Research Development Specialist

University of Minnesota Research Development Office; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Minnesota Duluth Research Development Office seeks an RD Professional to help UMD researchers compete for external funding by providing strategy and proposal development support for complex multidisciplinary grant proposals. This will be the first dedicated RD role at UMD, demanding initiative and collaboration across faculty and staff.

The RD Professional will work in-person at UMD, lead cross-team proposal efforts, and coordinate with the Research Development Strategy Lead

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated project leadership skills including being proactive, collaborative, and able to negotiate among multiple interests.
• Excellent project management skills with a proven ability to effectively manage tasks, time, and multiple deadlines.
• Entrepreneurial and takes initiative.
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
• Highly organized with significant attention to detail.
• Dedication to continuous learning and advancing skills, including learning new software tools and best practices and acquiring new domain knowledge.
• Ability to achieve advanced- to expert-level proficiency in using Google Workspace tools.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofits, or the public sector (preferred).

Responsibilities

• In consultation with faculty, research staff, and other internal and/or external partners as necessary, plan, design, and implement strategy and manage processes to develop winning proposals for forthcoming and active solicitations.
• Review and edit proposal narratives and supporting materials for effective impact on funders and proposal reviewers; track progress and completion of proposal package elements.
• Conduct outreach and education to faculty and staff on UMN research development resources (including RDO) and how to effectively leverage them.
• Identify and evaluate potential research funding and partnership opportunities for which UMD can be competitive and bring these to the attention of relevant stakeholders.
• Provide consultation and training as necessary to researchers, faculty, and other staff on proposal development strategies and tactics and on positioning research programs for potential funding opportunities.
• Build relationships with researchers and faculty across the University and with potential partners at other universities, companies, national labs, and nonprofits to facilitate the rapid identification and creation of teams that can mount a highly competitive response to funder solicitations.
• Support and engage in RDO administrative, strategic planning, and business development activities as required.

Skills

Project leadership

Proposal writing

Editing

Oral communication

Time management

Organization

Initiative

Google Workspace

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

The University of Minnesota Duluth Research Development Office seeks an RD Professional to help UMD researchers compete for external funding by providing strategy and proposal development support for complex multidisciplinary grant proposals. This will be the first dedicated RD role at UMD, demanding initiative and collaboration across faculty and staff.

The RD Professional will work in-person at UMD, lead cross-team proposal efforts, and coordinate with the Research Development Strategy Lead