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Manager, Research Development

Employer
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Location
Knoxville, TN

View more

Administrative Jobs
Academic Affairs, Research Staff & Technicians
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Description
Manager, Research Development

Department: Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development, Division of Research & Innovation Initiatives

Job Summary/Essential Job Functions

The Research Development Manager actively contributes to the realization of UT’s overall strategic goals related to research, scholarship, and creative activities through (1) long-term capacity-building and medium-term positioning activities that align UT faculty for future success, and (2) short-term proposal development activities that substantively contribute to the strength and success of faculty submissions for external funding or faculty recognition through prestigious awards and fellowships. This position manages strategic research initiatives to prepare proposals, connect collaborators, and help faculty develop new skills to achieve their research agendas. The RD Manager facilitates the success of both individual faculty and faculty teams, often connecting them with resources from the UT campus and beyond. The RD Manager also provides expert input and guidance to ORIED leadership, and exercises independent initiative and judgment to develop and lead major activities that contribute to the success of the research enterprise.



Qualifications
Duties and Responsibilities

Proposal Development

• Works independently to provide personalized consultation, win strategy development, and substantive guidance to faculty to support their research, scholarship, and creative activities. Provides consultations for single opportunities or long-term, multi-agency funding strategies.

• On large or complex proposals, provides comprehensive proposal development support, including overall project management, writing and editing proposal content, organizing red team reviews, managing document collection, and coordinating with other support team members to ensure all required documents are complete, compliant, and responsive prior to proposal deadline.

• On smaller proposals, provides iterative, substantive edits to improve the strength of the proposal narrative, as well as advice on navigating additional requirements, internal processes, and other resources available to faculty.

• Ensures return on investment of UT funds by providing proposal guidance and ongoing collaborative assistance to internal seed grant awardees to leverage internal funding into external awards.

Programs, Events, and Training

• Manages one or more programs designed to build faculty collaborations (e.g., SPARKS, FUSION, Community of Scholars, Research Development Community) or strengthen faculty skills related to external funding (e.g., Proposal Writing Institute, Expanding Horizons, Initiative for the Future, Scholarship Agenda).

• Gathers and interprets new developments in federal and foundation funding guidelines and priorities to design and deliver workshops and presentations on topics related, but not limited, to general and sponsor-specific proposal development.

• Upon request, designs customized programming for departments, colleges, centers, and institutes to support their strategic goals for research, scholarship, and creative activity.

Portfolio Management, Toolbox Management, and Special Projects

• Manages one or more portfolios for federal sponsors of interest to faculty (e.g., NSF, NIH, NEH, USDA), including serving as first point of contact for potential applicants; maintaining awareness of sponsor operations, changes, and budget trends; communicating relevant opportunities and information to UT faculty; providing information sessions and trainings about the sponsor; engaging with program officials; etc. Portfolio content is independently developed and maintained by the RD Manager and determined by specific faculty interests and needs.

• Manages one or more resource toolboxes to strengthen external proposal submissions (e.g., broader impacts, broadening participation, community-engaged research, science communications). Toolbox content is independently developed and maintained by the manager and determined by specific faculty interests and needs.

• As appropriate, may manage other mission-critical activities (e.g., RD communications, internal funding).

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Experience related to proposal development, specifically for proposals that were not your own work or for which you were not a subject matter expert;

• Fundamental knowledge and understanding of how federal sponsors support research activities, preferably in a university or national laboratory environment;

• Experience interpreting funding opportunity announcements (RFAs/RFPs/PAs/BAAs) issued by federal, state, private, and corporate sponsors;

• Ability to take responsibility for and ownership of assignments;

• Ability to proactively and independently solve problems;

• Excellent communication (oral & written), analytical, and organizational skills;

• Ability to communicate in a collegial and knowledgeable manner with faculty in an array of disciplines;

• Ability to work both independently and also as a contributing member of a team;

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and tasks in order to meet hard internal and external deadlines;

• Flexibility to take on new tasks and re-prioritize in a constantly changing environment;

• Skilled commitment to, and delivery of, superior customer service;

• Ability to build and maintain work relationships across a diverse workforce at all levels.

• Excellent computer skills including email, calendars, word processing, shared file management, data management using spreadsheets, electronic presentations, and online and database searches; proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to quickly learn new software programs.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Direct experience in the field of research development in a university or national laboratory setting;

• Direct experience in large proposal management;

• Experience creating and delivering research development or faculty development programming (e.g., grantsmanship trainings, sponsor and funding opportunity information sessions, “team science” events, faculty networking events)

Required level/type of experience and/or years of experience

• Four years relevant experience with Bachelor’s degree or two years of relevant experience with Master’s degree

• Experience responding to RFPs/RFAs/PAs/FOAs/BAAs from federal and/or nonfederal sponsors is required.

Additional Information

Please attach the following electronic documents to the application:  Cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses (postal and electronic), and telephone numbers of at least three references.

Websites

https://research.utk.edu/oried/

https://research.utk.edu/oried/research-innovation-initiatives/

https://research.utk.edu/research-development



Job: Other Professional
Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville
Organization: Office Of Research Innov & Econ Develop
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Aug 26, 2022, 9:03:23 AM

Organization

Working at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Founded in 1794, the University of Tennessee is one of the nation’s oldest and most storied public universities. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee’s flagship land-grant institution includes the statewide Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute in Tullahoma. The university embodies excellence in teaching, discovery, scholarship, research, creative activity, outreach, and engagement. Known as the Volunteers, we lead with a spirit of selflessness, empathy, and courage, and strive to be champions for diversity, equity, and inclusion

UT Knoxville is a Research 1 university with 11 academic colleges and more than 900 programs of study. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, our academic programs are repeatedly ranked top in their class. The university co-manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the country’s most prominent national lab, driving innovation in advanced manufacturing and materials, national security, and more. We are closely connected with our communities through outreach and extension efforts across Tennessee and through partnerships with non-profits, corporations, and industries—regionally, nationally, and around the globe.

The city of Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The modern, thriving community is surrounded by gorgeous lakes and hundreds of miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails. Situated along the banks of the Tennessee River, our beautiful features an eclectic music scene, internationally recognized festivals, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural activities. Knoxville is located within a day’s drive of Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people. The region houses many leading corporations and organizations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pilot/Flying J, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Regal Cinemas, along with HGTV, Food Network, and other networks owned by Discovery Inc.

As a member of the UT family, you will be surrounded by top-notch faculty, staff, and students from around the world. You will be part of a diverse campus community that is passionate about changing the world and cheering for the Vols on game day.

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