Research Development Specialist

University of Iowa•Iowa City, IA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Development Office (RDO) seeks a Research Development Specialist to support research development programs and strategic initiatives within the Office of the Vice President for Research. The position provides coordination and administrative support for internal funding programs, limited submission opportunities, skills development activities, and large proposal development initiatives. The specialist contributes to research intelligence activities by developing funding intelligence reports, competitive analyses, and sponsor landscape reviews that inform faculty and institutional decision-making. The position also supports the testing, implementation, and quality review of emerging research development tools and AI-enabled workflows designed to strengthen proposal competitiveness and research development capacity. Working collaboratively with faculty, researchers, administrators, and campus partners, the successful candidate will support strategic research development activities that advance faculty success and institutional research priorities.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Experience (typically 1-3 years) with research development and/or research administration, including knowledge of processes, tools, and services for proposal development, strategic research advancement, or enhancement of collaboration/Team Science.
General understanding of federal funding agencies and/or private foundations.
Demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional customer service. Please include specific examples of how you have provided outstanding service in your resume or cover letter.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as demonstrated at a working proficiency level.
Superior organizational skills, attention to detail, and high reliability.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in a related field.
Experience advising researchers on funding opportunity identification, sponsor priorities, and engagement strategies.
Familiarity with emerging artificial intelligence tools and their application to research development, information analysis, and administrative workflows.
Experience developing and implementing data collection and tracking methods (e.g., surveys, databases, or reporting systems) to support research, funding, or programmatic activities.
Working knowledge of University of Iowa policies, procedures, and regulations, and experience working with the University of Iowa Research Information System (UIRIS).
Demonstrated ability to analyze quantitative and/or qualitative data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and support research development initiatives.
Ability to synthesize complex information and data into clear, concise reports, summaries, and presentations for a variety of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Provide coordination and administrative support for internal funding programs, limited submission opportunities, skills development activities, and large proposal development initiatives.
Contribute to research intelligence activities by developing funding intelligence reports, competitive analyses, and sponsor landscape reviews.
Support the testing, implementation, and quality review of emerging research development tools and AI-enabled workflows.
Support strategic research development activities that advance faculty success and institutional research priorities.