| Location | Fargo, ND |
| Salary | $200,000–$250,000 Per Year |
Position Information
Position Overview
North Dakota State University (NDSU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI). The university seeks an accomplished and visionary leader with a demonstrated record of national recognition and leadership in transportation research, public policy, workforce development, or a related field.
Established in North Dakota Century Code 54-53 in 1967, the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute serves as North Dakotas premier transportation research and outreach organization. The Director works in close collaboration with the UGPTI Advisory Council, which strengthens its mission through stakeholder engagement, policy insight and strategic guidance, to advance the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods through interdisciplinary research, technology transfer, education, and workforce development. The Institute addresses critical transportation challenges affecting North Dakota, the Upper Great Plains region, and the nation, while supporting informed decision-making among public and private sector stakeholders.
UGPTI operates with an annual budget of approximately $25 million, roughly 70 percent of which is funded through externally sponsored grants and contracts, and employs a professional staff of nearly 40 researchers, analysts, educators, and support personnel. UGPTIs headquarters are located on the NDSU campus in Fargo, with an additional office in the State Capitol complex in Bismarck.
The Director provides strategic leadership for all aspects of the Institute, including research development, external funding, stakeholder engagement, organizational management, and program growth. The successful candidate will bring a strategic vision for the future of transportation, a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, and the leadership skills necessary to advance UGPTIs mission of delivering innovative research, practical solutions, and workforce development programs that support transportation systems and economic vitality across the region. Regular statewide travel and extensive engagement with stakeholders throughout North Dakota and beyond are expected.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the Institute, including research development, external funding, stakeholder engagement, organizational management, and program growth
Advance UGPTIs mission to promote the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods
Address critical transportation challenges affecting North Dakota, the Upper Great Plains region, and the nation, supporting informed decision-making among public and private sector stakeholders
Set and sustain the Institutes vision for the future of transportation
Partner with the UGPTI Advisory Council to develop the Institutes strategic plans, and lead their execution through measurable goals and regular progress reporting
Research, Funding, and Program Growth
Grow and diversify the Institutes portfolio of externally sponsored grants and contracts
Advance interdisciplinary research, technology transfer, and the delivery of practical solutions to transportation challenges
Foster the continued growth of the Institutes research, education, and outreach programs
Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain strong partnerships with the North Dakota Department of Transportation, other state and federal agencies, Tribal governments, and local and regional jurisdictions
Engage transportation providers, freight and logistics industries, agricultural and energy producers, and professional associations
Represent UGPTI at the state, regional, and national levels, enhancing the Institutes visibility, influence, and impact
Organizational and Fiscal Management
Oversee the Institutes approximately $25 million budget and its professional staff of nearly 40
Provide effective management across UGPTIs Fargo headquarters and its Bismarck office
Guide the Institute in close partnership with its advisory council
Education and Workforce Development
Advance workforce development programs that prepare and strengthen the transportation workforce
Support education and the transfer of research results to practitioners across the region
Hiring Range:
$200,000-$250,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Pay is based on several factors, including budget, labor market, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and/or certification and other business considerations.
Minimum Qualifications:
A masters degree and leadership experience in the transportation field
Proven success in entrepreneurial efforts to secure external funding and resources
Administrative and supervisory experience, including budget preparation and management
Experience with public or private industry research programs
Preferred Qualifications:
A Ph.D. with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the transportation field
Previous experience working with university academic programs
Proven ability to develop and maintain partnerships and business relationships beyond the university
Previous experience with public policy and legislative issues at the federal and state levels
Leadership experience in local, regional, and national transportation organizations
Demonstrated accomplishments in transportation research and scholarly achievement
Experience working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other state and federal agencies
Core Competencies
Demonstrated success setting strategic direction for a research center, academic unit, or comparable organization, including developing a long-term vision and carrying it through to measurable results
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical and policy information persuasively to diverse audiences, including legislators, agency officials, industry partners, researchers, and the public
Demonstrated ability to anticipate and analyze trends in policy
Knowledge of multimodal transportation systems and uses of advanced technologies in transportation
Application Process
Applications should include a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred qualifications, a comprehensive curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three professional references.
Please note that North Dakota is an open records state, and all nominations and applications are subject to public and media access.
About North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University is a student-focused, land-grant, research university located in Fargo, North Dakota. Founded in 1890, NDSU is classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 institution, "Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity," the highest research classification a university can hold.
The university enrolls approximately 11,950 students across six colleges and offers 103 undergraduate majors and 120 graduate programs. In the most recent fiscal year, NDSU reported research expenditures of approximately $156 million. NDSUs mission is to provide transformational education, create knowledge through innovative research as a leading R1 research institution, and share knowledge through community engagement that meets the needs of North Dakota and the world.
About Fargo
NDSU is located in Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota and the heart of a Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area of more than 271,000 residents. The region pairs the amenities of a growing metro with a notably high quality of life, including safe neighborhoods, strong schools, and an affordable cost of living, particularly for housing. Its diversified economy spans agriculture, advanced manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and research, and a vibrant downtown along Broadway offers dining, arts, and entertainment. Residents enjoy an extensive network of parks and trails and four-season recreation.
Our commitment to caring for our employees isn't just words-it's proven. In NDSU's most recent Gallup Engagement Survey, our strengths centered on care and development. "My supervisor, or someone at work, cares about me as a person" and "I have the opportunities to learn and grow", were noted as top drivers. This reflects the culture you'll experience here.
NDSU OFFERS OUTSTANDING BENEFITS!
Join a workplace that invests in your well-being, your future, and your success.
Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
Health & Wellness
Exceptional Retirement Plan
(One of the strongest retirement packages in the region!) - Your future is a priority, and it shows.
Time Away & Support
Education Benefits That Grow With You
Additional Optional Benefits
Explore Full Benefit Details:
Benefits | Human Resources | NDSU
About Us:
North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.
NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.
NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.
NDSU is committed to fostering a community where differences are recognized as strengths. Rooted in our land-grant mission, we work together to meet the needs of North Dakota and its communities through education, research and outreach.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to: Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, Fargo, ND, 58108, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu.
No Smoking Notice:
As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.
Veteran's Preference Notice:
This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran's Preference requirements.
Reasonable Accommodation Information:
North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.