Research Development Specialist

University of North Texas; Denton (TX); On-site; USD 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton is seeking a Research Development Specialist to provide administrative, logistical, and operational support for the Division of Research and Innovation. You will assist with planning workshops, events, and initiatives that support faculty research activity.

The role reports to the Associate Director of Research Development and collaborates to maintain information, support program operations, and ensure timely execution of duties across the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field and one year of related experience or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate logistics for Research Development workshops and events.
• Identify and disseminate external funding opportunities aligned with priorities.
• Maintain Research Development communications, calendars, and web pages.
• Monitor shared email inboxes and respond to inquiries.
• Maintain departmental tracking systems and reporting documentation.
• Support internal competition systems like InfoReady.
• Provide data entry and reporting for activities and funding requests.
• Assist with scheduling, purchases, and special projects.

Skills

Organizational skills

Written and verbal communication

Customer service

Funding opportunity research

Summarizing funding announcements

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

InfoReady

Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Title: Research Development Specialist

Employee Classification: Program Project Specialist

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Research & Innovation

Sub Division-Department: UNT-Research & Innovation

Department: UNT-DRI - Research Development-190410

Job Location: Denton

Salary: Salary range $47,232 - $56,000. Salary to commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview

Welcome to the University of North Texas System. The UNT System includes the University of North Texas in Denton and Frisco, the University of North Texas at Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law, and University of North Texas Health Fort Worth. We are the only university system based exclusively in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region. We are growing with the North Texas region, employing more than 14,000 employees, educating a record 49,000+ students across our system, and awarding nearly 12,000 degrees each year.

We are one team comprised of individuals who are committed to excellence, curiosity and innovation. We are transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. We champion a people-first values-based culture where We Care about each other and those we serve. We believe that we are Better Together because we foster an environment of respect, belonging, and access for all. We demonstrate Courageous Integrity through setting exceptional standards and acting in the best interest of our communities. We are encouraged to Be Curious about opportunities for learning, creating, discovering, and innovating, and are encouraged to learn from failure. Show Your Fire by joining our team and exhibiting your passion and pride in your work as part of our UNT System team.

Learn more about the UNT System and how we live our values at www.UNTSystem.edu.

Department Summary

The Research Development unit within the Division of Research & Innovation supports UNT faculty and staff researchers development by providing the training and resources needed to: identify external research funding opportunities, strengthen research proposal development, build interdisciplinary research team collaborations, and implement strategies to increase UNT researchers competitiveness in securing external research award funding. These activities support the Research Development unit's mission of amplifying the reach, visibility, and real-world impact of research at UNT.

Position Overview

The Research Development Specialist provides administrative, logistical, and operational support to the Research Development team within the Division of Research and Innovation at the University of North Texas. Reporting to the Associate Director of Research Development, this position assists with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Research Development workshops, events, programs, and initiatives that support faculty research activity. The position works collaboratively with Research Development leadership and staff to support established research development programs, maintain organized and accurate information, and ensure the timely execution of assigned duties to support operations of the team.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include supporting event logistics and registration; identifying and disseminating research funding opportunities; coordinating targeted faculty outreach; preparing and distributing departmental communications; maintaining Research Development web content and resources; monitoring shared email inboxes; assisting with faculty research funding inquiries; and maintaining departmental tracking systems for data reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field and one year of related experience or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to support multiple projects, prioritize assignments, and meet established deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional correspondence, faculty outreach materials, and funding opportunity announcements.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to research, identify, organize, and communicate funding opportunities relevant to faculty research interests.
• Ability to review and summarize funding announcements, eligibility.

Preferred Qualifications

Work experience in higher education supporting research administration.

Job Duties

• Event and Program Support: Assist with planning and coordinating logistics for Research Development workshops, trainings, events, and programs, including University Research Day. Responsibilities include scheduling, registrations, invitations, speaker arrangements, space reservations, catering, materials preparation, attendance tracking, participant communications, and day-of and post-event support. Assist with event logistics and administrative activities for University Research Day under the direction of the Associate Director of Research Development.
• Funding Opportunity Identification, Intake & Targeted Outreach: Support faculty funding development efforts by identifying, researching, and disseminating external funding opportunities aligned with faculty research interests and institutional priorities. Assist with conducting funding searches, reviewing sponsor announcements and eligibility requirements, preparing targeted funding opportunity communications, and maintaining faculty research interest and funding opportunity distribution lists. Process faculty funding assistance requests, maintain intake and tracking records, and coordinate referrals to appropriate Research Development personnel. Support proactive outreach efforts to connect faculty, departments, and research groups with relevant funding opportunities.
• Research Development Communications, Scheduling & Web Support: Assist with maintaining Research Development communications and outreach calendars, including Research Radar, all Principal Investigator (PI) reminders, targeted faculty outreach, Proposal Manager communications, and Associate Dean for Research communications. Prepare, schedule, and distribute approved communications. Update Research Development web pages, event listings, resources, recordings, and related content to ensure information remains current and accurate.
• Research Development Email Inbox Management & Faculty Intake: Monitor and triage Research Development and Limited Submissions shared email inboxes. Respond to routine faculty and staff inquiries, provide general information about Research Development services, and refer program-specific questions to appropriate team members. Assist with Microsoft Forms, event registrations, collaboration intake, funding requests, and maintenance of departmental distribution lists.
• Data Reporting & Systems Support: Assist with maintaining departmental tracking systems, spreadsheets, databases, and reporting documentation. Support data collection, entry, verification, and reporting for Research Development activities, including faculty consultations, grantsmanship programs, workshops, events, and funding requests. Provide administrative assistance with internal competition systems, including InfoReady, and related records under the direction of the Research Development Coordinator.
• Training Resources & Documentation Support: Assist with updating and maintaining Research Development resources, toolkits, templates, standard operating procedures, and shared documentation. Support the organization and maintenance of Microsoft Teams channels, shared files, and internal reference materials to ensure consistency and accessibility.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Perform additional administrative and operational duties as assigned by the Associate Director of Research Development, including scheduling, purchasing requests, documentation preparation, and special project support.

Physical Requirements

• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.

Environmental Hazards

• No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Some extended hours as needed for event coverage

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted.

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.