Program Administrator: Center for Transportation Research, Nashville - UTK

About the job

This full-time exempt status position of Program Administrator at the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) of the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville will be funded through a renewable contract with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS).  The CTR serves the transportation needs of government, business, and industry through the conduct of contract research and the provision of training/service in the areas of highway safety, transportation policy, public transportation, environmental protection, transportation planning, and intermodal transportation.

The THSO, headquartered in downtown Nashville, is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded.

The THSO’s mission is to reduce Tennessee traffic fatalities as part of the nation’s vision Toward Zero Deaths. The THSO works to achieve this goal by changing driver behavior through increased education, enforcement, and community partnerships.

The primary duty station of this position will be in Nashville and the successful candidate must reside in relatively close proximity to the Nashville/Davidson County area, or have the ability to travel there quickly, since in person attendance to the office will be required at times. However, this position will primarily work from home unless mandated differently by University of Tennessee or State of Tennessee requirements. The position will require in-state travel up to approximately 35% of workdays and out-of-state travel up to approximately 10% of workdays annually. Additionally, weekend work and/or travel may occasionally be required.

The duties of this Nashville-based position include assisting the THSO with coordination, facilitation, administration and operational activities of the state’s behavioral highway safety programs. This includes but is not limited to the development, management and monitoring of THSO funded grants.  Work tasks will include monitoring progress of assigned grants, completion of on-site and desk monitoring reports, and the provision of technical assistance/feedback to grant funded agencies. As one of several program administrator positions, this specific position will require the development of the skills necessary for the operation of a web-based grant management system.

Responsibilities

Below are some of the primary aspects of the position:

Program Management

• Administer a federal highway safety grant program through collaboration with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, colleges and universities, and commercial vendors.

• During annual grant orientation meetings, teach sub-grantees the processes used for grant management.

• Supervise project directors and provide guidance and recommendations for report submissions when needed.

• Responsible for the management of federally funded highway safety projects.

• Make on site visits and phone calls to audit activities and procedures of grant programs.

Budget Management

• Provide guidance and authorization to grantees related to budgetary compliance of grant funded expenditures.

• Conduct a post application review ensuring that agencies have met specific goals and objectives, that budgetary items are in the correct line items and that all costs are allowable.

Compliance

• Review annual grant applications and contracts, grant quarterly reports, claims, and other related documents to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Ensures legality of all grant adjustments.

Administrative Support

• Other duties as assigned, may include representing the THSO at conferences, meetings etc.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and three to five years of work experience in a related field.  Strong verbal and written communication skills; demonstrated organizational abilities; and the ability to conduct independent analyses; effective interpersonal skills; solid managerial abilities; extensive organizational proficiency are required.

The successful candidate must possess excellent communication and organizational skills, be able to work independently, must have the ability to effectively work with a variety of agencies from the local to the federal level, be proficient in Microsoft Office Software Products, inclusive of Excel.

A valid Tennessee driver’s license is required.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with current practice and procedures in the field of highway safety program administration are also desirable.  Alternatively, any combination of education and experience judged as pertinent and sufficient to perform the duties of the position may be acceptable. The successful candidate must be a team player and possess the ability to interact well with colleagues and program stakeholders external to THSO and UT.

Work Location

• Location: Nashville, TN

• Hybrid

Compensation and Benefits

• Market Range: MR11
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume

About The Department

CTR is part of the Tickle College of Engineering at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. CTR researchers and staff members work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, and many other partners to improve transportation and promote the safe and efficient transport of goods and people.

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 10287
• Job Category: Administrative
• Posting Date: 2026-10-08
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, Nashville, TN, 37243, US (Hybrid)