Research Development Specialist

Job no: 536851
Work type: Administrative & Professional
Senior management: Vice President for Research
Department: FLSI Investments
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Program/Project Management

Job Description

The research development specialist will facilitate and elevate the efforts of prioritized interdisciplinary research teams and perform program management duties that include the planning, implementation, and management of select Destination Areas (DA) and Research Frontiers initiatives, with a focus on those supported by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute (FLSI) and the Institute for Culture, Society, and the Environment (ISCE), both of which are investment institutes in the Off of Research and Innovation (ORI).

The research development specialist will be a nexus for helping faculty teams garner external support and funding from agencies and foundations. This will be achieved by facilitating proposal submissions through building and sustaining connections to institutional support mechanisms in the ORI, developing relationships with extramural funding agency and foundation officials, and gathering feedback and support from colleges, schools, and other units at VT. In addition, this position will serve as the project manager for the Destination Area projects, with activities including communication planning/execution, budgetary oversight, organizing of team meetings, and tracking and reporting achievement of DA project goals and outcomes through annual plan, annual report development, and submission to the Provost's Office.

This role also entails serving as a liaison between PI/leadership teams, FLSI and ISCE leadership, the Provost's Office, the Office of Strategic Research Alliances in ORI, and the Office of Sponsored Programs in the ORI, as well as other units in senior management areas closely involved in DA project and Research Frontiers initiative implementation. For DA projects and those aligned with the Research Frontiers, this role provides key guidance and support for project implementation and long-term sustainability. A key responsibility will be to develop a strategic plan for project implementation using institutional data and external data in coordination with institute executive directors and project teams, to refine project activities, processes, and plans.

Another crucial component of this role is for the research development specialist to help develop other high-priority projects connected to the institutes by serving as a member of VT-FAST's leadership team. In this capacity, the position will be expected to assemble and lead faculty investigator and proposal support/development teams and assist in educating faculty and administrative personnel about traditional and new proposal funding pathways and their execution. The individual will enhance research-related collaborations between the investment institutes and the ORI and will be a key element in ensuring success of research strategies of the Provost's Office.

Required Qualifications
• Master's degree in a STEM, social science, or affiliated field, or bachelor's degree with significant experience.
• Experience with federal and non-federal proposal submissions and/or award administration.
• Experience supporting large, complex proposals and managing interdisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, and to lead a proposal team, often under pressure, prioritizing tasks to meet tight due dates/milestones.
• Experience identifying potential opportunities for external funding using electronic and web tools.
• Strong communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience facilitating development and submission of proposals to diverse agencies, such as NSF, NIH, DOD, or DOE.
• Experience submitting proposals to philanthropic organizations, such as the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and/or Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• Knowledge of proposal management and tracking systems.
• Detailed knowledge of federal grant and contract administration.
• Familiarity with grant and contract budgeting processes.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$95,000-$117,000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

July 20, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Advertised: July 2, 2026
Applications close:

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