"Research Development Officer"

This position serves a leading role in helping position the University to win transformative awards from government and nonprofit funders that help it address complex societal challenges and achieve breakthrough scientific and technological discoveries. This position will be an employee and team member of the Research Development office, a unit within the Research and Innovation Office (RIO), and will support the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) campus at 25% effort assignment and the University’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at 50% effort assignment. The employee will maintain a presence (in person with remote options) at the NRRI-Hermantown facility 2-3 days per week with occasional travel to the NRRI-Coleraine facility; remaining time will be assigned to the UMD campus. The position will deliver research development services to faculty, research professionals, and staff at UMD and NRRI and bridge to the broader Research Development office team as needed to support large-scale proposals and initiatives. In addition, the position may support Research Development office work on other system campuses as needed.

To accomplish these duties, this position will:

• 20% Lead efforts to identify and evaluate potential research funding and partnership opportunities that meet UMN’s mission and NRRI’s state charter. This includes performing horizon scanning and qualitative and quantitative analysis that generates strategic intelligence on opportunities, funder needs and priorities, and on competitors and their capabilities. Use expertise and own judgment to determine which opportunities to bring forward to leadership and stakeholders for consideration. Create reports, trend forecasts, and other analysis products that provide actionable insight for leadership and stakeholders regarding research funding and partnership opportunities.
• 40% Design and implement strategy—independently or in consultation with faculty, research professionals, and other partners as necessary—to position the University to secure major opportunities as they arise. In addition, design, set strategy, and manage the processes to create winning proposals in response to active solicitations in collaboration with faculty, research professionals, and partners as appropriate, including helping determine proposed project design and scope. This will include working within the NRRI organization and management systems (External Affairs, Partnership Development, Operations) to provide project management and integrated team support to meet proposal needs.
• 10% Provide consultation and training, including to junior faculty, new research professionals, and other investigators and college grant administrators on 1) research program strategic planning and development and 2) proposal submission strategies and tactics.
• 20% Review and edit proposals, including narratives and supporting materials, for effective impact on funders and proposal reviewers. Consult on proposal budget development.
• 10% Leverage NRRI resources and systems to build relationships with faculty, research professionals, and leaders of UMN research resources and with potential partners at other universities, NGOs, companies, and other entities to facilitate the rapid identification and creation of teams that can mount a highly competitive response to funder solicitations. Connect faculty, research professionals, and staff across all campuses as necessary to advance UMN work.

Required Qualifications: BA/BS and at least 6 years of experience

About University of Minnesota Duluth: The University of Minnesota Duluth integrates liberal education, research, creative activity, and public engagement and prepares students to thrive as lifelong learners and globally engaged citizens.