KU Transportation Center
Position Overview
The University of Kansas Transportation
Center (KUTC) is searching for a Part-Time Local Engineer Liaison to provide support to rural areas in Kansas. This
position will provide traffic engineering services, and act as a local liaison, particularly targeted to road and bridge agencies and street
departments with limited or no in-house transportation safety engineering resources to conduct these activities on their own. This position
will coordinate with the Kansas Department of Transportation, KUTC staff, and with other related road safety activities.
The Local
Roads Support Team to the Kansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) has identified the unique nature of local roads that challenges the
ability to reduce crashes in the state:
- Local roads are less likely to be built to modern operational and safety
standards. - Local governments, particularly those in rural counties, may have less access to professional services and dedicated
funding for safety improvements. - Different stakeholders are involved in highway safety decision making in local agencies (such as
city or county commissioners). - There are varying levels of awareness about safety problems and how to address
them.
Evidence from other states around the country indicates that reductions in crashes on rural roads can be achieved with a
coordinated, proactive outreach approach to local agencies that includes safety engineering analysis.
This position will provide
traffic engineering services and advise as a local engineer liaison, particularly targeting road and bridge agencies and street departments
with limited or no in-house transportation safety engineering resources to conduct these activities on their own. The Local Engineer Liaison
will coordinate and provide road safety assessments.
The position will coordinate with other road safety activities provided or
funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation to create added value and avoid duplication of effort.
Due to the nature of
this work, the successful candidate will need to reside in Kansas and can expect to travel approximately 3-4 days per month across
Kansas.
Job Description
80% – Provide technical assistance to local public works
agencies through Kansas LTAP:
- Conduct road safety assessments
- Complete safety engineering analyses
- Recommend low-cost
safety improvements - Assist with local road safety plan implementation
10% – Create road safety and
maintenance materials (briefs, fact sheets, articles) with the KUTC Communications and Outreach Coordinator
5% – Represent KUTC with transportation organizations and stakeholder groups
5% –
Perform other related duties as assigned
Position Requirements
- This is a primarily remote
position. - The employee must reside in the state of Kansas.
- The position requires regular in-state travel, approximately 3-4
days per month, to various locations across Kansas.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil
Engineering or closely related field. - Five (5) years’ experience working directly for or with local transportation public works
agencies. - A valid Kansas Professional Engineer’s (PE) license or ability to obtain within one year of hire.
- Experience as a
trainer for transportation engineering, highway safety, local road maintenance, or transportation operations topics as evidenced by
application materials. - Experience working with transportation manuals and guidebooks such as The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices, The Roadside Design Guide, A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, and the Kansas Handbook of Traffic Control
Guidance for Low-Volume Rural Roads as evidenced by application materials. - Experience using engineering judgment in situations that
do not comply with standard guidance, as evidenced by application materials. - Experience collecting, analyzing, or using
transportation data of one or more of the following types: traffic volume and speed data, crash records, roadway geometric data, or other
data as evidenced by application materials.
This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure
that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.
The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that
the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery
of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.
Preferred
Qualifications
- Eight (8) years’ experience working directly for or with local transportation public works
agencies. - Experience with technical writing in one or more of the following areas: transportation engineering, roadway safety, or
local road maintenance as shown in application materials. - Experience with establishing priorities in a complex technical environment
with competing responsibilities as evidenced in application materials. - Proven record of the ability to meet deadlines as shown in
application materials.
Contact Information to Applicants
Steven Schrock, [email protected]
Additional Candidate Instruction
In addition to the online
application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Cover letter describing how you meet the
required and preferred qualifications. - Resume.
- List of three (3) professional references.
Only complete
applications will be considered.
Application review begins Monday, October 13th and will continue until a qualified
pool of applicants are identified.
Advertised Salary Range: $52,500 Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins: 13-Oct-2025
Anticipated Start Date: 02-Nov-2025
Primary Campus
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
FTE: .50
Reg/Temp: Regular
FLSA Status
Professional
Employee Class:
U-Unclassified Professional Staff
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday between 8-5, 20 hours per week
Job Family
Research-KUL
Conditions of Employment
Contingent on Funding
Work Location Assignment
Telework
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits
discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran,
sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s
programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries
regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil
Rights and Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside
Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.
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