ATSU - Associate Director, Sponsored Research & Program Development

ATSU - Associate Director, Sponsored Research & Program Development

• Meet with deans, administrators, faculty, and stakeholders to help develop strategic ideas/priorities for securing sponsored research
• Lead, develop, and mentor junior to mid-career research faculty University-wide to design their longitudinal research agendas/goals and better compete for/win extramural SP grant funding for clinical, educational, or basic science research.
• Serve as ATSU's NIH technical and mechanistic expert/mentor, enabling novice faculty researchers to develop more competitive research proposals at ATSU and with collaborating institutions/investigators around the country.
• Construct/deliver professional faculty development training/videos/programs to leverage more extramural research grants.
• On-site delivery of faculty development offerings occasionally requires travel between campuses.
• Research, analyze, and recommend funding opportunities based on institutional priorities.
• Promote and help leverage faculty transition of internally funded studies into extramurally sponsored research.
• Collaboratively handle incoming faculty requests; co-write/prepare authorized sponsored projects.
• Survey and keep abreast of industry and funder trends/standards relevant to ATSU priority areas and strategic directions.
• Represent ATSU at professional research venues (e.g., NIH regional seminars, Society of Research Administrators, National Organization of Research Development Professionals) and/or other relevant forums.
• Serve as a member of the A.T. Still Research Institute (ATSRI) administrative team.
• Facilitate assessment of SP and RD services aimed at developing and supporting faculty researchers.

• Programs or Services
  • The major responsibility of this position is to head-up/lead research pre-award support efforts, providing grantsmanship expertise to and expanding service capacity for ATSU's faculty at all campuses and programs.
  • Within ATSU's centralized SP grants environment, this individual will work in close collaboration with the joint pre-award/post award leadership team.
  • Additionally, this professional will serve as SP's liaison to Research Support personnel, including the University's biostatisticians, and the A.T. Still Research Institute.
• Other Functions
  • Problem-solve and respond to SP routine pre-award and related special requests from both internal and external audiences.
  • Convene, set agendas for, and attend SP meetings, and serve on University and related community-based committees (including the Kirksville campus IRB).
  • Represent ATSU and its SP department at relevant regional, state, and national meetings.
  • Prepare and deliver SP educational seminars, internally and externally.
  • Collaboratively generate award-winning sponsored project applications and reports on a variety of subjects, and, as assigned, work to ensure that the funded goals, objectives, and activities are implemented and assessed in a timely manner.
  • Complete mandated NIH Human Subjects and Financial Conflict of Interest trainings, sign SP confidentiality/non-disclosure forms, and complete all required ATSU employee training programs.
  • Cross-train and remain up-to-date in the use of electronic application, submission, and reporting systems (e.g., eRA Commons, grants.gov, etc.).
  • Join and represent ATSU in professional SP-related societies and associations (e.g., NIH regional seminars and Society of Research Administrators, etc.).
  • Perform other SP leadership and problem-solving duties, as assigned.
  • Manage/oversee assigned post-award grant projects (i.e., fiscal/programmatic oversight and project reporting).
  • Manage/accomplish special projects, as assigned.

• The associate director, sponsored research development will issue grant-writing assignments to fellow SP team members and faculty PIs within the context of specific applications, and collaboratively supervise those individuals in accomplishing the assigned proposal-specific tasks. This position will also assess, select, and deliver tools and resources to faculty researchers based on their customized research development (RD) needs.
  

• 4-year college degree. BS/BA or relevant combination of education and professional experience.
• Must have 3-5+ years of experience in pre- and post-award grantsmanship, and have specialty knowledge/track record in research proposal development.
• Excellent software knowledge/capability (word processing, spreadsheet, and database) as well as high proficiency in searching and conducting research via the Internet, and overseeing electronic submissions of grant reports/applications.
  
• Demonstrated and proven track record of:
  • Successfully securing and managing federal, state, and private research and service educational grant awards (e.g., from NIH, HRSA, AHRQ, SAMHSA, states, foundations, etc.).
  • Grant/technical/scientific writing, program development, proofreading, editing, and grants/project management.
  • Working in a highly productive, fast-paced, deadline-driven, and sometimes stressful environment.
  • Working for/with multiple faculty/professionals simultaneously; 4) working independently and in a team environment.
  • Managing multiple deadlines and priorities.

• Must be a conceptual, critical, innovative and creative thinker, with exceptional problem-solving skills that enable the University and its faculty researchers and PIs to gain greater success in grantsmanship (seeking, winning, and successfully managing innovative grant awards from regional, state, and national competitions).
• Outstanding and highly competitive writing, research, analytical, and document development skills.
• Sophisticated project development, deadline management, and related organizational skills.
• Excellent analytical skills to determine the needs of early-/mid-career researchers and provide customized research development tools/strategies.
• Success/experience working with faculty researchers and delivering faculty development training

• BS/BA
• College plus postgraduate studies-MS/MA or research-related doctorate preferred.
• Must have 3-5 years of experience in pre- and post-award grantsmanship, and have specialty knowledge/track record in research proposal development.
• The associate director, sponsored research development must have excellent software knowledge/capability (word processing, spreadsheet, database, powerpoint, videoconferencing, internet research, etc.)
  
• Knowledge in electronic submissions of grant reports/applications.
  
• Basic video editing to construct training materials.
  
• Additional skills using generative artificial intelligence software will be an asset.
  
• The associate director, sponsored research development must have a demonstrated and proven track record of:
  
  • Successfully securing and managing federal, state, and private research and service educational grant awards (e.g., from NIH, HRSA, AHRQ, SAMHSA, states, foundations, etc.).
    
  • Grant/technical/scientific writing, program development, proofreading, editing, and grants/project management.
    
  • Constructing and delivering faculty development training/videos/programs to leverage more extramural grant support.
    
  • Simultaneously working deeply for/with multiple faculty/professionals in developing/achieving their research development (RD) agendas.
    
  • Working independently and in a team environment.
    
  • Managing multiple priorities in a highly productive, fast-paced, deadline-driven, and sometimes stressful environment.
    

• Must be able to lead and work well in a team environment, and also individually.
• Must have exemplary ethics, integrity, and work ethic.
• Must maintain and project a professional, can-do, upbeat demeanor.
• Must be very detail-oriented, yet also see the big picture.
• Must be versatile, organized, and willing to work under pressure of deadlines on varied/diverse projects involving multiple schools, multiple degrees/programs, multiple types of funding sources, and all relevant content/programmatic areas.
• Must be able to give and receive constructive criticism from many directions.
• Must be a positive role model, team player, leader, coach, and teacher.
• Must be highly effective when dealing with faculty/individuals, yet assertive in seeking out and winning viable grant funding.
• Must be goal and outcomes-oriented.
• Must show initiative and dependability, with the ability to be assertive yet tactful.
• Must be highly resourceful, creative, and professional with ability to interact in a flexible and positive manner both within the University and externally.

• Must represent ATSU in a highly professional manner both internally and
• Must be able to give and receive constructive criticism and work closely and harmoniously with various grant/research team members, as well as faculty and
• Must be able to perform at multiple levels of responsibility as needed.
• Overtime and travel are required, during deadlines and peak times.
• The award winning SP team at ATSU has always maintained a positive return on investment (ROI), meaning the team leverages multiple times more in grants awards annually than it costs. Within the ATSU SP funding portfolio, the associate director, sponsored research development will be held accountable for preparing faculty researchers to apply for funding. ATSU's ROI on research grant proposals is one important key measure of long-term growth and success.
  

• Residential (on-campus), telecommute, or remote.

Preferred