PennSTART Director

Title:  

PennStart Director 

Department: 

Economic Development 

FLSA Status 

Non-Exempt 

Summary

RIDC is looking for a Director for the PennSTART proving ground. A partnership between, PennDOT, the PA Turnpike, CMU, Westmoreland County and RIDC, PennSTART will be a state-of-the-art testing facility designed to accelerate innovation in emerging transportation technology, improve the safety and efficiency of transportation infrastructure, enhance traffic incident management training and support regional economic development. PennSTART is open for government, public safety, standards bodies, university, private industry and startup use. The proving grounds will include a high-speed test track, off road, VDA and aerials technologies testing areas equipped with digital infrastructure, an industrial technology campus for co-location of mobility companies which includes a community college for workforce training and equipment for prototyping as well as garage, event and classroom spaces. Test track construction permitting is underway and construction will commence in 2025. Current available features include parking lot, off road and technology campus. 

The Director will support PennSTART’s growth and strategy by identifying prospects and customers in the mobility industry including potential track users and sponsors, developing relationships with track stakeholders such as private companies, universities, vendors and state and federal transportation agencies, and developing the PennSTART business strategy. Direct industry experience with AV, ADAS and EV testing recommended. 

This role involves coordinating sponsorships and testing at the PennSTART facility including proposal, project management and working with the scheduling, operations and engineering teams. The Director will be pivotal in building and maintaining partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government agencies, fostering collaborative research initiatives. 

Additionally, they will manage the logistical aspects of the test track, including event planning and resource allocation, to support the development and deployment of innovative mobility solutions. This position requires strong leadership, technical acumen, and the ability to coordinate efforts across multiple sectors and stakeholders.          

This position will be based in Pittsburgh with regional and national travel as needed. 

To begin the application process, please send your resume and cover letter to Ellie Ezzell Zytka, eezzell@ridc.org 

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: The Director will play a key role in the strategic planning and development of PennSTART including identifying new testing partners and funding and continuously improving the test track’s infrastructure to support the evolving needs of the autonomous vehicle and robotics industry. The Director will work closely with leadership to ensure that PennSTART remains at the forefront of mobility innovation through market research and stakeholder engagement. 
• Partnership and Stakeholder Management: The Director will facilitate collaborative research & testing initiatives and ensure that PennSTART is a leading hub for innovation in autonomous vehicle and robotics technology. Building and maintaining strong relationships with industry partners, academic institutions, and government agencies will be a key responsibility. This includes managing track use agreements, sponsor agreements, coordinating joint projects, and representing PennSTART at industry events and meetings. 
• Event and Demonstration Management: The Director will organize and manage events such as technology demonstrations, product showcases, and industry gatherings at PennSTART. These events are crucial for showcasing the test track’s capabilities and for engaging with the broader mobility community. The Director will be responsible for planning, coordinating logistics, and ensuring that these events run smoothly. 
• Technology Understanding The Director will learn and share the PennSTART testing and technology services with potential customers as well as advise the engineering team on industry test feature needs to incorporate into future phases of PennSTART.  
• Operational Coordination: Along with the site operations team, the Director will be supporting the day-to-day operations of the PennSTART facility. This involves managing the scheduling of various tests, events and stakeholder engagement. The role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, including automotive manufacturers, technology companies, and research institutions, to meet the diverse testing needs of the facility. 
• Additional duties as assigned 

Management and Supervisory Roles

• Site support, safety and technical staff and contractors 
• Additional to be defined as required for the launch and operations of PennStart 

Education 

• Bachelor’s Degree or significant work experience in related fields 
• Technical knowledge to be conversant with stakeholders and partners 
• Public policy knowledge to understand the regulatory environment and key initiatives by state and federal agencies 
• Team management experience in dynamic growth environments 
• Master’s level program in related technical, business, public policy or urban planning. (Recommended) 

Skills and Abilities 

• Stakeholder Engagement- Experience in stakeholder relationship management with private, university and government stakeholders  
• Experience with AVS, ADAS, and EV testing for mobility stakeholders recommended. 
• Experience engaging with mobility industry professionals such as testing managers, engineers, C-level executives  
• Communication skills – Clear verbal and communication skills 
• Business Development- Experience in managing sales, business development or account management 
• Autonomy and Robotics Testing- Experience with autonomous vehicle and robotics industry 
• Teamwork –great teamwork skills are a must for success at RIDC. 

Conditions of Employment

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS 

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The person in this position needs to regularly stand, walk, sit, speak, hear, and see with both close and distant vision, utilize color discrimination and utilize manual dexterity and repetitive motion.  Individuals must be able to lift up to twenty-five pounds, reach, stretch, climb and balance. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This position is primarily performed indoors in an office environment.  The role routinely uses standard office equipment.  There is minimal travel between sites and location within Western Pennsylvania. 

This job description is not all-inclusive, and it is not intended to create nor be construed as an express or implied contract of employment. RIDC reserves the right to interpret, amend, or terminate any job description, plan, policy, program, procedure, practice or benefit at any time at its sole discretion.