Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for directing, planning, and facilitating research/technology implementation projects and for recommending solutions to specific research implementation problems. This position is responsible for ensuring the implementation of beneficial materials, methods, and technologies for use by the department, as well as coordinating technology transfer, tracking implementation activities, and reporting implementation efforts to relevant stakeholders.

On-going research implementation projects: 10 - 20 annually

Laboratory studies: 10 - 15 annually
Research report reviews: 20 - 30 annually

This position reports to the Technical Research Coordinator. There are no subordinates reporting to this position.

State and national research efforts are constantly identifying, evaluating, and developing new materials, methods, and technologies both in Illinois and elsewhere to improve efficiency in delivery and facility performance of the department’s assets. This position is unique in that it is the department’s bridge between transportation research and practical real-world implementation. This position operates in an environment where the incumbent collaborates with department staff to facilitate the implementation of new strategies improving the performance of transportation facilities. The implementation of new materials, methods, and technologies often requires significant changes in standard practice to be successful. This position will work closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) subject matter experts leading each research project, as well as the research team, ensuring that a feasible plan for implementation is created and updated from project conception through full implementation. To maximize the impact of implementation, the incumbent should stay abreast of the latest developments and trends in transportation technology. The incumbent should be well versed in research methods, data, and statistical analyses. In addition to facilitating the implementation of new strategies, materials, methods, and technologies for use by the department, this position is responsible for identifying and quantifying the long-term benefits of implemented research. Federal policy requires the active implementation and transformation of research findings. This is achieved by documenting the feasibility of new processes, procedures, and technologies used in the field and the practical implemented outcomes and benefits of new practices or revisions to current standards, policies, specifications, and procedures.

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The challenges for this position are to identify, evaluate, and implement research findings that offer the most effective solutions to the problems of designing, constructing, and maintaining the department’s assets from economical, technical, and practical perspectives, and to ensure that technologies and methodologies used by the department are state-of-the-art. A typical problem is taking a new technology identified through research, planning, and coordinating implementation with district office and central bureau staff, providing on-going guidance during implementation, incorporating the technology into standard practice, assessing both short- and long-term benefits realized by the department, and then sharing the results through the state and nation via technology transfer.

The incumbent reviews reports on research and technology developed through the department’s contract research program, in-house and national research, and works with the IDOT subject matter experts to transform valid and beneficial materials, methods, and technologies into procedures, processes, and specifications for use by the department. In some cases, this may include field evaluation/application, as the construction process is often critical for the fair evaluation of new technology. The incumbent determines the potential benefits, limitations, and applications of research conducted through the department’s contract research program, through in-house or national research, and/or by outside agencies. The incumbent transforms the findings into forms for use in practice; coordinates and directs the actual applications; evaluates the effectiveness of the results; and assists in the development of improved processes, procedures, materials, and methodologies for standard department use. The incumbent plans, conducts, and supervises field and laboratory investigations of research implementation projects and recommends appropriate solutions resulting in detailed specifications and special provisions, policy recommendations, plan details, detailed benefit analyses, and technology transfer products. The incumbent consults, less formally, both on-site and in the office with district office and central bureau staff concerning research implementation problems, and provides technical advice gleaned from each project and recommendations for project-specific action. While working with the Technical Research Coordinator and departmental staff tasked with the oversight of contract research, the incumbent may coordinate field trials, develop specifications or policy drafts, facilitate the purchase/modification of equipment, determine cost-effectiveness, assess benefits realized, share findings via technology transfer, and in general, promote implementation of research findings.

The incumbent is given wide latitude in the planning and conduct of assigned tasks and projects while working closely with the Technical Research Coordinator to create short- and long-term plans for research implementation. The incumbent consults with the Technical Research Coordinator to resolve serious scheduling conflicts and for guidance on how best to approach complex issues and controversial problems.

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The incumbent has regular contact with the district office and central bureau staff and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at various professional levels on matters concerning research implementation, problem investigations, and research needs. S/He will have occasional contact with county and city engineers, college and university staff, consultants, other state departments of transportation personnel, and researchers on a national level to effectively conduct problem investigations, implement research findings, exchange research information, and gain insight into the effectiveness and applicability of potential solutions. The incumbent actively participates in technical review panel committee meetings and may travel throughout the state to coordinate and investigate specific problem investigations and to aid in implementation efforts. Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel with overnight stays is required.

The effectiveness of this position may be measured by the timely implementation of research findings into the department’s policies and practices, workability and success of recommended solutions to specific research implementation problems, successful benefit analyses of implemented research, and successful technology transfer.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Facilitates the implementation of research findings in all aspects of transportation such that significant results are incorporated into department policies and procedures.
2. Identifies research implementation or technology application issues during or upon completion of research projects and recommends timely, workable solutions to technical questions presented by department staff.

3. Ensures feasible implementation plans are created and updated from project conception through full implementation, tracks efforts accordingly, and reports implementation efforts to relevant stakeholders.
4. Identifies and quantifies short- and long-term benefits of implemented research findings by determining cost-effectiveness and assessing realized benefits.
5. Shares results on completed and implemented projects and promotes implementation of research findings via technology transfer.
6. When necessary, coordinates field trials, develops specifications or policy drafts, and facilitates the purchase/modification of equipment to ensure implementation of research findings.
7. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Education/Experience

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree majoring in business, project management, or public administration PLUS two years of experience managing complex projects, managing and implementing policies or procedures, or a combination thereof; OR
• Eight years of experience managing complex projects, managing and implementing policies or procedures, or a combination thereof

• Valid driver’s license
• Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel with overnight stays

Position Desirables

• Working knowledge of research methods and data analysis, including benefit-cost analysis
• Proficiency with the development of policies, procedures, specifications, and standards
• Working knowledge of agency programs and service objectives, activities, and operational systems
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to communicate effectively at various professional levels in both oral and written formats
• Good organizational, leadership, and self-motivational skills
• Ability to maintain cooperative relationships