RAO Research and Proposal Development Manager

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Acceleration Office (RAO) Research and Proposal Development Manager provides strategic research development guidance and project management to support the Colorado State University research community. The role supports broad research development activities, including complex and strategic proposal development, limited submission proposals, and interdisciplinary or strategic research initiatives. It focuses on strengthening proposals, connecting collaborators, and empowering faculty by identifying funding opportunities, building research teams and external partnerships, assessing faculty interests and collaboration opportunities, developing competitive proposals, and engaging with agency sponsors. The manager supports faculty and research teams throughout proposal development, from interpreting sponsor requirements and creating proposal materials to coordinating collaborators, reviews, institutional support, and submission. The role also manages proposal schedules and team processes, develops knowledge of CSU’s research capabilities, builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders, tracks sponsor trends and funding sources, and helps coordinate interdisciplinary research programs and training workshops. The position is supported through the Office of the Vice President for Research and reports to the RAO Director. It is a 12-month full-time appointment based in Fort Collins and expected to be onsite/in person, with potential for hybrid work depending on the candidate’s experience and limited teleworking privileges.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 3 years of experience in research development, proposal development or writing, research administration, project management, business development, or a closely related field.
Experience managing and supporting the strategic development of successful complex proposals.
Demonstrated ability to understand and explain complex proposal requirements and strategies to increase competitiveness.
Familiarity with sponsoring agencies and proposal submission systems.
Experience supporting team-science proposal development, including complex multi-investigator proposals to one or more major federal agencies.
Experience developing and implementing research development strategic initiatives and support programs.
Demonstrated relationship-building or partnership-building experience with diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, investigators, partner organizations, and sponsoring agencies.
Authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, preferably in a STEM discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in research development, proposal development or writing, research administration, project management, business development, or a closely related field.
Professional experience in an academic environment.
Familiarity with or participation in professional organizations or networks for research development, research administration, or team science.
Experience facilitating the identification and development of interdisciplinary teams, including external partners or stakeholders.
Experience with technical writing.
Experience with data analytics, including related software or tools, for competitive intelligence.
Experience developing projects requiring high detail and adherence to strict deadlines.
Experience in roles involving significant independence and responsibility.

Responsibilities

Provide expert guidance to faculty and research teams on complex and strategic proposal development.
Analyze sponsor guidelines and recommend approaches to improve proposal fit, competitiveness, and compliance.
Create, edit, and manage proposal materials, including project descriptions, personnel documents, management plans, and budgets.
Coordinate letters of support and collaboration, sub-recipient communications, institutional support, application packages, and evidence of partner buy-in.
Organize and manage pink-team and red-team evaluations and assessments.
Project-manage complex proposal efforts by organizing team meetings, maintaining shared workspaces, developing schedules, and monitoring progress.
Develop knowledge of CSU research expertise and capabilities to identify and facilitate collaboration and partnership opportunities.
Build relationships with potential collaborators, partners, and stakeholders inside and outside the university, coordinating with RAO colleagues and other university offices, departments, and colleges.
Analyze faculty research interests and strengths to facilitate interdisciplinary teams and identify appropriate funding sources.
Research external funding sources, monitor sponsor trends, and build relationships with federal funding agencies.
Help coordinate new and ongoing interdisciplinary strategic research programs and initiatives, including facilitating working groups in emerging areas of investment.
Participate in developing and delivering research and proposal development training workshops.