Manager Research Proposal Development

• Will this position have direct reports? :No
• Salary :TBD

About ETS: ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners worldwide to be future-ready. For more than 75 years, we've been advancing the science of measurement to build benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment across cultures and borders. Our worldwide impact extends through our renowned assessments including TOEFL®, TOEIC®, GRE® and Praxis® tests, serving millions of learners in more than 200 countries and territories.

Through strategic acquisitions, we've expanded our global capabilities: PSI strengthens our workforce assessment solutions, while Edusoft, Kira Talent, Pipplet, Vericant, and Wheebox enhance our educational technology and assessment platforms across critical markets worldwide.

Through ETS Research Institute and ETS Solutions, we're partnering with educational institutions, governments, and organizations globally to promote skill proficiency, empower upward mobility, and unlock opportunities for everyone, everywhere. With offices and partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, we deliver nearly 50 million tests annually. Join us in our journey of measuring progress to power human progress worldwide.

ETS Research Institute is the research and social impact arm of ETS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science of measurement and education and expanding opportunity for learners worldwide. The Institute conducts rigorous research, develops evidence-based solutions, and partners with philanthropy, government, education, and industry to translate research into practice and measurable impact.

These roles support the Institute’s mission by helping secure and steward external funding, build strategic partnerships, strengthen research infrastructure, and expand the reach and impact of ETS research.

The Manager, Research Proposal Development leads proposal development and pipeline management for ETS Strategic Research Alliances, primarily supporting the Research Institute, but also initiatives across ETS, in securing external funding to advance its research mission and strategic priorities. The Manager coordinates a high-volume portfolio of federal, foundation, corporate, and other institutional funding opportunities and works closely with researchers and organizational leaders to translate research priorities into compelling, fundable initiatives.

The individual will bring a strong understanding of federal and philanthropic funding programs, including funder missions, priorities, program structures, and review processes, and use this knowledge to strengthen ETS’s competitiveness and build meaningful relationships with funding partners. Responsibilities include identifying and assessing funding opportunities; managing proposal development timelines; supporting proposal narratives and developing budgets; ensuring compliance with funder requirements; and tracking proposal outcomes and funded work.

The Manager reports to the Associate Vice President of Strategic Research Alliances and works closely with colleagues across the Research Institute and ETS. This is a pre-award role responsible for supporting opportunities from early funding intelligence and pre‑RFP planning through proposal development, submission, and award transition. The position coordinates closely with Finance and other post award functions to ensure a smooth handoff offering award.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Funding and Funder Engagement

• Serve as a strategic advisor to researchers and leaders on funder engagement, funding strategy, proposal positioning, and regulatory requirements, with particular expertise in NSF, IES, other federal agencies, private…