UNC Begins Search for HSRC Director

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Dec. 11, 2017) – The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Director of the UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC).

The ideal candidate will demonstrate commitment to transportation safety and will be responsible for the strategic and intellectual leadership of HSRC: building relationships with research partners, developing HSRC researchers and staff, and cultivating cutting-edge research and education initiatives to further enhance HSRC’s reputation as a national and international leader in transportation safety research.

Quick link to official posting: http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/132110

Position Summary

HSRC (www.hsrc.unc.edu) was established by the NC Legislature in 1962 with the mission to improve the safety of all road users. The Center’s research encompasses the full spectrum of transportation safety issues for roadway users of all ages and travel mode (including car and truck drivers, vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists, etc.). Its work addresses topics such as occupant protection, graduated driver licensing, behavior change, intervention design and evaluation, safety data management, roadway design and operation, and technology and automation.

The Center typically conducts 50 projects per year and has an $8 to 10 million dollar annual budget. Its 50+ employees and graduate students bring together diverse backgrounds-including psychology, epidemiology, public health, engineering, sociology, statistics, communications, and urban planning-that underscore the multidisciplinary nature of HSRC’s research.

HSRC also leads the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, one of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s five national University Transportation Centers (www.roadsafety.unc.edu). It is home to several other major initiatives, including the Highway Safety Information System (www.hsisinfo.org), Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (www.pedbikeinfo.org), Road Safety Academy (www.rsa.unc.edu) and Buckle Up NC (www.buckleupnc.org), which aim to translate research into practice.

HSRC is positioned among 16 campus research centers and institutes that report to the Vice Chancellor for Research. These centers-as well as other top-ranked departments and programs at UNC such as the School of Government, School of Public Health, Department of City and Regional Planning-offer fertile grounds for cross-sector collaboration and intellectual engagement.

Educational Requirements

An advanced degree is required. A faculty appointment may be available if the selected candidate is qualified and interested.

Qualifications and Experience

Nominees and applicants for HSRC Director must have a solid record of national or international recognition in transportation safety research and demonstrated success in securing funding from varied sources.

The preferred candidate will be committed to fostering inter-disciplinary research, will demonstrate strong inter-personal and communication skills, and will be committed to promoting a positive and fair workplace culture. Experience successfully managing a research operation (within a university, government agency, or other organization) is highly desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Special Instructions

The position will become available January 1, 2018. Applicants should apply via http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/132110 with a letter of application, a current CV, and a list of references.

The position will remain open until filled.

Screening of applications will begin February 1, 2018.

Quick link to official posting: http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/132110


About UNC Highway Safety Research Center
The mission of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) is to improve the safety, sustainability and efficiency of all surface transportation modes through a balanced, interdisciplinary program of research, evaluation and information dissemination. For more than 50 years, HSRC has been a leading research institute that has helped shape the field of transportation safety. For more information, visit www.hsrc.unc.edu.