Grant Writing Specialist - Dept; s of Student Health and Wellness, and Emergency Medicine

Overview

The Departments of Student Health & Wellness (SHW) and Emergency Medicine Research (EMED) are seeking a Grant Writing Specialist to provide administrative support for grant development and related activities for their research teams, including the Critical Incident Analysis Group (CIAG). This position may be eligible for hybrid work with remote options up to two days per week. On-site presence is required until onboarding and training are complete and the candidate can work independently.

The UVA Department of Student Health and Wellness (SHW) includes Care and Support Services (CASS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Medical Services, Well-being Services, and the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC). SHW works to promote student health and well-being, support academic and personal success, and provide high-quality, accessible care across primary health, counseling, well-being, and disability access services. The team emphasizes mentoring and training, professional excellence, and leadership and research in college health, and houses the Student Health Office of Research Excellence (SHORE).

The Critical Incident Analysis Group (CIAG) is an interdisciplinary program within the University of Virginia School of Medicine focused on systematic analysis of critical incidents, including firearm injury, suicide, violence, and other events with public health impact. CIAG conducts qualitative and quantitative research, develops intervention frameworks, collaborates with threat assessment teams, and translates findings into policy and practice recommendations across clinical, public health, and justice-involved settings.

Current CIAG initiatives include a federally funded rural Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP), collaborations with the UVA Gun Violence Solutions Project (GVSP), and a portfolio of federal grant opportunities with NIH, CDC, BJA, and DCJS.

Grant Development and Writing (60%)

• Lead the preparation of grant applications across all phases, including specific aims, research strategy, budget and budget justification, biosketches, letters of support, and all attachments for federal, state, and private foundation funding mechanisms.
• Translate scientific concepts into clear, compelling narratives tailored to sponsor priorities and review criteria.
• Develop and maintain grant timelines and submission checklists; coordinate internal deadlines with UVA Sponsored Programs (SPA), SHW leadership, and CIAG leadership.
• Conduct pre-submission reviews to ensure responsiveness to program announcements and compliance with sponsor guidelines.
• Draft and revise resubmission applications incorporating reviewer feedback, with emphasis on structured rebuttals.
• Write contract proposals, cooperative agreements, and sub-award narratives as required.

Opportunity Identification and Strategic Planning (20%)

• Monitor federal and foundation funding landscapes (e.g., NIH, CDC, HRSA, DOJ/BJA, SAMHSA, PCORI, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and others) to identify opportunities aligned with SHW and CIAG missions. The role supports both SHW (0.60) and CIAG (0.40).
• Prepare sponsor briefing summaries for SHW and CIAG leadership, analyzing funding priorities, award history, and the competitive landscape.
• Support the development of multi-year research development strategies for SHW and CIAG, fostering focused and collaborative research.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with external investigators, community organizations, and health systems to strengthen grant applications.

Post-Award Support and Reporting (10%)

• Draft progress reports, continuation applications, and no-cost extension requests for active awards.
• Assist with annual reports to funders, including narrative sections on accomplishments, outputs, and challenges.
• Assist with IRB correspondence and research protocol narratives as needed.

Administrative and Collaborative Support (10%)

• Maintain a grants calendar and pipeline tracker for all SHW and CIAG submissions and active awards.
• Coordinate with UVA's Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research, and departmental research administrators to ensure timely and…