Research Development Specialist - 005354

University of South Alabama; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of South Alabama's Research Development and Learning unit is seeking to hire a Research Development Specialist to support proposal development from concept to submission. This role emphasizes editorial oversight, timeline development, and collaboration with faculty and research staff to align proposals with sponsor requirements and institutional priorities.

The successful candidate will work across departments to curate competitive narratives, manage content schedules, and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and three years of directly related experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Assists researchers with proposal development from early stage to final draft, providing strategic editorial oversight to ensure alignment with sponsor requirements and priorities.
• Develops proposal timelines collaboratively and assists in management of the proposal from concept to submission.
• Assists researchers with conceptual formulation and writing of non-technical proposal content, such as synthesizing varied institutional resources into persuasive narratives.
• Assists researchers with developing figures and tables to support proposal narratives and management plans.
• Reviews and provides guidance on proposal alignment with funding opportunities and sponsor requirements.
• Facilitates clear communication between researchers, collaborators, and research administrators to improve submission flow.
• Performs administration of internal funding programs and limited submissions competitions.
• Curates and manages content on ORED websites and distributes departmental newsletters.

Skills

Proposal development

Editorial oversight

Project management

Communications with program officers

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Number 005354

Position Title Research Development Specialist - 005354

Division Research and Economic Development

Department 140430 - Research Development and Learning

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama and three years of directly related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Job Description Summary

The University of South Alabama's department of Research Development and Learning is seeking to hire a Research Development Specialist.

Essential Functions

• Assists both individuals and teams of researchers with proposal development from early stage to final draft, providing strategic editorial oversight to ensure alignment with sponsor requirements and priorities, both programmatic and technical.
• Develops proposal timelines collaboratively and assists in management of the proposal from concept to submission, including identifying roles and responsibilities for content development.
• Assists researchers with conceptual formulation and writing of non-technical proposal content, such as synthesizing varied institutional resources into persuasive narratives that demonstrate a competitive advantage, or tailoring management plans to the specific needs of the research team.
• Assists researchers with developing figures and tables to support the proposal narratives that demonstrate a competitive advantage, or tailoring management plans to the specific needs of the research team.
• Assists researchers with developing figures and tables to support the proposal narrative, such as timelines or Gantt charts, logic models, conceptual diagrams, and organizational charts.
• Reviews and provides guidance on proposal alignment with the funding opportunity and sponsor requirements, including navigating ambiguous sponsor guidelines, communicating with program officers, and reviewing submissions for compliance with document formatting requirements.
• Ensures clarity, organization, accuracy, style, and quality of written work, including reviewing submissions for a rhetorically compelling narrative and consistent voice across multi-author contributions.
• Facilitates clear communication and coordination between researchers, collaborators, and research administrators at the college and central level to improve ease submission.
• Performs comprehensive administration of both the Office of Research and Economic Development's ( ORED ) portfolio of internal funding programs and limited submissions competitions.
• Revises and publishes internal program announcements annually to align with institutional research strategy.
• Curates limited submission opportunities.
• Markets programs and opportunities to faculty.
• Creates and manages online competitions in web-based software.
• Manages reviewer pools, invitations, and assignments.
• Manages applicant notifications and other correspondence.
• Coordinates with college grant administrators and Sponsored Projects staff about required application components.
• Collects, processes, and analyzes progress report data from awardees.
• Assists with planning and organizing departmental events as needed such as faculty networking sessions, research orientations, research forums and symposia, invited speakers, workshops, and training.
• Performs and participates in outreach to faculty about research development services.
• Helps facilitate departmental events such as research networking, workshops, or training.
• Maintains understanding of the research funding landscape, including information on federal policies and national funding trends, in order to perform informed funding opportunity searches.
• Uses available university data and analytics tools to understand faculty and institutional research capabilities.
• Curates funding opportunity newsletters for specific faculty cohorts using subscription search software.
• Performs targeted funding opportunity outreach and dissemination.
• Performs foundational research and data collection as necessary to support institutional capacity for specific funding opportunities.
• Performs and participates in de-briefing sessions with PIs of declined proposals to translate reviewer feedback into meaningful revisions for resubmission.
• Curates and manages content on ORED websites using USA's content management system, including creation of accessible PDFs.
• Develops, produces, and distribute ORED email newsletters and other departmental email communications using university platforms.
• Collaborates with USA's Marketing and Communications department and other internal partners to effectively promote research news across a variety of channels and platforms.
• Manages ORED social media content.
• Assists with developing, writing, and editing additional internal and external research communications as needed.
• Designs documents, promotional materials, and other marketing collateral to support ORED programs and events.
• Tracks faculty interactions and other research development activities to contribute to data-driven analysis of departmental services.
• Maintains and contributes to online proposal development resources.
• Regular and prompt attendance.
• Ability to work schedule as defined and additional hours as required.
• Related duties as required.

Posting Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Position End Date (if temporary)

Job Open Date 10/23/2026

Job Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Working Days Monday - Friday

Working Hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Job Location Main Campus

Full-time or Part-Time Full Time

Regular or Temporary Regular