Senior Proposal and Research Communications Writer

The Howard University; United States; Presencial; USD 90 000 - 130 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Mental health support

PTO (paid time off)

Paid holidays

Flexible work arrangements

403(b) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Career advancement paths

Wellness programs

Commuter benefits

Vibrant company culture

Resumo da oferta

The Senior Proposal and Research Communications Writer at The Howard University joins the Research Development and Innovation team in the Office of Research to translate Howard's research strengths into compelling narratives that attract funders and partners.

You will lead high-impact writing, editing, and narrative development for large-scale proposals, elevate Howard's profile with sponsors, and support faculty in communicating significance and impact of their work.

Responsabilidades

• Provide high-level narrative strategy, writing and editing for competitive proposals, including large-scale, multi-investigator submissions.
• Develop clear and compelling research communications highlighting Howard University's strengths for sponsors, partners, and key audiences.
• Contribute to workshops and content infrastructure to improve proposal quality and institutional visibility.

Descrição da oferta de emprego

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff \"for fit\" makes significant contributions to Howard University's overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support


• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements


• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match


• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths


• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

The Senior Proposal and Research Communications Writer serves as a key member of Howard University's Research Development and Innovation (RDI) team in the Office of Research, translating Howard's research strengths into compelling, competitive, and funder-responsive narratives that build visibility and advance the University's research mission. As an R1-designated research institution, Howard University has a significant and growing need for strategic proposal writing and research communications capacity.

This position provides high-level writing, editing, and narrative development support across the University's proposal portfolio, working in partnership with RDI staff who lead proposal strategy, project coordination, faculty engagement, and submission planning for large-scale and interdisciplinary opportunities. The position also develops research communications that elevate Howard's profile with sponsors, partners, and the public and supports faculty in articulating the significance, innovation, and impact of their work. The role requires substantial experience with federal and foundation proposal writing, exceptional research storytelling and editing skills, and the ability to strategically frame complex scholarly and technical content for varied audiences.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. 
   

   Proposal Writing, Editing, and Strategy - 60%

   
   

   Provide high-level narrative strategy, writing, and editing support for competitive research proposals, including large-scale, complex, multi-investigator, center-scale, institutional, and strategic submissions, with emphasis on clarity, cohesion, competitive positioning, responsiveness to solicitation requirements, and alignment with sponsor review criteria.

   
   

   Provide writing and editing support for interdisciplinary teams preparing collaborative proposals.

   
   

   Draft, strengthen, or integrate major proposal components such as project narratives, institutional capacity statements, broader impacts, management and sustainability plans, evaluation narratives, collaboration plans, and other sponsor-required sections.

   
   

   Translate complex research ideas for interdisciplinary, non-specialist, institutional, philanthropic, industry, and public audiences.

   
   

   Work within proposal timelines and internal review processes established by RDI proposal development staff, delivering drafts and revisions on schedule.

   
   


2. 
   

   Research Communications and Visibility - 25%

   
   

   Develop clear and compelling communications that highlight Howard University's research strengths, faculty expertise, institutional capabilities, funding successes, innovation activities, and strategic research priorities, tailored to faculty, university leadership, sponsors, partners, and other key audiences.

   
   

   Prepare research briefs, faculty/researcher spotlights, capability statements, impact stories, program summaries, newsletter content, website content, and other materials that support RDI's faculty engagement and institutional visibility goals.

   
   

   Support communications for RDI programs and initiatives, including the Proposal Development Institute, Grants Academy, new faculty research orientation, interdisciplinary research initiatives, strategic funding opportunities, technology transfer and commercialization activities, and other Office of Research priorities.

   
   

   Coordinate with appropriate university communications partners to ensure alignment with institutional branding, messaging, and communications standards.

   
   


3. 
   

   Faculty Capacity Building and Content Infrastructure - 15%

   
   

   Contribute to workshops, training sessions, and faculty resources related to proposal writing, grant competitiveness, sponsor responsiveness, research storytelling, and research communications.

   
   

   Develop and maintain content-focused infrastructure: writing guides, style resources, narrative templates, boilerplate language, proposal examples, and communications assets that improve the quality and consistency of RDI's writing and communications work.

   
   

   Support RDI reporting by contributing written summaries, impact narratives, success stories, and executive-level content for internal and external stakeholders.

   
   

   Collaborate across the Office of Research