Director of Research

~ Founded in 1986, RTC is the nation's largest trails organization with more than 160,000 members and supporters. ~

The mission of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. RTC advocates at the local, state and national level for policies that support trails and greenways for transportation, recreation, conservation, and as an integral part of livable communities. RTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in California, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

Position Overview

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy seeks a Director of Research to define and implement an organization-wide, innovative research agenda that furthers our trail development and policy objectives. The Director will work closely with program staff to ensure that research findings and tools are incorporated into practice.  

Responsibilities 

The Director of Research is responsible for all aspects of RTC's original research initiatives. Primary functions include the following: 

• Define and implement an organization-wide, innovative research agenda that furthers our policy and trail development objectives.
• Conduct original research in partnership with practitioners and academic institutions.
• Maintain cutting-edge understanding of existing research on trails and active transportation and identify leveraged opportunities to catalyze or conduct new research that will fill priority information gaps relative to RTC's mission.
• Consistently engage with program staff and management to identify and distill current research needs, and: 

1. Find creative ways to use research findings to educate the public and shape policy discourse; 
2. Create tools to support development of high-priority regional trail networks and to improve the effectiveness of trail development professionals; and 
3. Build on current initiatives such as the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform (T-MAP) and reports documenting how public funds have been spent, and the value of such investments.

• Work closely with program staff to ensure that research findings and tools are incorporated into practice.
• Communicate to the public, decision-makers, partners and thought leaders to advance our work. This includes producing web content, generating media interest, publishing articles, addressing opinion leaders and meeting with decision-makers.
• Collaborate with RTC's development team to secure grants and contracts to support research activities.
• Collaborate with RTC's communication's team to translate research findings into easily digestible and well-written communication products, such as reports, briefings, presentations, blog posts, etc.
• Disseminate RTC's work through venues such as conferences and advisory boards to establish thought leadership and build professional networks. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• This position will be responsible for hiring and supervising a Research Coordinator, as well as consultants and research interns when available. 

Qualifications

The Director of Research should hold at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as urban or transportation planning, economics or public health. A Ph.D. is preferred. The ideal candidate will have the following skills and qualifications: 

• A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills, including experience using spatial statistics (experience with the R statistical programming language or an equivalent is a plus), and creating, analyzing and managing large datasets.
• Familiarity with national transportation and health policies.
• Strong project management skills to effectively manage complex, collaborative research projects with internal and external professionals.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills in order to clearly communicate technical ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences (Top candidates will be exceptional at translating their technical findings into practical applications for the trails and active-transportation field.)
• Passion and appreciation for trails and active transportation. 

Work Environment: 

• Normal office setting with low-to-moderate noise level, with some travel required. 

Employer's Rights 

• RTC reserves the right to revise, change or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with our business needs.
• This job description is by no means an implied contract. 

To Apply 

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to email (or mail or fax) a cover letter, résumé and three professional references to:

Human Resources Manager
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
The Duke Ellington Building
2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20037 

Note: Please use one form of transmitting your résumé. No phone calls please, unless contacted for an in-person interview. Recruiters, please do not contact our offices.  

~ EOE. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. ~