{"id":3882243,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nationalacademies-senior-program-manager-cooperative-research-programs","title":"Senior Program Manager - Cooperative Research Programs","company":{"id":45339,"name":"Nationalacademies","domain":"nationalacademies.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/nationalacademies","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":9,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":94,"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Asana","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Teams","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-06T18:32:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-06","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T22:02:49Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"Job Description Summary:\n** NOTE A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION **The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides leadership in transportation innovation through objective, evidence-based research and convenes experts from government, industry, and academia to address complex transportation challenges. Within TRB, the Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) are applied research programs-including the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), and others-that develop practical, implementable solutions to current and emerging transportation issues through stakeholder-driven research and collaboration.\nThe Senior Program Manager provides senior-level program management for a complex and diverse portfolio of cooperative transportation research projects. This role has no direct supervisory responsibilities and combines portfolio-level accountability with hands-on management of complex and high-visibility research projects.\nReporting to the Program Director, the Senior Program Manager exercises substantial independent judgment in managing and overseeing project portfolios, resolving complex issues, and engaging with volunteers, sponsors, research agencies, and stakeholders. The role is accountable for ensuring research quality, operational effectiveness, and timely delivery across multiple topic areas, while aligning project activities with division priorities.\nJob Description:\nTransportation Disciplines\nThis role involves leading and facilitating research efforts in collaboration with expert panels across diverse transportation topics.\n\nResponsibilities\nProject Panel Meeting Planning & Support\nReview panel nominations and coordinate the formation of project panels. \nFacilitate project panel meetings, support panel chairs, and follow up with notes and action items from panel meetings. \nPrepare materials, schedules, and documentation needed to support effective panel deliberations and project decisions. \nDocument panel input, decisions, and recommendations to support timely project implementation and follow-up. \nProposal Development & Research Agency Selection\nWork with prospective proposers to resolve matters related to submission of acceptable proposals. \nEvaluate research proposals for technical merit and participate in the process of selecting research agencies. \nSupport fair, objective, and well-documented proposal review and research agency selection processes. \nResearch Planning & Contract Coordination\nBecome thoroughly familiar with selected research plans and work with research agencies and project panels to develop detailed working plans to accomplish project objectives. \nWork with administrative offices to provide information necessary for contract negotiation and execution. \nClarify project objectives, technical expectations, schedules, deliverables, and performance requirements with research agencies and project panels. \nContract & Project Management\nAssemble and submit the complete contract package, including all required documents, in accordance with CRP processes. \nManage contracts by establishing clear project objectives and technical approaches for achieving project goals. \nVisit research agencies, as appropriate, to become familiar with their organizations and facilities, monitor work, and assess progress against project schedules. \nReview monthly, quarterly, and other progress reports needed for administration of the program. \nPrepare compliance reports that document project progress and assess research agency performance and accomplishments. \nProject Monitoring & Quality Review\nConduct site visits, as appropriate. \nMake critical reviews of project progress and recommend improvements when needed. \nReview all types of reports that emanate from research for clarity, completeness, adherence to CRP format, and fulfillment of the approved research plan. \nMake recommendations as to the acceptability of research products and deliverables. \nResearch Interpretation, Publication & Dissemination\nInterpret project findings with respect to applicability for improving transportation practices. \nPrepare research results digests and other derivative products. \nPrepare forewords for use in published reports. \nMake presentations on research findings at technical meetings and other professional forums. \nCoordination & Program Support\nCoordinate with appropriate agencies and subject-matter experts within assigned subject areas to ensure projects benefit from available knowledge. \nProvide staff support to NCHRP oversight committee, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in formulating the annual NCHRP research program by reviewing and evaluating problem statements submitted for research. \nWork effectively with sponsors, volunteers, research agencies, administrative offices, and colleagues to support timely and high-quality delivery of NCHRP research. \nConfidentiality: Maintains confidentiality. Handles secure, privileged, sensitive, or confidential information with discretion and in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. Maintains strict confidence to prevent disclosure. Accesses such information strictly for work-related purposes, and ensures that it is securely stored, transmitted, and disposed of in compliance with organization guidelines. Ensures procedures are in place to safeguard confidentiality and prevent unauthorized disclosure. Provides ongoing training and guidance to team members to reinforce best practices in handling confidential information\nRequirements\nRequired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities\nKnowledge of cooperative or committee-driven research programs and familiarity with transportation research sponsors and policy environments. \nUnderstanding of the National Academies’ mission, structure, and culture. \nStrong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complex portfolios and competing priorities. \nStrong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels. \nAbility to manage funding-related matters and high-risk or complex research initiatives. \nAbility to operate with substantial independence, sound judgment, and discretion in a complex organizational environment. \nAbility to solve complex problems involving significant variety and to serve as a resource to others in resolving issues. \nAbility to work effectively in team-based settings and build and sustain collaborative relationships across departments and stakeholder groups. \nAbility to perform effectively in complex, high-impact environments with multiple priorities and demands. \nMinimum Education/Training Requirements:\nMaster’s degree in a discipline relevant to transportation, highways, public policy, research management, or a closely related field; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with significant professional experience demonstrating advanced subject matter expertise, management of complex projects or programs, and independent research, analysis, or policy development responsibilities.\nMinimum Experience:\nSix years of related professional experience. Demonstrated impact on the advancement of science, transportation practice, or policy through the successful completion of National Academies activities or equivalent outside activities and through effective dissemination of these activities. \nSignificant experience managing applied research projects or programs. \nRequired Licenses, Certification or Registration: None\nAny qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.\nOther Details\nSupervisory Responsibilities/Controls\nReports to the Program Director. Independently establishes goals and objectives. This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.\nMental and Physical Capabilities\nAbility to be visible on camera for meetings when remote. \nAbility to use a computer and applicable hardware/software to perform responsibilities. \nAbility to use multiple technology collaboration platforms, including collaboration tools. Examples: Microsoft Teams, Asana. \nAbility to focus/concentrate on tasks and multi-task, when needed. \nBegin work at the required time, per approved schedule. \nAbility to lift/carry laptop and other mobile devices between work and home. \nAbility to commute to work. \nAbility to travel between National Academies’ facilities and offsite sponsor/partner locations. \nAbility to work in different time zones, when travel is outside of current location, e.g., when traveling internationally. \nAbility to perform work responsibilities onsite, where required. \nAbility to interact in-person with multiple people and large groups. \nAbility to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines. \nWork Environment\nHybrid office/telecommute environment; expected onsite percentage 60%. Occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations.\nCompensation & Benefits\nAn estimated compensation range for this position is $105,230 - $164,420. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range. This is a benefits-eligible position. Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance. For more information, please click here.\nEqual Opportunity Employer\nIt is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.\nDisclaimer\nThe above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. 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