Local Engineer Liaison

University of Kansas
United States, Kansas, Lawrence
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard (Show on map)
Oct 03, 2025
Position Overview The University of Kansas Transportation Center (KUTC) is searching for a Full-Time Local Engineer Liaison to provide outreach that will create safer communities in rural areas of 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 play a crucial role in a proactive outreach approach with local agencies, including on-site technical assistance and training in safety and operations; as well as coordinate with the Kansas Department of Transportation, KUTC staff, and other related road safety activities. In coordination with KUTC staff and other stakeholders, the Local Engineer Liaison will assist with the development of local road safety plans and road safety briefs suitable for publication in KUTC newsletters or online to support the Kansas LTAP. 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, on-site technical assistance, and training in safety and operations. This position will provide traffic engineering services and advice as a local field 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. The Local Engineer Liaison will coordinate and provide road safety assessments, identify low-cost safety improvements, assist in developing local road safety plans, and deliver local road safety training. They will work with the KUTC Communications and Outreach Coordinator to develop a series of road safety briefs suitable for publication in KUTC newsletters or online to support the Kansas LTAP. 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 6-8 days per month across Kansas. Job Description 80% - Provide technical assistance to county and city public works agencies through Kansas LTAP: Plan and conduct on-site visits to local agencies Coordinate and complete road safety assessments Perform safety engineering analyses and identify low-cost safety improvements Provide guidance on applying for safety improvement funding Assist with implementation of local road safety plans Respond to inquiries from local agencies Share and distribute relevant technology transfer materials Support the equipment loan program Develop reports for key stakeholders Design and deliver roadway safety training for local agency staff, elected officials, and law enforcement 10% - Collaborate with the KUTC Communications and Outreach Coordinator to prepare road safety and maintenance briefs, fact sheets, and articles for Kansas LTAP distribution 5% - Represent KUTC with transportation organizations and stakeholder groups involved in technology transfer activities 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 6-8 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. Additional Candidate Instructions 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. Contact Information to Applicants Steven Schrock, schrock@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range $105,000 Commensurate with experience Application Review Begins Monday October 13, 2025 Anticipated Start Date Sunday November 2, 2025