Senior Proposal Strategy and Development Specialist

The Senior Proposal Strategy and Development Specialist within the Office of Research will plan, manage, and execute the overall proposal process pipeline and timing of proposal development to increase the win rate, particularly for large-scale, complex, strategic funding opportunities, and assist in team mentoring and training. Specific duties and responsibilities are outlined below.

• Lead and facilitate win-theme strategy sessions and competitive assessment for technical content, internal and external teaming, management, education and outreach, and institutional support. Translate win strategies into effective proposals and white paper conceptualization. 
• Manage and execute proposal development, content generation, and editing for a portfolio of proposals of varying size and complexity while regularly interacting with PIs and staff of large-scale, interdisciplinary research endeavors. Lead overall team integration and subject matter expert (SME) content capture, including implementing team science best practices, synthesizing multiple sources of content, and executing plans for document control. Facilitate visualization strategies and coordinate graphic designer support.
• Conduct proposal review to comply with agency requirements, readability, responsiveness, and competitiveness.
• Work collaboratively with Purdue University leadership and external government relations personnel to advance Purdue research funding priorities in areas of high strategic and scientific value. Build strategic relationships with on- and off-campus partners, identify assets that complement Purdue capabilities, steward collaborations between project teams and partners, and create and grow a portfolio of potential partners and resources to leverage as new opportunities arise. Engage with sponsors and draw on a deep understanding of federal funding agencies, programs, and specific request for proposal (RFP) requirements, including acting as a campus expert on agency missions, cultures, and expectations.
• Develop grant writing tools and resources for Purdue faculty and staff and help lead campus-wide grant writing training events.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in technical writing, rhetoric and composition, communication, science, engineering, or other relevant fields
• Four (4) years of professional writing and project management experience required
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Ability to understand the broad context of proposed research, guide large research teams in compelling project win themes, and drive best practice proposal development.
• Ability to strategize and problem-solve with research teams, collaborate as an integral member and manager of diverse proposal teams, express ideas effectively, and meet multiple critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment with variable hours
• Ability to create key tools and resources for campus-wide faculty support
• Ability to effectively communicate across all campus departments and programs
• Ability to understand the broad context of proposed research, articulate a compelling project rationale, establish timelines, and drive best practices for proposal development
• Ability to strategize with teams, collaborate as an integral member of the proposal team, express ideas clearly and effectively, attend to details, and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment that sometimes requires variable hours
• Ability to effectively communicate across campus departments and programs

Preferred experience:

• Six years of professional writing and project management experience
• Two years of large-scale interdisciplinary grant writing experience with federal sponsors
• Proven experience facilitating faculty proposal development teams across academic colleges and departments
• Strong portfolio of writing, including technical writing and editing for both scientific experts and lay audiences
• Expertise in the mission and focus of research sponsors and track record of compliance with all requirements of specific grant competitions

Additional Information: 

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position  
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility:  Defined Contribution Waiting Period
• Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, are encouraged to apply.