Executive Director of Federal Agency R&D Relations (Proposal Development Specialist)

Special Instructions Summary

Cover letters strongly preferred

Department

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT (UA-RSDE-IUINA)

Department Information

The Office for Research Development (ORD) guides faculty and researchers in pursuing research funding, forming cross-disciplinary science teams, and developing collaborative research proposals.

Job Summary

The Executive Director is a senior position at IU Research and plays a key role in leading and directing IU's responses to the grand funding opportunities in the U.S. federal agencies.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Reports to the Associate Vice President for Research Development.
• Works collaboratively with IU Research's National Defense R&D Relations Director and IU University Relations through partnering with the D.

C.-based Associate Vice President for Federal Relations to coordinate, optimize, and synergize grand-scale federal funding programs, relevant to IU's research strengths and big idea initiatives and IU 2030 Strategic Plan.

Communicates with IU faculty and staff on a wide range of matters related to their efforts in pursuing federal R&D funding, particularly those at a grand scale, and develop trusted relations with federal funding agency staff.

For qualified candidates, an academic appointment with tenure eligibility is negotiable.

• Represents IU to the federal funding agencies.
• Works side-by-side with the IU National Defense R&D Relations Director to monitor and analyze federal funding initiatives on grand challenges and with the IU Associate VP for Federal
• Relations on legislative strategies to achieve IU's federal research goals.
• Advises IU Research on grand-scale federal funding opportunities and trends, and disseminates upcoming funding programs relevant to IU research initiatives and strengths to the IU Community.
• Facilitates IU R&D team building in a timely manner to respond to federal funding opportunities and programs.
• Designs and executes advocacy strategies to meet the IU 2030 Strategic Plans R&D goals.
• Serves as the top advisor to IU Research on matters involving federal funding trends, grand challenge opportunities, and upcoming funding programs;

coordinates IU-wide advocacy efforts for federally sponsored research.

Serves as the university's primary liaison to federal funding agencies and their staff on matters related to IU's research strengths (IU's research pillars);

and disseminating agencies large-scale funding program calls (over $1M / project in general), relevant to IU, to IU stakeholders.

Identifies, develops, and stewards productive relationships with all funding agencies' representatives to achieve IU's research strategic vision.

As needed, help solicit and engage with external lobbyists and firms.

• Analyzes large-scale Request For Proposal (RFP) calls that impact IU.
• Leads on IU research matters related to federal research initiatives, serving as co-lead on issues related to IU's research strengths, and working closely with the Office for Research
• Development, Associate Vice President for Federal Relations, and National Defense R&D Relations Director on all large-scale RFPs relevant to IU Research.
• Monitors and tracks key R&D funding trends and milestone moments; advises IU Research staff and leadership on emerging research issues and action at the national and international levels.
• Develops and implements advocacy strategies for the University and faculty for the wide range of research strengths.
• Helps to set the day-to-day agenda and activities for IU Research's pursuit of large-scale proposals, providing input on which research goals to pursue and how to accomplish them, and executing those plans.
• Assists faculty members and researchers in identifying and acquiring federal research funds, identifies opportunities for faculty to share expertise with policymakers, and informs them on federal funding-related policies and regulations.
• Serves as a leader on a team that advises IU Research Vice President for Research, AVP for Research Development, and other campus research leaders on matters related to research funding, research security, science policy, higher education, and other issues that lead to the pursuit of large-scale proposal development and submissions.
• Organizes & leads meetings with campus leadership and drafting research funding announcements to the IU research community.
• Liaises with and advises campus stakeholders on research regulatory changes in federal funding agencies that could impact IU research operations.
• Represents the university in association meetings.
• Volunteers for or accepts leadership positions in organizations such as the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), the Association of American Universities (Council on Federal Relations), and the Coalition for National Science Funding.

General Responsibilities

• Consults, directs, and assists investigators on the development of external funding proposals including preparation, submission, acceptance, and administration;
• investigates and answers questions from external agencies, researchers, fiscal officers, research administrators and others;

counsels researchers and staff on the preparation of budgets, completion of certifications, and institutional information to ensure compliance with university policies, federal regulations, and agency guidelines.

