Research Development Specialist

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg seeks a Research Development Specialist to elevate interdisciplinary research initiatives, manage Destination Areas (DAs) and Research Frontiers projects, and coordinate external funding efforts.

The role serves as a nexus among ISCE, FLSI, ORI, and colleges, handling communication planning, budgeting, meetings, and reporting, while guiding project implementation and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a STEM, social science, or affiliated field, or bachelor’s degree with significant experience.
• Experience with federal and non-federal proposal submissions and/or award administration.
• Experience supporting large, complex proposals and managing interdisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, and to lead a proposal team, often under pressure, prioritizing tasks to meet tight due dates/milestones.
• Experience identifying potential opportunities for external funding using electronic and web tools.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and elevate interdisciplinary research teams and manage DA and Research Frontiers initiatives.
• Serve as project manager for DA projects: plan, budget oversight, organize meetings, track goals and outcomes.
• Act as liaison among PI/leadership teams, FLSI, ISCE, Provost’s Office, ORI and other senior units.
• Develop strategic implementation plans using institutional and external data in coordination with institute directors and teams.
• Assemble and lead investigator and proposal support teams; educate faculty on funding pathways and execution.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in STEM or social science or affiliated field

Bachelor’s degree with significant experience

Job description

Job Description

The research development specialist will facilitate and elevate the efforts of prioritized interdisciplinary research teams and perform program management duties that include the planning, implementation, and management of select Destination Areas (DA) and Research Frontiers initiatives, with a focus on those supported by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute (FLSI) and the Institute for Culture, Society, and the Environment (ISCE), both of which are investment institutes in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI).

The research development specialist will be a nexus for helping faculty teams garner external support and funding from agencies and foundations. This will be achieved by facilitating proposal submissions through building and sustaining connections to institutional support mechanisms in the ORI, developing relationships with extramural funding agency and foundation officials, and gathering feedback and support from colleges, schools, and other units at VT. In addition, this position will serve as the project manager for the Destination Area projects, with activities including communication planning/execution, budgetary oversight, organizing of team meetings, and tracking and reporting achievement of DA project goals and outcomes through annual plan, annual report development, and submission to the Provost’s Office.

This role also entails serving as a liaison between PI/leadership teams, FLSI and ISCE leadership, the Provost’s Office, the Office of Strategic Research Alliances in ORI, and the Office of Sponsored Programs in the ORI, as well as other units in senior management areas closely involved in DA project and Research Frontiers initiative implementation. For DA projects and those aligned with the Research Frontiers, this role provides key guidance and support for project implementation and long‑term sustainability. A key responsibility will be to develop a strategic plan for project implementation using institutional data and external data in coordination with institute executive directors and project teams, to refine project activities, processes, and plans.

Another crucial component of this role is for the research development specialist to help develop other high‑priority projects connected to the institutes by serving as a member of VT‑FAST’s leadership team. In this capacity, the position will be expected to assemble and lead faculty investigator and proposal support/development teams and assist in educating faculty and administrative personnel about traditional and new proposal funding pathways and their execution. The individual will enhance research‑related collaborations between the investment institutes and the ORI and will be a key element in ensuring success of research strategies of the Provost’s Office.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a STEM, social science, or affiliated field, or bachelor’s degree with significant experience.
• Experience with federal and non-federal proposal submissions and/or award administration.
• Experience supporting large, complex proposals and managing interdisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, and to lead a proposal team, often under pressure, prioritizing tasks to meet tight due dates/milestones.
• Experience identifying potential opportunities for external funding using electronic and web tools.
• Strong communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience facilitating development and submission of proposals to diverse agencies, such as NSF, NIH, DOD, or DOE.
• Experience submitting proposals to philanthropic organizations, such as the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and/or Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• Knowledge of proposal management and tracking systems.
• Detailed knowledge of federal grant and contract administration.
• Familiarity with grant and contract budgeting processes.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Cassidy at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.