Overview

The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy is currently looking for a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) graduate student to work as a Student Research/Outreach Assistant. An undergraduate student with appropriate skills and work experience would also be considered.  The research assistant will assist with the implementation of outreach for technical assistance transportation planning projects in primarily Spanish-speaking communities in New York and New Jersey. This position will focus on public outreach and engagement, research, and writing.

Tasks may include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting in working with merchants and stakeholders (such as commercial property owners, local businesses, local elected officials, residents, and community organizations)
  • Assist in conducting interviews with community leaders, business owners, and other stakeholders to assess downtown’s marketing needs (many of these will be in Spanish).
  • Assist in the development and distribution of a Spanish-language survey to local residents and businesses
  • Assist in facilitating community workshops in English and Spanish
  • Assist in developing promotional, and written material in English and Spanish
  • Assist in all other project tasks as needed

Required Qualifications and Skills:

  • Comfortability with reading, writing, and speaking Spanish
  • Excellent written, research, and interpersonal skills
  • Experience with public-facing work or customer service
  • Ability to administer multiple assignments independently and under tight deadlines

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge or interest in transportation, public policy, and planning topics
  • Interest in inclusive public engagement and improving turnout of underrespresented groups in public processes
  • Familiarity with content creation and graphical software

This position works up to 20 hours per week, regular working hours Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, and is hybrid. It may require occasional availability outside of regular work hours for outreach engagements. Based on university policy, undergraduate applicants can expect up to $15.25/ hour, and graduate students can expect up to $21/hour; compensation will be based on previous experience. The expected start date is early September 2024; and we will be accepting applications on a rolling basis till the position is filled.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should email Miriam Salerno at Miriam.salerno@ejb.rutgers.edu with their resume. In lieu of a formal cover letter, please include any relevant information about your interest /experience in the body of the email. Spanish writing samples are welcome.

To apply for this job email your details to miriam.salerno@ejb.rutgers.edu

About Voorhees Transportation Center (EJB)

The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) is a national leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy. Located within the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, the Center brings to bear the full array of resources of a major research university on transportation issues of regional and national significance. VTC includes the National Transit Institute, which was created by Congress in 1992 to design and deliver training and education programs for the U.S. transit industry.

By virtue of its New Jersey location, the Voorhees Transportation Center is well suited to address many of the critical transportation issues confronting the nation. The Center’s research and applied projects focus on:

  • Transportation and the built environment, including transit-oriented development, pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety, “healthy community” design, and smart growth
  • Transportation and social equity, including access for the transportation disadvantaged, safe routes to school, and motor vehicle licensing policy
  • Transportation finance and the economy, including public-private partnerships, governance reforms, and economic impacts of transportation investment
  • Other areas of expertise include transportation security and evacuation planning, and the role of transportation systems and travel behavior in energy consumption, air pollution and global warming.