Job Opportunity: Assistant Director, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Job Description
The Assistant Director, Research Development (Hybrid Eligible) works as part of the Research Development and Support (RDS) team in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (OVPRI). The primary focus of the position is assisting faculty and teams of faculty in the preparation and submission of complex grant proposals to federal and private foundation sponsors, with the goal of increasing external research funding for Vanderbilt University.
To be considered, candidates should include a cover letter with their application at the time of submission.
The Research Development and Support team provides development and support services to VU leadership, faculty, and program staff throughout all VU colleges and schools. The Assistant Director collaborates with the entire RDS team and the larger OVPRI team on mapping Vanderbilt University faculty research strengths to external federal and foundation opportunities and facilitating successful proposal submissions.
The RDS team strives to match the interests and priorities of federal and private foundation sponsors with Vanderbilt’s research and programmatic strengths, as well as to advance the University’s academic, research, and institutional goals through lasting partnerships with sponsors. These partnerships help develop solutions to scientific, technical, and social challenges, as well as enrich the excellence of faculty research and teaching. The RDS team focuses on federal funding opportunities, as well as non-family private foundations supporting scholarly and scientific research via a Request for Proposal (RFP) process; family foundations making a gift to VU are under the purview of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). The RDS team coordinates with DAR regarding solicitations to Family Foundations in support of research as needed.
The goal of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation is to promote Vanderbilt’s distinctive research culture, which aspires to improve the human condition through path-breaking discovery and innovation. In addition to overseeing the university’s research portfolio, the VP-RI also oversees the implementation of the university’s new future vision and trans-institutional strategies and works closely with the Provost, academic Deans, Vice Provosts, and faculty at large to advance the quality of research and scholarship university-wide. The Office develops strategies and provides services to enhance extramural support for research from all sources including corporate, foundation, federal, and philanthropic; advance a cohesive and vibrant trans-institutional research agenda; and build strategic partnerships around shared priorities in research. The VP-RI works with the Vanderbilt University Research Council in advocating for the research and scholarship missions of all disciplines at Vanderbilt.
Duties And Responsibilities
- Advise Vanderbilt leadership, faculty, and key research centers in the identification and prioritization of funding and partnership opportunities; remain abreast of university-wide priorities and interdisciplinary programs that may be pertinent to sponsors; and maintain knowledge of sponsor directions, long-term strategies, new programs, public events, and program officers.
- Assist investigators in the complex process of developing competitive proposals by providing consulting services on strategic proposal development, including high-level conceptualization to match sponsor priorities, effective team organization, red-team review, education/outreach, and/or data sharing plans, and project management for the submission process.
- Organize workshops, webinars, and outreach presentations to share RDS grant development and agency knowledge and publicize RDS services available to faculty.
- Establish relationships with early career faculty as they begin their academic career and provide information on early-career funding opportunities to help faculty navigate time-sensitive grants and awards.
- In coordination with RDS team members as needed, assist with developing strategic teams of faculty and academic leadership that cross departmental and disciplinary lines to create and pursue opportunities where trans-institutional support is available.
- In coordination with RDS team members as needed, develop a working knowledge of the university’s existing relationships with sponsors in order to utilize, leverage, and expand those relationships, as well as identify opportunities to establish ties with new prospects.
- In coordination with RDS team members as needed, plan and execute site visits, including the development of effective briefing materials for university leaders, preparation of faculty for their roles in meetings and events, and the creation of communications (such as one-pagers) for distribution to sponsors for relationship building and shaping sponsor initiatives.
- Undertake other projects, as assigned.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent experience is required.
- An advanced degree is preferred.
- A proven track record of at least four years of successful experience in a high functioning research development team is preferred.
- A proven track record of successful collaboration with a team that includes staff with both less and more experience is preferred.
- Higher education experience is strongly preferred.
- Exceptional persuasive writing and verbal communication skills are required, as is superior ability to creatively articulate the needs, interests, and accomplishments of Vanderbilt University to a wide range of audiences. The ability to convert scientific and academic writing to lay language is required.
- The ability and desire to assist in the development of center-scale, and other larger proposals working with cross-disciplinary faculty groups is required.
- Working knowledge of internal processes related to research administration and proposal submission is preferred.
- Working knowledge of the principles and current trends in federal and foundation funding is preferred.
- The ability to balance multiple priorities is required.
- Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, diplomacy, and tact in all work efforts.
- Possess creative skills that facilitate success in an environment where critical thinking and teamwork are essential.
- Reflect experience in collaborative project management, independently setting and reaching goals and gathering and organizing information.
- Project a high degree of intelligence, energy, and imagination, and have an outstanding work ethic and personal enthusiasm for the mission of Vanderbilt University, as well as a genuine commitment to the advancement of science and education.
- Value the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organizational operating principle.