Proposal Development Specialist

Job Description

The Proposal Development Specialist will collaborate with facultyin the College of Science (COS), Virginia Tech, and external partners to support proposal writing from the identification of opportunities through development and submission. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Research, this individual will work with stakeholders to support competitive federal research proposals,training grants, instrumentation proposals, and center-scalesubmissions, as well as proposals to foundations, industry, andstate and local sponsors.

The Specialist's role is to assist with communication,organization, coordination, and compliance with sponsorrequirements. The Specialist works closely with the College'spre-award and post-award grants administrators, who handle budgetpreparation, financial compliance, and award management, and supports COS-affiliated research centers and institutes in pursuitof external funding opportunities.

This work includes preparation of non-technical proposal documents(project summaries, facilities and resources, data managementplans, mentoring plans, management plans), identifying and analyzing funding opportunities, coordinating and facilitating thework of proposal writing teams, and developing and offeringtraining sessions to enhance proposal-writing capacity across COS.The Specialist will partner with stakeholders to prepare and managea consistent, year-round pipeline of letters of intent, proposals,presentations, briefings, and progress/impact reports to local,state, federal, corporate, and foundation funding sources.

This position requires strong writing and oral communication skills, critical thinking and analytic skills, and a high degree of competence and organization. The successful candidate must manage multiple priorities and deadlines, work independently as well as collaboratively, and operate with discretion around confidentialpre-submission materials.

• Bachelor's degree in a science, engineering, communications,English, technical writing, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in research administration, grant writing, scientific editing, or a closely related field.
• Experience writing, editing, or supporting externally fundedproposals, research publications, or comparable technical documents.
• Demonstrated record of strong writing and editing skills, withthe ability to engage with scientific content and communicate itclearly to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, function well underthe pressure of deadlines, and manage multiple, diverse projects simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, administrators, grantsadministrators, and external partners.
• Proficiency with standard office software, including Microsoft Office and collaborative document platforms.

• Graduate degree in a science, engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience with federal, foundation, or corporate grant writing,particularly in the natural or physical sciences, mathematics, or computing.
• Direct familiarity with NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, NASA, or DARPAproposal requirements and sponsor systems (e.g., Research.gov,Grants.gov, eRA Commons, PAMS).
• Experience supporting center-scale proposals, Limited Submissions, or institutional proposal reviews at a research university or national laboratory.
• Familiarity with the division of responsibilities betweenproposal development, pre-award administration, and post-awardadministration in a university setting.
• Experience with web-based research tools and funding opportunitydatabases (e.g., Pivot, Grant Forward, SPIN, Info Ready).

5

Exempt:
Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

Starting at $75,000 commensurate with experience

Exempt position: 40 hours scheduled and as needed

August 24, 2026

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking ahands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to beleaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout theworld, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College .

The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sitesin Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes . A leading global research…