Virginia Tech Transportation Institute seeks a qualified, ambitious Program Specialist to support our growing Supply Chain, Transportation, Automation, and Resource Sustainability (STARS) team by helping plan and lead stakeholder events, manage partner engagements, and contribute to key research activities. This team focuses on supply chain research as it relates to the needs of a Coalition comprised of 87 members from sectors of academia, industry, government, and non-profits.

The individual filling this role will be supporting the STARS teams many outreach research initiatives with a focus on the teams Dock to Door (D2D) Coalition efforts. The D2D Coalition strives to advance supply chain resiliency through partnership, research, and innovation to ensure goods are moving seamlessly and reliably from dock to door through a fully connected, environmentally sustainable, and equitable transportation system. A Coalition of this magnitude, with its multiple moving pieces, programs and partnerships, requires a creative, independent, flexible, and highly motivated candidate with good communication skills, strong work habits, and ability to work effectively within a team.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Stakeholder Event Planning:
• Plan and facilitate logistics for all events, overseeing day of operations from set up to break down (includes contract negotiations, guest lists, venue preparation, presentation materials, agenda development, accessibility needs, catering, entertainment, transportation, equipment, décor, etc.)
• Build and maintain a database of industry contacts, vendors, and venues
• Work with other departments to ensure budget is maintained

Partner Engagement:
• Train and lead group on implementations of new Salesforce database
• Assist engagement officers with maintaining said database
• Strategize overall coalition building initiatives with other STARS team members
• Develop varying materials for advisory board meetings, event presentation slides, marketing efforts, etc.

Research Related Tasks as needed:
• Assist PI’s with drafting and submitting IRB documents and amendments
• Perform literature reviews
• Assist with writing technical reports sections

Proposal Related Tasks as needed:
• Coordinate or execute written narratives and graphics that meet RFP solicitations
• Coordinate with internal SMEs and project consultants to expand documentation of projects and update existing materials
• Compile proposal win themes and discriminators from our partner database and present information to leads for developing win strategies