Coordinator, Research Development – Division of Research Development

· Salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Market Range 11

Description:

The Research Development (RD) Coordinator actively contributes to the realization of UT's overall strategic goals related to research, scholarship, and creative activities by supporting (1) long-term capacity-building and medium-term positioning activities that align UT faculty for future success; and (2) short-term proposal development activities that substantively contribute to the strength and success of faculty submissions for external funding or faculty recognition through prestigious awards and fellowships. The RD group is responsible for instituting a team approach for major strategic and/or large-scale, multidisciplinary, multi-investigator research projects. This position supports strategic research initiatives by preparing proposals, connecting collaborators, designing educational workshops and programming, and helping faculty develop new skills to achieve their research agendas. The RD Coordinator exercises independent judgment and initiative to complete work critical to the success of the UT research enterprise. This individual participates in and contributes to shared strategic planning and team building efforts.

Position Responsibilities:

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Completes required components of large, complex proposals. Exercises independent judgment and knowledge of best practices in research development and research administration to interpret and apply complex requirements needed to complete their assigned tasks, and reports problems or concerns to the Manager. Adheres to project timelines and compliance materials and holds shared responsibility to ensure all required documents are complete, compliant, and responsive prior to proposal deadline. In the execution of their assigned duties, interfaces with support staff, faculty, administrators both within and outside UT {e.g., other universities, industry contacts, community partners) to complete project deliverables. Workload will include supporting multiple overlapping high-priority projects with a short time to deadline where responsibility, organization, and attention to detail are critical skills.

• Document management responsibilities include collecting, editing, and critically reviewing biographical sketches, current and pending support forms, conflict of interest forms, facilities statements, letters of collaboration, and others, as determined by the proposal instructions. Needs for a single project can include hundreds of pages of supplementary material essential to success of these proposals, which influence UT's prestige and rankings.

• Participates in and contributes to all shared proposal development activities, including background research and landscape analysis, fostering collaborations and teaming, project ideation and strategizing, budget development, color team reviews, and more.

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

• Strategic Data Analysis: Contributes to data-driven decision-making that impacts the direction of UT's research enterprise through researching, assessing, and interpreting institutional data from relevant internal (e.g., Cayuse, Elements, Academic Analytics, Dimensions) and external (e.g., NSF, NIH) sources.

• Funding Opportunity Dissemination: Research potential sources of external funding and funding trends, primarily with federal agencies. Manages dissemination of funding opportunities of broad interest to UT faculty by producing RD's weekly Funding Opportunity Digest, a newsletter that serves UT, UTIA, and UTSI researchers seeking external funding for their research, scholarship, and creative activities. Serves as first point of contact for Pivot, UT's software program for matching faculty research interests with available funding opportunities, which includes providing group training, as well as personalized one-on-one support.

• Project Management: Works with the Director to establish and maintain team-wide oversight of all RD activities, including overall team workflow, outreach and engagement with the UT community, proposal development, faculty development, and collaborating and networking activities. Manages logistical needs for small (5-10 people) to large (100+ people) proposal development meetings, presentations and trainings, and collaborative networking.

Minimum Required Skills and Abilities:

• Fundamental knowledge of how federal sponsors support research activities, preferably in a university environment

• Ability to exercise independent analysis and judgment in alignment with broad principles, practices, and professional standards related to research development and research administration

• Ability to understand. analyze. and provide work direction to others regarding external (e.g., federal government, funding agency) and internal (university) policies and procedures related to compliance and responsiveness

• Ability to manage a significant volume of transactions and to juggle multiple tasks

• Ability to work under pressure and to meet hard deadlines

• Ability to analyze and interpret data, and identify areas of concern

• Excellent oral & written communication, organizational, problem-solving, and customer service skills

• Ability to work independently and as a contributing member of a team

• Ability to communicate with faculty in an array of disciplines

• Ability to influence and build work relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels

• Excellent, demonstrable computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, database programs, and internet searches.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

Public speaking/presenting skills.

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Four years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree or two years of relevant experience with Master’s degree

• Experience responding to RFPs/RFAs/PAs/FOAs/BAAs from federal and/or nonfederal sponsors is required.

Preferred/Desired Experience:

•Master’s Degree

• Experience in research development or research administration

• Experience working with faculty and other researchers in an academic or laboratory setting and/or with sponsoring agency personnel.

Additional Information

• Please attach the following electronic documents to the application: Cover letter, resume, and the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references.
• Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Related Websites:

• Division of Research Development: https://research.utk.edu/research-development/
• Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development: https://research.utk.edu/oried/
• Employment & Benefits: http://hr.tennessee.edu/benefits/
• Benefits Summary for Active Employees: http://humanresources.tennessee.edu/benefits/gen_benefits_info.html