VP Research Development

Sanford Burnham Prebys is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health.

The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

VP Research Development

Reporting to the Chief Research Development Officer (CRDO), the Vice President of Research Development (VP) will support and strengthen the scientific capacity and competitiveness of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (Institute). The VP will oversee a team responsible for advancing the Institute’s mission by advising on funding portfolios, assisting with grant proposals, and managing awarded projects. The VP will work with Institute leadership to execute and improve upon existing strategies to maximize research funding and increase research capacity. The VP will oversee the process of identifying opportunities for new and recurring funding sources, both federal and non-federal, communication of these prospects to the Institute community, and providing project management support both pre- and post-award. Specific support provided by the VP includes advising and strategizing on the grant portfolio mix, grant writing, and editing, consultations, identifying and submitting funding applications, and training and development as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Research Funding Strategy

• Work directly with the CEO/President, CRDO, and other members of the leadership team to develop strategies and identify opportunities to maximize support from government, corporate, foundations, philanthropic, and other sponsors to support Institute research and scientific support (core) programs.
• Identify and monitor research trends relevant to the Institute, funding trends among external sponsors, faculty members’ research expertise, and other data that affect Institute research activities.
• Provide strategic, timely, and targeted funding information to Institute leadership to develop strategies to promote and enhance the Institute’s research funding portfolio.
• Investigate opportunities for support from corporations, foundations, and other sponsors in cooperation with the Philanthropy Department and appropriate laboratories.
• Provide high-level analytical support to leadership on a wide range of research data and policy and process issues via analyses and special reports.
• Coordinate with the Communications Department to elevate the profile of the Institute's strengths and accomplishments to promote visibility and impact among external funding sources.

Research Proposal Development and Training

• Advise and strategize with faculty and other researchers on grant portfolio mix based on Institute priorities and laboratory research goals.
• Identify grant opportunities for program project grants, consortiums, center grants, training grants, and inter-institutional and interdisciplinary research funding, and other collaborations that match faculty research areas that have a strong funding potential and proactively notify relevant Institute PIs.
• Provide strategic planning and organizational support for developing large-scale, interdisciplinary program and center-type proposals, training grants, federal construction grants, core support grants, etc.
• Assist in the proposal development and document preparation for competing and ongoing grants and fellowships.
• Edit, write and coordinate research and grant-related documents to support Institute research efforts.
• Work with PIs to ensure timely submission of proposals to meet internal and external deadlines to maximize research funding potential.
• Partner with relevant departments to conduct training sessions and workshops for PIs and trainees on grant writing strategies, funding opportunities, and proposal development.

Project Management Support

• Provide project management, including budget and risk management, communication, and stakeholder engagement, to awarded projects to ensure goals are met and that follow-on funding can be secured.
• Provide project management during proposal development for complex and institutional grant mechanisms.
• Provide templates, checklists, and other project management resources to facilitate faculty, trainees, and staff grant submissions.
• Develop ca