Senior Manager of Research Development

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

22h • $144,996 - $175,008

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Research Development leads the Institute for Protein Design’s research development enterprise, coordinating incoming research projects and strategically managing and overseeing the Institute’s sponsored research portfolio. The role serves as the Institute’s scientific proposal coordinator, overseeing development of grant applications, corporate-sponsored research proposals, center applications, annual reports, and other strategic research documents that support external funding and IPD’s scientific mission.

Working with IPD leadership, principal investigators, scientific staff, and collaborators, the Senior Manager coordinates proposal development and helps identify the structural, operational, personnel, equipment, and scientific expertise needed to meet proposal goals. Once funding is secured, the role works with the Project Management team to support execution. The Senior Manager oversees active sponsored programs, including progress reporting, milestone and deliverable tracking, and sponsor engagement, and supervises the Grants and Project Management teams. The position works closely with post-award staff and UW offices on the administrative, financial, and compliance aspects of sponsored research.

The role operates in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment and requires synthesizing complex scientific topics into rigorous proposals for varied funding audiences. It manages concurrent proposals, active projects, and strategic initiatives with competing deadlines, while coordinating faculty, scientists, collaborators, and staff across multi-investigator programs. The position has institute-wide impact by strengthening IPD’s ability to secure and manage external research funding and supporting the University of Washington’s research mission.

This is a regular, 100% FTE position on the first shift. The salary range is $144,996 to $175,008 annually. The position reports to the Director of Translational Research, with a dotted-line relationship to IPD Leadership, and supervises a growing team of eight project managers and grant managers.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, biological sciences, bioengineering, or a related field, with at least 2 years of experience including scientific writing experience; equivalent education and/or experience may substitute where permitted.
• Track record of obtaining competitive research grants.
• Demonstrated experience developing, overseeing, or executing multi-investigator research programs, including work such as defining deliverables and milestones, planning personnel and resource needs, tracking scientific progress, coordinating research across labs or institutions, or managing a research center, consortium, or large sponsored award.
• Familiarity with federal funding guidelines.
• Critical thinking, initiative, and sound judgment to manage tasks, resolve problems, and make recommendations.
• Advanced computer skills and project management experience.
• Advanced communication, organizational, and collaborative skills.
• Highly developed project and team management, collaborative, and people skills, including the ability to build and motivate teams in a positive, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

• At least 5 years of scientific writing experience.
• More than 3 years of team leadership and people management experience.
• Hands-on research experience in protein science, structural biology, computational biology, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of machine learning and AI methods as applied to biology.
• Experience with a range of sponsors, such as NIH, NSF, DoD/DARPA, ARPA-H, BARDA, major foundations, and industry-sponsored research.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with principal investigators and IPD leadership to develop competitive grant applications, center proposals, corporate-sponsored research agreements, and other external applications.
• Coordinate sponsor communications, including grant reports, project summaries, RPPRs, and related progress documentation.
• Write and edit proposal components, including Specific Aims, Research Strategy, Innovation, Significance, Impact, and programmatic narratives.
• Identify teaming needs for proposed programs and coordinate with collaborators to define responsibilities and address gaps.
• Lead proposal drafting and revision with investigators, collaborators, leadership, and external partners; ensure scientific accuracy, narrative consistency, and alignment with sponsor review criteria.
• Prepare proposal resubmissions by incorporating reviewer feedback and strengthening proposal strategy.
• Oversee IPD’s portfolio of active sponsored research programs and projects.
• Work with the Project Management team to track scientific progress against research aims, milestones, and deliverables.
• Work with faculty to determine award deliverables and plan how teams will meet deliverables and sponsor requirements.
• Identify scientific expertise, personnel, and equipment needs for research programs, and coordinate with HR, administration, and lab management to address them.
• Coordinate complex multi-investigator and multi-institution research programs, including sequencing activities, assigning work across teams, and coordinating data and materials sharing and scientific dependencies.
• Develop and oversee progress reports, annual reports, and sponsor deliverables.
• Partner with Institute leadership to develop funding strategies for major research initiatives and long-term proposal planning aligned with institutional priorities.
• Represent IPD in sponsor meetings, program reviews, and strategic discussions; translate sponsor and program officer feedback into proposal strategies.
• Supervise Grants and Project Management staff; recruit, mentor, evaluate, and support their professional development.
• Guide project managers on scientific milestones, research timelines, deliverables, and sponsor communications; allocate staff resources across proposals, projects, and initiatives.
• Develop standardized proposal resources, templates, workflows, and best practices.
• Coordinate with UW pre-award and post-award offices on proposal submission and award management.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor and university requirements, including NIH, NSF, foundation, and industry policies.
• Collaborate with UW offices on conflict of interest, intellectual property, export controls, data security, and other compliance requirements.
• Review contract agreements and liaise with UW Biochemistry, the School of Medicine, the Office of Sponsored Programs, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and CoMotion officials to support timely agreement processing.
• Work with leadership, PIs, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and CoMotion to review grant agreements and contracts for IP, publication, scientific milestone, and payment terms.
• Partner with IPD Communications on scientific figures, graphics, presentations, and public-facing research materials.
• Monitor sponsor policy changes and recommend process improvements to maintain competitiveness and compliance.

Benefits

• The posting refers applicants to the University of Washington staff benefits website for benefits information.
• Opportunities for professional growth.
• Work in an environment noted for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree