Research Development & Outreach Specialist

Tufts University; Medford Hillside (MA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts University in Medford, MA, seeks a Research and Outreach Specialist to support faculty research by identifying funding opportunities, aiding proposal development, and coordinating outreach and broader impacts programs.

You will collaborate with OURI, CFR, and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations to maximize impact and advance A&S priorities. Strong communication and project management are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in grant writing, proposals, or research administration.
• Ability to work with faculty across disciplines and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Identify targeted funding opportunities and engage faculty across departments.
• Support grant proposal writing and grantsmanship, especially for early-career faculty.
• Coordinate outreach and broader impacts programs with faculty and offices.
• Provide administrative support to establish centers and areas of excellence.
• Maintain the A&S research administration web presence and resources.

Skills

Grant writing

Research administration

AI tools usage

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Overview

The School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) is committed to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, and student success across the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary programs. The A&S Dean's Office provides academic and administrative leadership across the school's departments and programs, including undergraduate and graduate education, faculty affairs, student support, and strategic planning.

What You'll Do

Reporting to the Dean of Research for Arts and Sciences (A&S), the Research and Outreach Specialist supports the school's research mission by partnering with the Dean of Research and supporting faculty across all A&S departments and programs. The Specialist helps faculty identify targeted funding opportunities, supports grant proposal writing and grantsmanship, and coordinates outreach and broader impact programs. The position works in close partnership with the Office of University Research & Innovation (OURI), the Strategic Research Development office, and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) to maximize impact and advance the school's research priorities. Additionally, the position works collaboratively with the A&S Deans of Academic Affairs and the A&S Research Administrators, as appropriate, as projects are developed.

• Funding identification and faculty engagement
  • Engage and work with A&S faculty across all departments and disciplines to identify targeted federal and non-federal funding opportunities, leveraging AI-assisted search tools and external databases.
  • Partner with the OURI Strategic Research Development office and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations to maximize the scope and impact of funding identification efforts.
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of the funding landscape across A&S disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
• Grant proposal writing and grantsmanship support
  • Partner with the OURI Strategic Research Development office to support faculty in grant proposal writing and grantsmanship, with an emphasis on early-career faculty.
  • Provide direct one-on-one support to faculty navigating proposal development, including writing, editing, and strategic advice on proposal structure and content.
• Outreach and broader impacts coordination
  • Coordinate outreach and broader impacts programs across A&S departments.
  • Partner with the OURI Strategic Research Development office to develop comprehensive guidance on A&S outreach activities that can be leveraged for broader impacts statements in grant proposals.
  • Expand and support outreach programs across departments, enhancing Tufts' reputation as an active community partner in coordination with Tufts Community Relations.
  • Serve as a primary contact for outreach opportunities from A&S departments.
  • Work with faculty to prepare reports demonstrating measurable results, including assessment of outreach programs and monitoring of recruitment outcomes.
• Research community and centers of excellence support
  • Provide administrative support for efforts to identify and establish A&S centers and areas of excellence.
  • Organize workshops, seminars, and other convenings to bring together A&S faculty around related areas of research and interdisciplinary opportunity.
• Research communications and web presence
  • Maintain and update the A&S Research Administration webpage, serving as a repository of research-related resources and a platform for efficient dissemination of research information to faculty.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3-5 years' experience
• Experience with grant writing, proposal development, or research administration in an academic or research institution
• Demonstrated ability to work with faculty across different disciplines and career stages.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong editing and proposal writing abilities
• Ability to work independently and manage a complex, varied workload with minimal supervision
• Experience using AI tools and large language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) for targeted research and information synthesis
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional demeanor; ability to build effective working relationships with faculty, administrators, and external partners
• Familiarity with federal and non-federal funding landscapes and grant mechanisms across multiple disciplines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Experience supporting outreach or broader impacts programs associated with externally funded research
• Familiarity with research administration systems
• Experience working across a range of academic disciplines in a research university setting

Pay Range

Minimum $61,200.00, Midpoint $76,500.00, Maximum $91,800.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.