waterways Agency Texas A&M Transportation Institute Department Center for Ports & Waterways Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate Job Location Houston, Texas Job Type Faculty Job Description Who are we? The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is an agency of the State of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System. For 70 years, TTI has addressed complex transportation challenges and opportunities with innovation, objectivity, and unmatched technical expertise. Our staff delivers excellence, value and thought leadership to ensure our research sponsors achieve their goals. This posting is for the position of Center Director, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Center for Ports and Waterways (CPW) within the TTI Freight and Trade Division. The mission of the CPW is to provide maritime interests with a dynamic research, development, technology transfer, and education program that will: + Improve the productivity of ports and waterways, + Increase the efficiency of operations upon those waterways, + Ensure that the environmental concerns are considered and included in findings and recommendations, + Augment maritime and marine industry efforts to become more competitive internationally, + Test new technologies and support implementation, + Help coordinate projects among multiple agencies, and + Provide educational opportunities for marine transportation professionals. The CPW is a Texas A&M System recognized research center receiving partial state legislative funding support but with primary funding generated from applied research contracts for both public agencies and private sector research sponsors. Details on the center and its functions are available at https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/tti-cpw.pdf. Our Mission and Vision Our Vision - TTI leads in the creation of knowledge that transforms transportation for the benefit of society. Our Mission - TTI delivers practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the movement of people, data and goods through research, education and technology transfer. Our Work Environment Entrepreneurial culture Affiliation with Texas A&M University students and faculty Ability to work with nationally recognized experts Ability to help train the next generation of transportation professionals Premier office and research facilities and equipment Accredited laboratories and safety proving ground Outstanding research support services Hybrid work environment/telecommuting Flexible work hours Family friendly High staff retention rates Leadership development and wellness programs Data allowance and home office equipment reimbursements Relocation assistance (if eligible) Tuition reimbursement program (if eligible) Our Employee Benefits TTI employees can choose from several health coverage options offered by The Texas A&M University System for themselves and their families, as well as numerous other benefit programs. https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/ What you need to know + TTI is a Texas based agency. This position has the flexibility of a hybrid remote option with two days in a TTI Texas based office. This can be discussed further during the interview process. + The salary range for position is commensurate. Final salary will be determined based on the applicant's qualifications and experience. Job Summary This position requires an established expert with experience and knowledge of varied aspects of the marine/maritime industry who can lead TTI’s marine transportation-related research program. Incumbent serves as a strategic key advisor on port and waterway-related issues, is widely trusted by key customers/grantors/investigators and plays a key role in the acquisition and identification of new sources of contract funding. Incumbent in this position is expected to initiate center research projects or programs, serves as Principal Investigator or works within other TTI multidisciplinary research teams, promotes TTI research, attracts new research sponsors and contracts, and identifies future direction of marine/maritime research for the institute. He/she supervises, develops, and mentors junior researchers both within and outside the CPW. Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of funding derived from research program or specific projects. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance. Essential Duties Develop and implement a vision for the center (10%) + Develops a vision for activities and growth of the TTI CPW that builds upon its legacy of valuable applied research solutions in maritime, multimodal, and intermodal transportation. + Increases the profile of TTI’s CPW among maritime industry partners and sponsors as well as other academic institutions by creating actionable steps to implementing that vision. Business development (25%) + Proposes and leads new initiatives; guides programs of national or international significance. Acts as a primary resource to customers in identifying future problems. Investigates trends and opportunities related to ports, waterways, waterborne commerce/trade, and multimodal/intermodal topics. + Develops and maintains relationships with public and private sector research sponsors, including non-traditional sources. Proactively brainstorms, develops, and presents innovative project ideas and concepts and research needs statements to potential sponsors. Identifies opportunities to take the center’s skillset outside traditional transportation research paths where new business opportunities may exist for TTI. Builds potential teaming relationships with additional partners. + Identifies and pursues independent research funding opportunities. Independently maintains or contributes to extramurally funded research. Directs major proposal preparation and presentations as required. Serves as Center Director (10%) + Responsible for the overall direction and management of a TTI Center/work program which includes the day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the center’s research functions. These duties include project management, supervision, data collection, data analysis, and work coordination. + Must demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects as principal investigator through managing time, budgets, and progress of work to meet sponsor expectations. Serves as the primary contact with sponsors for complex projects that involve multidisciplinary teams representing different TTI divisions and programs. + Represents TTI and the TTI CPW on national and international research and advisory boards related to waterborne transportation and infrastructure. Applied research and management (25%) + Conceives, plans, and conducts research in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity. Demonstrates ability to create new concepts, applications, processes, and designs in the identification of new areas of research. Contributes ideas or techniques that are of material significance in the solution of important problems. Ensures the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. + Plans, schedules, coordinates, and reports on detailed phases of research and development projects. Coordinates data gathering activities needed for project tasks. + Assembles, organizes, documents, and archives data necessary for conducting research. + Analyzes and documents business processes. Explores and develops potential new techniques, policies, procedures, and recommendations. + Presents papers, leads symposia, and chairs committees; participates on advisory/policy boards; serves as peer reviewer of major technical programs; networks nationally and internationally. + Manages, communicates, and coordinates with multi-disciplinary teams comprised of research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff. Staff management and supervision (10%) + Manages, develops, and mentors any assigned CPW staff, including professional and career development needs, provides continual and annual performance evaluation feedback, approves time and effort, and approves leave requests as needed. Fosters growth of the center/program and hires additional research and support staff as research funding allows. Report preparation and presentations (18%) + Compiles, documents, and presents results for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepares technical documentation including data collection, analysis, and summaries. Prepares project reports and other deliverables as required. + Prepares and gives presentations to existing and potential research sponsors, in academic settings, or in conference settings. Prepares, schedules, conducts, and documents research meetings. Other non-essential duties as deemed necessary. (2%) Required Education and Experience + Master’s degree in Engineering, Transportation, Planning, Business, Economics, Political Science or related field. + Ten (10) or more years related work experience in the field of ports & harbors management & waterborne transportation issues. + Experience working directly with port officials and other executive maritime/freight industry leaders. Preferred Education and Experience + Experience working/interacting with officials in the Army Corps of Engineers and the Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities + Knowledge of commodity movements and maritime/freight industry economic trends. + Knowledge of waterborne transportation, ports and harbors economics, marine safety and environment, or ports planning and management. + Strong communication, organization, and management skills. + Ability to author scholarly reports and develop research presentations for state, national, and international conferences/symposia. + Economic/data analysis skills and knowledge of marine transportation-related databases. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities + Advanced education/certification and experience in waterborne transportation, ports and harbors economics, marine safety and environment, or ports management. + Experience in a sponsor funded research work environment. Required Licenses, Registrations, and Professional Certifications + Valid Class “C” vehicle operator’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment. Other Requirements or Other Factors + TTI is a Texas-based agency. This position has the flexibility of a hybrid remote option with two days weekly in a TTI Texas-based office. This requirement can be discussed further during the interview process. + Regular duties will require driving within and outside the State of Texas to conduct research, for meetings, and to visit ports and related transportation facilities. + May require overnight stays from time to time. Physical Requirements + Ability to perform common office functions. + Ability to frequently communicate with other individuals within the workplace. + Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.