Grants Specialist

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Grants Specialist to help ensure the delivery of exceptional proposals. Working with a dedicated proposal team, the Grants Specialist provides hands-on support to researchers and principal investigators (PIs) throughout the proposal lifecycle, including but not limited to, performing regular upkeep of proposal portals and files, creation of internal proposal checklists and compliance matrices, setting meeting agendas and leading proposal kickoff meetings, performing desktop publishing functions, creating proposal budget templates, monitoring and tracking proposal tasks, and coordinating the process for filling out required forms and obtaining authorized signatures.

The Grants Specialist serves as one of the primacy contacts for Federal funding opportunities for VTTI, with the potential to be tasked with coordinating multiple proposals concurrently. Therefore, the Grants Specialist must possess initiative, the ability to work independently and problem solve, and the ability to maintain professional composure while working under pressure, employing excellent customer service skills to work effectively with internal clients and external business partners.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Provide day-to-day coordination of the proposal process and work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to facilitate effective proposal development.
• Manage the proposal development process, in cooperation with the PI and Proposal Manager, for Federal proposals. Assist with proposal development and submission for industry and commercial, and other types of proposals.
• Work with Proposal Manager to prepare VTTI submissions for entry into relevant proposal submission systems, such as Cayuse and research.gov.
• Work closely with the proposal PI, Project Manager and/or the Proposal Manager to ensure that budgets, SOWs, and agreements are in alignment.
• As needed, respond to communications addressed to the VTTI Proposal Team to determine the appropriate course of action.
• Assist the Proposal Manager with the preparation of proposals under VTTI’s IDIQs.
• Assist in the development and implementation of newly created team procedures with a goal of improved efficiency. This may include assisting with building new resources, enacting updated procedures that eliminate duplicate efforts, or using team tools that enhance accuracy.

This position is located in Blacksburg, VA; however, leadership is willing to consider a hybrid or remote work arrangement.