Proposal Development Specialist

Children's National Hospital • Silver Spring, MD

3d • $57,970 - $108,555 • Onsite

About The Position

Proposal Development Specialist I facilitates the preparation of sponsored research proposals on behalf of Children's National faculty and staff. The role develops budgets and supporting documentation and ensures proposals comply with sponsor requirements, internal policies, and timelines. The specialist also facilitates sponsor requirements and requests through receipt of the Notice of Award.

The role provides pre-award support for assigned proposals, including interpreting funding announcements, coordinating proposal components, managing deadlines and approvals, and facilitating Just-In-Time requests. It collaborates with investigators, internal pre-award teams, and external institutions, and supports a smooth transition of awarded proposals to the post-award team. The position requires adherence to responsible research conduct, appropriate use of research funds and resources, confidentiality, and completion of annual training and compliance requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience (listed as preferred).
• One year of grants, contracts, finance, or budget-related experience in a healthcare, academic, research, or corporate setting (listed as preferred).
• Ability to use computers and web-based applications in a security-focused environment.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams; Adobe; and internal applications supporting research operations.
• Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret funding opportunity announcements, including RFA, RFP, and FOA documents from agencies such as NIH, FDA, DoD, state and local governments, and foundations.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, including with faculty, staff, and multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Initiate pre-application meetings with Principal Investigators to discuss funding announcements and create proposal timelines for complex or large submissions and for new or junior faculty needing support.
• Act as liaison among the Proposal Development team, Grants and Contracts Pre-Award team, and Principal Investigators to ensure requirements and deadlines are met.
• Collaborate with Proposal Development team members to provide consistent support for CRI proposals.
• Support transition of awarded proposals to the post-award team through communication and detailed record keeping.
• Verify that faculty COI and other required compliance training and certificates are up to date.
• Answer investigators’ questions about sponsors, funding opportunities, and the proposal development process.
• Manage pre-award activities for assigned proposals using grant management rules, technical expertise, and analytical skills.
• Review funding announcements and alert investigators to unique or unusual requirements.
• Complete responsibilities matrices and communicate deadlines and deliverables to team members.
• Develop budgets and budget justifications; check budgets for accuracy and inconsistencies and ensure compliance with sponsor and CRI requirements, including appropriate F&A and fringe rates.
• Coordinate and review proposal elements for formatting, accuracy, and completeness, including compliance with sponsor requirements for budgets, format, font size, and page limits.
• Work with investigators and pre-award staff at external institutions to obtain sub-award documents.
• Ensure proposals are entered correctly into CRI systems, including BearGrants, and sponsor grant portals or application systems.
• Facilitate and monitor proposals through routing and approval in accordance with CRI procedures and obtain required sign-offs.
• Monitor proposal status, advise Principal Investigators about requirements and deadlines, and escalate missed deadlines to the Manager.
• Facilitate Just-In-Time requests, including development of other support documents.
• Adhere to responsible conduct of research standards, use research funds and resources appropriately, maintain confidentiality, and complete annual job-related training and compliance requirements.
• Perform related responsibilities as required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
• Paid time off, including vacation accrued from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• 401(k) plan.
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Tuition assistance.
• Fitness resources.
• Employee assistance.
• Commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level