Research Development Specialist

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) at the University of Colorado Boulder encourages applications for a Research Development Specialist position within the Research Strategy & Development team. The Research Development Specialist helps researchers, scholars andcreatives identify and pursue competitive external funding. Therole combines proposal strategy and development, fundingintelligence, faculty consultation, and navigation of campus resources. We are seeking an adaptable, proactive professional whobrings curiosity and initiative to a dynamic research environment, is comfortable navigating ambiguity, and can adjust priorities asfaculty needs, funding opportunities, and sponsor priorities evolve.

The Specialist monitors relevant funders and sponsor priorities within their assigned portfolio, translates trends into actionableguidance, and builds trusted relationships with faculty, academic leaders, and campus partners. The position reflects RIO’s proactiveresearch development model: combining responsive proposal support with earlier engagement, funding strategy, and coordinated campus engagement. This position supports a portfolio of academic fields and researchcommunities. The specific disciplinary portfolio will be shaped byteam needs and the successful candidate’s expertise and may span arange of fields across the sciences, engineering, and social sciences, among others.

The Specialist reports to the Senior Director for Research Development, does not have supervisory responsibilities, and collaborates closely with colleagues acrossRIO and campus. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, the Research &Innovation Office (RIO) is dedicated to creating global impact by cultivating collaboration, transformation, and leadership across the research enterprise. At the heart of this focus are the various contributions of a wide range of world-class experts, working together in new and innovative ways to accelerate ideas through theentire innovation lifecycle, from idea to impact.

The Research Development team plays a critical role in this mission by helping faculty identify emerging opportunities, build collaborative research programs, and compete successfully for majorexternal funding. We work at the intersection of strategy,partnership, and innovation, supporting researchers as they pursueambitious ideas that expand knowledge, address pressing challenges, and strengthen CU Boulder's position as a leading public research university.

• Advise faculty and research teams on proposal strategy fromearly concept development through submission.
• Review and strengthen proposal narratives and concept papersfor responsiveness to sponsor priorities and review criteria, with emphasis on clarity, significance, innovation, approach, outcomes,and impact.
• Develop or strengthen non-technical proposal sections and helpteams plan proposal timelines and next steps, as appropriate.
• Provide direct, constructive feedback that improvespersuasiveness, organization, and funder fit.
• Partner with RIO colleagues on large-scale, interdisciplinary,limited-submission, and other high-priority pursuits, includingeditorial support for complex proposals.
• Use and evaluate AI and other emerging tools thoughtfully, with attention to sponsor requirements, institutional…