Sponsored Research Development Specialist

Position Details:

The Sponsored Research Development Specialist is a highly skilled professional responsible for driving the acquisition of strategic and large-scale extramural research funding for the Medical School. This role centers on high-impact proposal development, proactive funding intelligence, and strategic research promotion, serving as a critical resource for Principal Investigators (PIs) and research teams pursuing competitive center-level and large federal grants. Key duties include assisting with designing the research strategy and budget development of proposals, ensuring proposals meet all sponsor and university compliance requirements, and serving as a project manager to coordinate timelines and resources for a timely submission. This person will also provide guidance on understanding university and sponsor policies and maintain communication with all involved parties throughout the pre-award, award, and post-award phases. The position reports to the Vice Dean for Research. Success involves collaborating with the administrative leaders of the Office of Research to meet its objectives. The Vice Dean directs all work priorities, including potential assignments beyond this job description.

This is a hybrid role with an expectation to be onsite 2 days per week or as needed.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

The allocation of effort across duties is dynamic, adjusting as needed based on evolving priorities and deadlines to ensure objectives are met.

50% Strategic Proposal Writing and Editing

• Driving major grant submissions: Serve as the lead writer, editor, and/or proposal manager for the Medical School's highest priority opportunities, including:
  • High-Impact Grants: High-payoff capability or platform opportunities from federal agencies like ARPA-H, DARPA, and DoD along with private foundations and donors.
  • Large, Center-level, and team science NIH Submissions: Proposals $1M/year in direct costs for 3 years (e.g., P01s, U54s, RM1s) and select $500K/year in direct costs for 3 years (e.g., R01s, U01s, UG3/UH3s).
  • Dean's Priorities: Lead writing for R01-level or other priority proposals in strategic research areas and/or to build teams capable of submitting competitive center-level grant proposals.
  • Ensure scientific narrative clarity, responsiveness to the solicitation, and seamless integration of all proposal components (e.g., main components, budgets, facilities, and letters of support).

20% Centralization Support (Pre-Award/Post-Award)

• Operational and Process Excellence: Provide high-level, centralized expertise and support to PIs and departmental research administrators to ensure consistency and efficiency in grant processes.
• Policy Guidance: Advise on complex pre-award issues, including research plan and budget development.
• Post-Award Liaison: Serve as a central point of contact for complex post-award inquiries related to awarded grants, ensuring smooth transition and compliance.

15% Center Scout Team (CST) Grant Prospecting

• Proactive Funding Intelligence: Identify, analyze, and disseminate intelligence on new and emerging complex funding opportunities that align with the strategic research goals of the Medical School and its centers.
• Conduct high-level prospect research, focusing on team science and high-impact federal and non-federal sponsors.
• Present curated opportunities and strategic advice to leadership and research teams.

15% Embargo-Synchronous Impact Program (ESIP) and Grant Publicizing

• Research Visibility and Data Management: Execute the ESIP strategy to track, publicize, and amplify faculty publications and newly landed grants to enhance internal visibility and inform funding strategy.
• Publication Tracking: Monitor high-impact, embargoed publications for publicizing (e.g., press releases, internal newsletters).
• Grant Announcement: Publicize new grant awards to leadership and internal stakeholders.
• CST Feed: Ensure ESIP data on faculty output and success rates effectively feeds into the Center Scout Team's prospecting efforts.

Core Competencies and Skills

• Exceptional Scientific Writing: Superior ability to translate highly complex scientific or technical research concepts into clear, compelling, and compliant proposal narratives for diverse funding agencies.
• Funding Acumen: Deep working knowledge of the federal grant landscape (especially NIH and non-NIH federal agencies) and comprehensive understanding of research lifecycles and sponsor policies.
• Strategic Project Management: Proven ability to manage the entire proposal development lifecycle for multiple large projects concurrently, including establishing timelines, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, and ensuring administrative and budgetary compliance.
• Analytical and Information-gathering Skills: Demonstrated ability to predict and identify funding opportunities, analyze sponsor priorities, and use data (publications, funding trends) to develop effective funding strategies.
• Interpersonal and Teamwork: Strong interpersonal, organizational, and critical thinking skills; collegiality, approachability, and diplomacy at all levels of an organization.

Required Qualifications:

To excel in this high-impact, strategic role, candidates must possess a combination of advanced academic knowledge and proven professional experience in securing large-scale health sciences funding.

• Bachelor's Degree: A Bachelor's degree in health, life, or physical science, communications, or public administration, or equivalent experience, is required. A Master's degree is strongly preferred.
• Experience: at least 10 years of experience with a minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in grant writing and research development, specifically focused on large, competitive, multi-investigator federal proposals (e.g., NIH R01, P-series, U-series, DOD, DARPA, NSF, and ARPA-H).
• Institutional Background: Proven success working within a complex academic medical center or research university environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree: A Master's degree (M.S., M.P.H., M.B.A., etc.) in health, life, or physical science, communications, or public administration.

Research at the Medical School extends from the basic sciences to translational and clinical research. The Medical School supports this work by providing a variety of funding opportunities, connecting individuals and teams to University and external grant funding, creating and disseminating tools and support strategies, providing information and direction on research space and facilities, and supporting the Centers, Institutes, Programs, and Medical Discovery Teams. The Research Office includes three areas: Strategic Initiatives, Clinical Research Support, and Pre-Award Proposal Development Services.

Pay Range: $103,609.63 - $170,955.63 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Work Location: Hybrid; 2 days onsite, or more as needed

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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