Research Development Officer, Physical Sciences and Engineering, Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors

Job Posting Title:

Research Development Officer, Physical Sciences and Engineering, Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors

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Hiring Department:

Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The mission of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) is to foster the expansion of the scale, quality, and impact of scholarly endeavors at UT Austin. We are committed to building capacity, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and lowering the barriers and burden involved in scientific and creative inquiry through the development of an investigator-focused infrastructure that supports the needs of UT Austin's research enterprise.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage  

• Retirement contributions

• Paid vacation and sick time

• Paid holidays

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

Assists the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) portfolio, colleges and organized research units across the University with identifying, developing and acquiring external funding for research, scholarship and creative activity in the physical sciences and engineering. Develops strategies to increase external funding from key sponsors to the University.

Responsibilities

• As a member of the OVPR Research Development team, reporting to the Executive Director for Research Development, provides comprehensive proposal development service to small or large teams of principal investigators (PIs) pursuing external research funding. Special emphasis is placed on U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Transportation, and other major STEM sponsors. Proposal development duties include obtaining competitive intelligence on funding programs; facilitating PI team building and ideation; substantive editing of proposal sections; and organizing external reviews of proposals. Works cooperatively with grant/contract specialists, a competitive intelligence officer, graphic design support and other members of the OVPR Research Development team in pursuit of these objectives.

• Produces content for and leads periodic proposal development lectures or workshops that provide strategic guidance to PIs pursuing physical sciences and engineering funding. Maps UT’s historical successes with sponsors using agency and university sponsored projects data. Leverage these data, combined with input from relevant PIs and colleges, to identify and implement strategies for increasing PIs’ competitiveness in pursuing external funding.  

• Contributes to the overall success of the OVPR Research Development team by performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in an academic discipline and 3 years’ post-degree experience in research development. 

• Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail. 

• Experience managing complex proposal teams involving multiple principal investigators, including substantive contribution to the proposals’ content. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a physical science or engineering discipline with a track record of developing or writing successfully funded research grants for NSF, DOE or other STEM sponsors. 

• 5 years’ experience in research development. 

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage program delivery involving university faculty participants. 

• Ability to distill complex research and scholarly concepts into simple terms that convey impact to general audiences. 

• Experience with Microsoft SharePoint platform.

Salary Range

$115,000 + depending on qualifications 

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a works