Proposal Manager

University of North Texas System • Denton, TX

6d • $56,640 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Proposal Manager oversees the full life cycle of proposal development for the Advanced Environmental Research Institute (AERI) within the Division of Research & Innovation. The role manages development from pre-proposal planning through completion of proposals ready for submission, along with related support processes, to ensure compelling, timely proposals that meet solicitation requirements. Proposals range from short-term task orders to large, multi-million-dollar research projects.

The position supports interdisciplinary research by understanding the scholarship represented within AERI and identifying and connecting researchers with relevant external funding opportunities, including federal grants, local foundations, and industry partnerships. The Proposal Manager plans, schedules, and manages competitive proposals; writes, reviews, and edits proposals as needed; and serves as the point of contact for proposal activities and communications in the assigned area. The role receives broad assignments aligned with the Institute’s strategic research initiatives and calls for creativity, originality, storytelling, and the ability to help resolve complex problems and issues.

The Advanced Environmental Research Institute is an Institute of Research Excellence at the University of North Texas. It advances interdisciplinary research addressing environmental challenges at local, regional, national, and global scales, with work focused on environmental health, sustainability, and environmental justice. The Institute also provides students with mentored research and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of progressively responsible experience in proposal submission activities for private, local, state, or federal grants or contracts, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to adapt communication styles, approaches, skills, and techniques for varied constituents, including faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Strong proposal-writing experience and excellent verbal and written communication skills, including writing original content and editing.
• Ability to identify key components of a request for proposals and develop tools to ensure proposal compliance.
• Ability to maintain clear, consistent, timely, and effective communication with proposal stakeholders.
• Proven track record managing small to large, complex proposal efforts.
• Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references with their application; additional references may be added after submission if needed.

Nice To Haves

• Work experience in higher education developing sponsored research grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Assist Principal Investigators with grant management and timely submission, including scheduling kickoff and planning meetings, providing checklists, coordinating team members, and serving as the point person for internal and external portals; liaise with Grants & Contracts Administration as needed.
• Assist Principal Investigators in developing quality proposal submissions; connect faculty with on-campus resources and data; liaise between campus offices; create and provide templates; and coordinate resources for proposal graphics and illustrations.
• Develop and maintain proposal metrics and strategies for assigned areas; identify funding opportunities, understand and communicate the funding landscape, and partner with University leadership to increase and prioritize external funding.
• Maintain current knowledge of UNT policies and procedures and sponsor, state, and federal regulations governing external funding proposals.
• Maintain NORDP membership and pursue professional development to engage in research-development best practices and provide effective proposal-development services to faculty.
• Connect faculty with on-campus research support resources and data, including education, training, and workshops; champion new faculty investigators; liaise between campus offices; and create a repository of resources for the assigned area.
• Plan, schedule, and manage competitive proposals from pre-proposal planning through submission-ready completion.
• Write, review, and edit proposals as required, and serve as the point of contact for proposal activities and communications in the assigned area.
• Identify and connect AERI researchers with relevant external funding opportunities, including federal grants, local foundations, and industry partnerships.

What This Job Offers

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