The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) seeks a Director of Research for their downtown Washington, DC headquarters. RTC repurposes old rail lines as pedestrian and bicycle trails, thus helping to reconnect and revitalize cities and regions.
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.
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 four 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