Research Development Specialist III

University of Central Florida; Orlando, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending

Employee assistance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Employee discounts

Education assistance

Job summary

University of Central Florida is seeking a Research Development Specialist III to serve as the technical lead for the Proposal Development pillar. The role focuses on strategic planning, coordination, and enhancements to strengthen the university’s research competitiveness.

You will consult with faculty, guide complex grant proposals, and develop institutional resources, templates, and training that improve proposal quality and success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 4+ years relevant experience.
• Experience supporting federal grants and interdisciplinary teams.
• Deadline-driven with strong proposal development skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead proposal development consulting for faculty investigators and teams.
• Coordinate large-scale, multi-investigator proposals and strategy.
• Develop and maintain proposal templates and libraries.
• Provide strategic direction for Proposal Development services and evaluate metrics.
• Oversee proposal graphics, timelines, and related materials.
• Lead grantwriting workshops and faculty development initiatives.
• Manage researcher-facing resources and communications.
• Compile success stories and reports on proposal activity.

Skills

Grantsmanship

Proposal development

Strategic planning

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Tools

Graphic design tools

Job description

The Opportunity:

The Research Development Specialist III serves as the technical lead for the Proposal Development pillar of the RD team. The position’s responsibilities include strategic planning and coordination of proposal development services, advanced faculty consultation, support for complex proposal opportunities, development of institutional resources and training programs, creation of communications and reporting materials, and continuous improvement of proposal development practices that strengthen institutional research competitiveness.

Classification Title: Contracts and Grants Specialist III

Reponsibilities:

• Serves as the lead proposal development consultant (copyediting, peer review facilitation, proposal review and annotation, grantsmanship) for faculty investigators and research teams. Facilitates proposal planning meetings, advises on proposal strategy and sponsor requirements, and coordinates support across stakeholders.

• Leads or coordinates support for large-scale, interdisciplinary, multi-investigator, and multi-institutional proposal efforts (EARLIER). Guides proposal strategy, team science and coordination, proposal integration, and development of unified proposal narratives.

• Oversees development and continuous improvement of proposal templates, boilerplate language, proposal libraries, sample materials, guides, checklists, and institutional proposal content.

• Provides strategic direction for Proposal Development services, establishes priorities, develops workflows and best practices, evaluates service effectiveness using appropriate metrics and coordinates continuous improvement efforts that support institutional research competitiveness.

• Oversees development of proposal graphics, visual communication products, timelines, logic models, organizational charts, and other materials that strengthen proposal effectiveness and reviewer accessibility.

• Leads development and delivery of grantwriting workshops, educational materials, training resources, and faculty development initiatives that strengthen institutional proposal capacity.

• Oversees development and maintenance of researcher-facing resources, website content, and online materials supporting proposal development services.

• Develops and coordinates success stories, award highlights, proposal activity reports, and communications demonstrating proposal development outcomes and impact.

• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs special projects and other duties assigned in support of Research Development operations and university research priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and 4+ years of relevant experience oran equivalent combination of education and experiencepursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic expertise with graphic design principles/tools.

• Experience supporting federal grants and interdisciplinary teams.

• Experience supporting the preparation of grant proposals.

• Experience working in a deadline-driven environment and the ability to meet deadlines.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $56,030 to $68,636.50. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

All applicants mustbe authorized towork for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation,you’llplay an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country.You’llbe met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow,you’llwork alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills,andyou’llhave countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

• Benefitpackages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays
• Retirement savings options
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
• Educationassistance
• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive intoour Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverseselectionavailable to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitlystatedon the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF willresidein Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Department

Office of Research - Operations

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$56,030.00 to Negotiable

Job Posting End Date

09-23-2026-12-00-AM

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.