Research Development Officer

Abilene Christian University is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian Mission of ACU.

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The Division of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities at Abilene Christian University seeks a Research Development Officer (RDO). The RDO is responsible for working directly with faculty and staff across ACU campuses in both Abilene and Dallas, TX to promote research, scholarship, and creative activities. The RDO identifies and advances strategic external funding opportunities aligned with the university’s research priorities and mission. This position requires a high-level of independence, strategic thinking, and the ability to work across disciplines and organizational levels.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Proposal Development (50%)

• Work closely with faculty to develop competitive external funding proposals

• Analyze funding opportunity announcements and identify alignment with faculty expertise

• Translate research and program concepts into compelling proposal narratives

• Consult with faculty and staff in proposal preparation and strategy

• Draft and edit non-technical sections of proposals as appropriate

• Coordinate resources and personnel to support proposal development

• Develop project timelines; manage complex, multi-PI proposal development processes

• Edit, critique, and strengthen proposal drafts for competitiveness

• Review unfunded proposals and support resubmission strategies

2. Faculty Development (10%)

• Promote and support faculty applications to prestigious and highly prestigious fellowships, awards, and honors

• Provide individualized guidance to enhance faculty competitiveness and research trajectories

3. Support Strategic Growth (20%)

• Support the Vice President for Research in developing and implementing strategic research initiatives

• Develop and advance research programs aligned with institutional priorities

• Facilitate transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research collaborations

• Identify and cultivate strategic external partnerships

• Advise faculty on strategies to strengthen competitiveness for external funding

4. Maintain Knowledge of Sponsor Requirements (10%)

• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state sponsor regulations, policies, and trends

• Monitor changes in sponsor priorities and compliance expectations

• Apply best practices in research development and proposal strategy

5. Professional Development & Training (10%)

• Design and deliver workshops, seminars, and training related to proposal development and funding opportunities

• Promote interdisciplinary research through targeted programming

• Collaborate across university offices to support integrated proposal development

6. Other Duties as Assigned (

• Perform additional duties in support of the Division’s mission

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree

• Three (3) years of related experience working with relevant extramural grants and/or contracts, including successful submission of extramural grants and/or contracts, to include at least 2 years of significant editing and advising responsibilities regarding scientific and administrative components.

• Successful track record of garnering funding from proposals to one or more federal agencies.

• Ability to organize, analyze, and interpret complex scientific or technical data, including the ability to translate difficult technical information into language suitable for target audience(s).

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree and one (1) year of experience working with relevant extramural grants and contracts, to include experience with significant editing and advising responsibilities regarding scientific and administrative components.

• Experience in higher education environments

• Experience in conducting research or other scholarly works as the Principal Investigator/Project Director

• Extensive experience in supporting large, complex, or multi-institutional proposals

• Experience with grant funding platforms, such as Pivot-RP or GrantForward

• Experience with proposal management tools

• Experience in using academic business intelligence tools such as Academic Analytics

• Experience in Adobe Suite

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.