• Ascertains the status of proposals, awards, research risk approvals, internal approvals such as route sheets, and related documents;
• initiates action to resolve problems when necessary; assists faculty and staff in identifying documents or forms needed in connection with pending or funded projects;

follows up on all correspondence to ensure that appropriate action is taken or information provided.

• Independently leads large, collaborative multi-institutional proposals, and provides leadership and oversight for other department team members on these projects.
• Provides comprehensive project management services including establishing timelines and processes for proposal production, helping to convene potential collaborators, organize faculty project teams, and lead proposal development meetings of the project team;

edits proposals for concision, clarity, and consistency of style.

• Provides strategic analysis and guidance for investigators and research teams; connects investigators with relevant internal and external professionals for development of certain proposal sections;
• suggests, when appropriate, faculty or researchers who may collaborate to strengthen proposals, particularly on large projects involving interdisciplinary and intercampus cooperation;
• advises on positioning of a project idea in relation to agency mission, active or anticipated funding opportunities, and program criteria;

reviews and provides non-technical reviewer-focused feedback on proposal text for content and structure; discusses reviews for declined proposals and advises on potential revisions.

Provides analysis, writing, or other support to senior leaders for proposal-relevant strategic initiatives; analyzes funder priorities, communicates with agency personnel to better understand current and upcoming funding opportunities that are appropriate for IU faculty and / or researchers, and disseminates opportunities that align with institutional strategic priorities;

offers consulting support to research interest groups involved in strategic initiatives.

Develops and presents content for workshops, web-based materials, tailored presentations for investigators, schools and departments;

participates and leads other educational initiatives to assist faculty in finding funding opportunities and developing competitive grant proposals.

• Models effective communication, consensus building, team building, and team management to work effectively and collaboratively with agency contacts, project leaders / team members, senior administration, project management staff, internal units, and / or external contacts.
• Researches and works collaboratively with senior leaders and other individuals / units involved in research development in recommending development standards, best practices, and related policies / procedures.
• May serve as project leader; often provides guidance to junior peers.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience.

Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in related field)
• Master's degree

Preferred

Ph.D. in any STEM discipline, health sciences, or M.D

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

10 years in proposal and / or research writing or related experience

Preferred

• 3 years of experience in either of the following is preferred : serving as a Program Director / Manager for a U.S. federal agency, working at a senior level within a research-intensive university research development office, or leading a multidisciplinary center or institute within a research-intensive university that received recurring and large-scale federal funding
• 3 years demonstrated partnership and / or working with 1 more federal funding agency
• Experience developing and leading successfully funded research and / or education-based teams as a Principal Investigator is preferred.
• Familiarity with key federal funding agencies, particularly NSF, NIH, Department of Energy, Department of Education, EPA, NASA, DoD, and others
• Experience in a higher education research setting
• Experience with private, state and / or federal granting agencies and an understanding of the policies and procedures of external granting agencies

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority-setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

Preferred

• Keen understanding of the operations of the federal funding agencies
• Proven ability to build coalitions with both internal and external partners
• Experience in analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing complex federal agencies funding program calls
• Familiarity with key federal funding agencies, particularly NSF, NIH, Department of Energy, Department of Education, EPA, NASA, DoD, and others
• Deep knowledge and understanding of federal funding agencies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Reliable and organized, with an attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills in an environment with people from a variety of backgrounds
• Demonstrates ability to coalesce, facilitate, and / or lead diverse research teams to achieve important results (R&D, clinical trials, technology transfer, and / or commercialization)
• Demonstrates ability to collaborate and build and sustain productive teams
• Strong interpersonal skills in an environment with people from a variety of backgrounds

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment.

The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Washington D.C

Travel is required to Indiana University for 1 week per month, if DC-based.

Advertised Salary

$175,000 to $235,000, based upon experience.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including :

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level : Expert

FLSA : Exempt

Job Function : Research

Job Family : Research Development

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11 : 59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days.

To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications.

Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

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See Indiana University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

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