Associate Director - Proposal Development

Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Full-time Engineering

Posted on April 30, 2024

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Associate Director - Proposal Development

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR) is seeking candidates for the position of Associate Director - Proposal Development, in the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO). This office provides active support for proposal development, submission, and management of large-team multidisciplinary proposals across all Penn State institutes, colleges, and campuses.

SIRO supports pre-award functions and project management for multi-college and multi-institutional efforts, while the Finance Office (FO) within OSVPR provides post-award support for the complex large-team funded proposals. SIRO functions are divided into three sub-units for these large proposals - Proposal Development, Pre-Award Administration, and Project Management. The Associate Director of Proposal Development within SIRO will assist in leading a team of proposal developers and reports to the Associate Vice President for Research and Director of Strategic Initiatives. This is a leadership position ensuring that all facets of proposal development for large-scale, multi-disciplinary research projects are being addressed in a timely manner.

Responsibilities: The responsibilities for this position include the following:

Manage a creative team of proposal developers.
Oversee the quality assurance of proposal development processes.
Provide strategic input on all proposal sections (technical and non-technical).
Advise PIs on team organization and solicitation requirements.
Assist PIs with specialized writing, graphics, and proposal organization (training grants, international proposals).
Collaborate with faculty and research units to translate ideas into competitive proposals.
Partner with research administration to ensure compliance and management plans meet requirements.
Develop submission guidelines based on federal agency requirements.
Partner with the limited submissions team on organizing proposal workshops and conducting long-range planning for large federal and foundation proposals.
Coordinate broader impact and outreach activities in proposals (partnering across campus units).
May Participate in Agency Review Panels.

Education and Experience: This position will be filled at the Manager level, with the minimum qualifications being a Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other qualifications include the following:

Proposal Expertise: Significant experience working with multidisciplinary teams to develop large, multi-investigator proposals for major federal agencies and foundations (NSF, NIH, etc.). Strong analytical skills to align proposals with sponsor and university goals.
Communication and Teamwork: Excellent verbal/written communication and proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Experienced proposal writing for large-scale submissions in a fast-paced funding environment.
Institutional Impact: Strong understanding of the university and a vision to build SIRO's capacity to support large-scale projects across various research disciplines.
Faculty Liaison: Ability to understand faculty needs and develop relevant solutions within tight deadlines.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

Apply online at https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Staff/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Associate-Director---Proposal-Development_REQ_0000055439-1

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Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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