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Smart growth is an approach to community design that connects housing, transportation, and land use to create healthy, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods.
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Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
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Research Manager, Transportation for America

<a href="https://t4america.org/">Transportation for America</a> (T4America)—a program of Smart Growth America—is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual with deep knowledge, experience, and interest in transportation policy at all levels to help plan and execute creative research ideas to advance the organization’s transportation policy goals. This high-profile position reports to the T4America Senior Policy Manager.
The ideal candidate will be: an entrepreneurial and creative self-starter who is eager to produce research and report ideas; experienced with analytical tools like GIS, data visualization, AI; knowledgeable about available federal, state, and local transportation data; a compelling writer who can produce research-backed content like in-depth reports, but also brief analyses, blog posts, and visuals; well connected to the world of transportation policy and practice; and is ready to both collaborate with others and produce their own creative ideas for research and other content to advance our mission.

Aerial view of a bus in the bus lane - Cleveland, Ohio

<a href="https://t4america.org/">Transportation for America</a> (T4America)—a program of Smart Growth America—is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual with deep knowledge, experience, and interest in transportation policy at all levels to help plan and execute creative research ideas to advance the organization’s transportation policy goals. This high-profile position reports to the T4America Senior Policy Manager.
The ideal candidate will be: an entrepreneurial and creative self-starter who is eager to produce research and report ideas; experienced with analytical tools like GIS, data visualization, AI; knowledgeable about available federal, state, and local transportation data; a compelling writer who can produce research-backed content like in-depth reports, but also brief analyses, blog posts, and visuals; well connected to the world of transportation policy and practice; and is ready to both collaborate with others and produce their own creative ideas for research and other content to advance our mission.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to <a href="mailto:jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org">jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org</a> with “T4America Research Manager” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please indicate how you’ve learned of this opportunity.

Produce strategic research:
<ul>
<li>Produce creative research and analytical ideas to advance T4America’s <a href="https://t4america.org/platform/principles/">priorities</a> and support our work on reauthorization.</li>
<li>Research and examine the impacts of possible legislative, regulatory, and other executive actions at all levels of government with regard to T4America’s priorities.</li>
<li>Produce creative research and analytical ideas to advance SGA’s broader transportation work, including the National Complete Streets Coalition.</li>
<li>Provide research support for SGA’s technical assistance engagements, which could include tasks like running benefit-cost analyses, analyzing projects or plans, providing research-based policy recommendations, or creating bespoke products to assist SGA/T4A’s expansive technical assistance work.</li>
<li>Help conceive of creative new reports like <a href="https://t4america.org/resource/fueling-the-crisis/">Fueling the Crisis</a>, <a href="https://t4america.org/resource/world-class-transit/">World-Class American Transit</a>, <a href="https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/">Dangerous by Design</a>, <a href="https://t4america.org/platform/principles/">The Congestion Con</a>, <a href="https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/divided-by-design/">Divided by Design</a>, and <a href="https://t4america.org/maps-tools/driving-down-emissions/">Driving Down Emissions</a>, or produce updated versions of these existing reports.</li>
<li>Build relationships with our allies and other stakeholders (especially other researchers) to inform and support collaborative research opportunities. </li>
</ul>
Produce research-based content and communicate about it
<ul>
<li>Collaborate with staff and the SGA communications team to produce engaging research-based content for all channels, including blog posts, social media posts, quick hit research, and others, to further our mission and advance our policy strategies.</li>
<li>Be a part of the team closely following, analyzing, and communicating about broader transportation trends and their impact on T4America’s priorities.</li>
<li>Identify research opportunities, oversee and draft reports that explain challenges in transportation in the areas related to our key principles, as well as other important priorities like reducing emissions and improving access to destinations.</li>
<li>Potentially speak about research and content on behalf of the organization, including at workshops, conferences, and other events (some travel included).</li>
</ul>

Key responsibilities

Required knowledge and skills:
<ul>
<li>Commitment to the organization’s priorities and a vision of how to achieve them;</li>
<li>Minimum of five years' experience in the transportation arena or a closely related policy field;</li>
<li>The ability to use data to tell a clear story that can support advocacy goals;</li>
<li>An entrepreneurial ability to analyze the transportation sector and spot emerging trends;</li>
<li>Deep familiarity with available federal, state, and local transportation data</li>
<li>Experience with GIS or other data visualization software, as well as programming with R or other data analysis tools;</li>
<li>Project management skills and experience;</li>
<li>Excellent time management and organization, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision;</li>
<li>Ability to strategically prioritize workload and complete multiple tasks and a high volume of work;</li>
<li>Excellent written/verbal skills, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.</li>
</ul>
Preferred knowledge and skills:
<ul>
<li>An advanced degree in public policy, political science, urban planning, or other related field;</li>
<li>Knowledge of the legislative process at multiple levels of government</li>
<li>Experience working within a state or local transportation agency at the local, MPO, or state level;</li>
<li>Knowledge of the broader SGA set of issues, including land use, housing, and zoning, and ideas to produce or conceive of other research work for SGA’s other teams and work across the organization</li>
</ul>

Knowledge and skills

The salary range for this position is $68,000-$74,000. A candidate for the top of this range would have been involved in producing similar research on the outcomes of the federal transportation program, have 5-plus years of experience, and possess one or more of the knowledge and skills listed as preferred above. Benefits include fully paid medical insurance, optional dental and vision coverage, 401 (k) contributions, life and disability insurance, three weeks of vacation in the first year, and 12 paid annual holidays.

Compensation

This position reports to the Senior Policy Manager and is based in Washington, DC. SGA staff work in the office at 1350 Eye St. NW, Tuesdays-Thursdays. No relocation assistance is offered at this time.

Office schedule

Please send a cover letter and resume to <a href="mailto:jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org">jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org</a> with “T4America Research Manager” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please indicate how you’ve learned of this opportunity.

How to apply

Smart Growth America and Transportation for America are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, including candidates of color. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.

Commitment to building a diverse team

About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize this vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.
About Transportation for America
Transportation for America is a national nonprofit made up of local, regional, and state leaders who seek a transportation system that safely, affordably, and conveniently connects people of all means and ability to jobs, services, and opportunity through multiple modes of travel.

Research Manager, Transportation for America

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Key responsibilities

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Compensation

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Commitment to building a diverse team

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