Senior Research Development Officer

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

3d

About The Position

Research Development Services (RDS), within Texas A&M University's Division of Research, advances research capacity and competitiveness across the university by partnering with faculty, researchers, and stakeholders on strategic research initiatives, external funding, and proposal development. The Senior Research Development Officer identifies and pursues federal contract opportunities aligned with university research strengths and strategic priorities. The role acts as a liaison among faculty, university leadership, industry, and federal agencies, and leads compliant, competitive contract proposals from opportunity identification through submission. The position monitors federal contracting pipelines, recruits and coordinates faculty teams, develops proposal strategies, and works with investigators to secure federal research awards.

The officer manages the full proposal lifecycle for complex, high-value contract bids; develops capture plans and proposal materials; and coordinates compliance with federal contracting and research security requirements. The role also supports opportunity assessment, investigator engagement, industry and institutional teaming, proposal training, and the development of tools and resources for successful funding applications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Four years of experience developing or writing proposals to or for federal, state, or private agencies.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to make decisions independently.

Nice To Haves

• Experience executing front-end business development and capture strategies, including win strategy, teaming, and opportunity shaping, as well as back-end proposal management, including compliance tracking, schedule enforcement, and narrative editing.
• Operational knowledge of FAR/DFARS procurement processes, Broad Agency Announcements, Other Transaction Authority, and SAM.gov solicitation structures.
• Ability to comprehend complex research in areas such as engineering, AI/cybersecurity, microelectronics, and applied sciences and translate it into federal contract deliverables such as SOWs, BOEs, and WBSs.
• Interpersonal skills and experience managing cross-functional teams of academic faculty, corporate partners, and executive university leadership under tight deadlines.
• APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification, or Shipley Capture/Proposal Management training.
• Five to seven years of direct experience in research development, business development, capture management, or proposal management within defense or civil federal contracting.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development of complex, high-value contract proposals.
• Establish proposal schedules, compliance matrices, Work Breakdown Structures, and storyboarding sessions.
• Translate technical and scientific capabilities into compliant and compelling proposal sections.
• Organize and facilitate formal Red/Pink Team mock reviews.
• Coordinate with Export Control, Research Security, IT, and other stakeholders to address FAR/DFARS clauses, CUI rules, CMMC standards, and NSPM-33 mandates.
• Lead responses to agency requests for information, Best and Final Offers, and oral presentations.
• Facilitate handoffs to post-award administrative teams after awards.
• Monitor SAM.gov, agency roadmaps, and funding announcements, including BAA releases, and assess opportunities against university capabilities and strategic goals.
• Define and execute capture plans for selected opportunities.
• Develop win themes, competitive analyses, risk mitigation strategies, and university differentiators.
• Assist Principal Investigators in cultivating relationships with agency Program Managers.
• Coach Principal Investigators on Quad Charts, White Papers, and Heilmeier Catechism pitches.
• Identify and facilitate NDAs and teaming arrangements with industry prime contractors and subcontractors, federal labs, and peer academic institutions.
• Lead Bid/No-Bid reviews with university leadership, considering opportunity alignment, cost-share requirements, and resource allocation.
• Develop proposal tools, templates, guidance documents, and standard application information.
• Monitor media sources for funding and program initiatives and circulate relevant announcements.
• Create and deliver informational sessions on contract-based funding and proposal development.
• Assist with training to improve investigators' knowledge of federal contracts.
• Publicize internal and external professional development opportunities for researchers.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance; Texas A&M contributes to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Free exercise programs and release time for health and wellness.
• Free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support for conferences, workshops, and other professional development.
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while employed at Texas A&M.
• Access to the Living Well employee program.

What This Job Offers

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