Coordinator of Organized Research

Please note: All postings close at 12 A.M. CST on the closing date. A-State participates in E-Verify.

Position Summary:

The Executive Director for Research Development (EDRD) serves a critical and multi-faceted role in Research and Technology Transfer (RTT). The EDRD is the lead research development liaison with faculty members, collaborating with them on finding appropriate grant solicitations, helping to develop proposal documents, developing and maintaining institutional data and boilerplate documents housed in RTT, and working closely with Advancement and their foundation staff on foundation-sponsored research awards. The EDRD supervises a growing team of pre-award staff including the Director for Proposal Development, the Director of Contracts and Agreements, and the Director for Student Research, among others. Qualified candidates will possess exemplary professionalism, excellent verbal and written communication skills, computer skills, a high level of organization, and will have a demonstrated track record of successful collaborative work with diverse team members. Knowledge of the academic research enterprise is key.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identify funding opportunities for sponsored research and creative activities in line with investigator and institutional priorities
• Develop and implement sponsored research training for faculty and staff, including specialized training for particular colleges and departments or faculty members at different career stages
• Provide research development opportunities by partnering with outside entities such as Grants Resource Center and other consultants to develop specialized grant writing and funding opportunity training for investigators
• Work with individual faculty in strategic areas and junior faculty in developing responses to specific calls, as well as help in drafting nontechnical proposal sections
• Provide assistance, guidance, and counsel during development, pre-submission, and administrative review to investigators
• Prepare proposals and grant applications, including analyzing narratives, budgets, and all sponsor-required ancillary documents for grant submission compliance with sponsor specifications
• Edit investigators’ draft proposals for writing quality and alignment with agency requirements
• Apply advanced knowledge of sponsor agency and institution policies and procedures to proposal reviews
• Oversee internal approval routing and submission of entire application packets in accordance with institutional and sponsor requirements and deadlines
• Track submissions and awards utilizing internal systems
• Collaborate with the Director of Research Compliance to ensure all appropriate IRB, IACUC, IBC, and other federal, state, and institutional compliance policies are followed in proposal submissions
• Collaborate with the Director of Technology Transfer to identify opportunities for intellectual property protection and commercialization potential based on faculty proposal submissions and knowledge of faculty research priorities
• Collaborate with Sponsored Programs Accounting to ensure effective transition from pre-award to post-award services
• Monitor and analyze developments in research administration from federal, state, private, industry and institutional policies and communicate it with faculty and staff as appropriate
• Develop and oversee collaborative relationships with University Advancement to enhance research opportunities for PIs and ensure successful joint proposal initiatives
• Maintain current and accurate submission and award information in internal databases
• Serve as a liaison to funding agencies or organizations and engage with agency program officers as needed
• Develop and contribute to additional initiatives as assigned, including writing articles and organizing research events
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Research and Technology Transfer at A-State is a fast-paced, exciting workplace focused on research, innovation, and discovery. As a result, we need employees who 1) are honest, 2) have a positive attitude, 3) work hard, 4) are professional, and 5) are enthusiastic about problem-solving.

We seek a detail-oriented leader who has developed decision-making skills, works well independently and on a team, can delegate responsibilities to team members, works well under deadlines, follows through on projects, has developed excellent verbal and written communication skills, and has cultural competency.

Successful candidates will have strong computer skills in a variety of software programs.

Knowledge of the academic research enterprise is key. We seek a candidate with demonstrated experience with grant proposal development, positive and effective interactions with grant sponsor agencies, and the ability to manage a diverse staff in a work environment where everyone thrives.

General Days/Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Additional hours as requested or needed
Regular and reliable attendance

Other:

Please note: all position postings close at 12:00 A.M. CDT on the position closing date; in other words, make sure your application is submitted by 11:59pm the day before the closing date.

Arkansas State University is a comprehensive, public research institution that is classified as a doctoral university with high research activity (R2). Research and Technology Transfer supports faculty, students, and staff in pre-award grant proposal development, execution of contracts and agreements for sponsored research and creative endeavors, intellectual property protections for invention and commercialization, and research compliance for the entire university. Jonesboro is a community of 80,000 people located in Northeast Arkansas, amid the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Crowley’s Ridge ecoregions. We are an hour away from Memphis, Tennessee, and the Ozark Highlands. Jonesboro boasts a regional center for quality healthcare, a variety of dining and entertainment options, a low cost of living, and plenty of recreational opportunities.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three references. For any questions, feel free to reach out directly to the Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Discovery, Dr. Travis Marsico at tmarsico@astate.edu.

Minimum Qualifications:

An earned Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field

Experience in proposal development, pre-award research administration, prospecting for research funding, grant writing, and/or reading and interpreting grant solicitations

Experience managing and leading a staff

An earned Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation or willingness to obtain CRA designation