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Operations Administrator: Center for Transportation Research - UTK

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

Operations
Nashville, TN, USA
USD 80k-105k / year
Posted on Feb 10, 2026

This full-time exempt status position at the Center for Transportation Research of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is funded through a renewable contract with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. This position manages the fiscal operation, grants and contracts processes, and serves as the online grants' management system administrator. This position is also part of the THSO management team providing leadership to support staff.

Primary functions are fiscal operations and grant management system administrator. Secondary functions are management and program management responsibilities.


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!

This full-time exempt status position at the Center for Transportation Research of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is funded through a renewable contract with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. This position manages the fiscal operation, grants and contracts processes, and serves as the online grants' management system administrator. This position is also part of the THSO management team providing leadership to support staff.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree with 2-3 years’ experience
  • Must have demonstrated leadership and supervision skills.
  • Must have excellent communication and organizational skills.
  • Must have the ability to effectively work with diversified groups of highway safety advocates and agencies.
  • Must have demonstrated ability to give lectures, training, and/or presentations.
  • Must have the ability to manage fiscal and budget tracking.
  • Ability to multi-task and work with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to prioritize and balance a heavy workload based on project needs and deadlines.
  • Eagerness and ability to learn new and complex issues.
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team environment.
  • Use of concise, efficient, and effective interpersonal and communication skills - virtual, oral, and written.
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced knowledge of federal transportation regulations specific to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Work Location

  • Location: Nashville, TN
  • Hybrid

Compensation and Benefits

  • UT market range: MR 13, ($80,000 - $105,000)
  • 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. To

  • Resume
  • List of 3 Professional References

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.


Fiscal Operations requires the following, at a minimum: Prepare and maintain annual THSO budget comprised of federal funding, create contracts and financial documentation for sub-grantees, serve as the THSO liaison to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Finance, and Legal departments, ensure compliance with federal and state rules and regulations, review and approve fiscal documentation submitted by sub-grantees, review and approve reimbursement vouchers, submit annual application and supporting documentation for federal funding.

Grants Management System Administrator responsibilities are, at a minimum: serve as administrator for on-line grants management system, develop and implement systematic changes, provide technical support for THSO grantees and staff, create annual application submission and review process for sub-grantees, provide training to new staff and new sub-grantees.

Management responsibilities are, at a minimum: serve as member of the THSO management team that makes decisions directly impacting the office and assist with management oversight of staff.

Program Management responsibilities are, at a minimum: serve as program manager for multiple sub-grantees, assist sub-grantee project directors with grant performance (compliance, claims, reporting, etc.), conduct annual on-site monitoring visits with assigned sub-grantees, create and instruct portions of the annual grantee orientation workshops.