Team-based Research Development Specialist (Proposal Development Specialist)

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT (UA-RSDE-IUINA)

The Office for Research Development (ORD) guides faculty and researchers in pursuing research funding, forming cross-disciplinary science teams, and developing collaborative research proposals.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Advises and supports faculty in designing and preparing large-scale research proposals and budgets, delivers capacity-building workshops, supports inclusive collaborations among faculty, and monitors the funding landscape for opportunities aligned with IU research strengths.
• Provides comprehensive proposal development services to IU faculty, researchers, and teams pursuing large-scale external research funding.
• Assists in developing competitive proposals with a focus on providing guidance on complex budget development.
• Identifies, coordinates, and administers agreements for cost-share opportunities, sub-awards, and other obligations that are IU research-specific.
• Facilitates collaboration among stakeholders to share ideas, discuss objects, and find resolution to challenges.
• Promotes collaborations and inclusive teaming, advising investigators on developing the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) elements of proposals.
• Participates in IU working groups and provides proposal development support for diverse large-scale programs.
• Delivers grantsmanship workshops and programs to provide information about best practices for research development.
• Develops toolkits, including sample language and guidance documents, to aid and expedite proposal development.
• Builds knowledge of campus research strengths through developing working relationships with staff and faculty.

General Duties

• Consults, directs, and assists investigators on the development of external funding proposals including preparation, submission, acceptance, and administration; investigates and answers questions from external agencies, researchers, fiscal officers, research administrators and others; counsels researchers and staff on the preparation of budgets, completion of certifications, and institutional information to ensure compliance with university policies, federal regulations, and agency guidelines.
• Ascertains the status of proposals, awards, research risk approvals, internal approvals such as route sheets, and related documents; initiates action to resolve problems when necessary; assists faculty and staff in identifying documents or forms needed in connection with pending or funded projects; follows up on all correspondence to ensure that appropriate action is taken or information provided.
• Provides comprehensive project management services including establishing timelines and processes for proposal production, helping to convene potential collaborators, organize faculty project teams, and lead proposal development meetings of the project team; edits proposals for concision, clarity, and consistency of style.
• Provides strategic analysis and guidance for investigators and research teams; connects investigators with relevant internal and external professionals for development of certain proposal sections; suggests, when appropriate, faculty or researchers who may collaborate to strengthen proposals, particularly on large projects involving interdisciplinary and intercampus cooperation; advises on positioning of a project idea in relation to agency mission, active or anticipated funding opportunities, and program criteria; reviews and provides non-technical reviewer-focused feedback on proposal text for content and structure; discusses reviews for declined proposals and advises on potential revisions.
• Provides analysis, writing, or other support to senior leaders for proposal-relevant strategic initiatives; analyzes funder priorities, communicates with agency personnel to better understand current and upcoming funding opportunities that are appropriate for IU faculty and/or researchers, and disseminates opportunities that align with institutional strategic priorities; offers consulting support to research interest groups involved in strategic initiatives.
• Develops and presents content for workshops, web-based materials, tailored presentations for investigators, schools and departments; participates and leads other educational initiatives to assist faculty in finding funding opportunities and developing competitive grant proposals.
• Facilitates effective communication, consensus building, team building, and team management to work effectively and collaboratively with agency contacts, project leaders/team members, senior administration, project management staff, internal units, and/or external contacts.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in related field)

Preferred

• Master's degree

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 3 years in proposal and/or research writing or related experience

Preferred

• Experience that reflects successful proposal writing in academia or industry
• Experience in a higher education research setting and sponsored programs
• Experience with private, state and/or federal granting agencies and an understanding of the policies and procedures of external granting agencies
• Experience in budget development

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

Preferred

• Strong presentation skills
• Experience that reflects successful proposal writing in academia or industry
• Experience with collaborative teamwork
• Strong presentation skills
• Experience in higher education and sponsored programs
• Ability to write clear, engaging, persuasive text combined with strong editing skills
• Possesses strong attention to detail, timeliness in meeting firm deadlines, and other organizational skills
• Experience in budget development

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure .

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Research

Job Family: Research Development

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This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information .

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