Job Summary

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) seeks a Strategic Proposals Manager to operationalize RIO’s Strategic Proposals program, supporting complex, large-scale funding opportunities that require coordinated effort across multiple units, partners, and collaborators.

This position serves as a senior individual contributor within a collaborative research development team, operating with a high degree of independence while partnering closely with faculty, RIO colleagues, and campus partners to align resources, build competitive teams, and navigate the complexities of proposal development in a decentralized research environment.

Under the Senior Director for Research Development’s direction, the Strategic Proposals Manager is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic proposals from early-stage concept through submission. This includes supporting the development of early-stage ideas by facilitating structure and alignment with sponsor priorities, as well as managing the full proposal production process, including planning, coordination, document development, and submission preparation.

Who We Are

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) is the central point for support and advocacy for CU Boulder’s world-class scholarship, creative work, and growing research enterprise.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Strategic Proposal Development & Production — Lead the development and production of complex, high-impact proposal efforts designated as Strategic Proposals.
• Strategic Proposal Pipeline Development & Management — Support the development and management of RIO’s Strategic Proposal pipeline.
• Program Development & Continuous Improvement — Support the ongoing refinement, assessment, and continuous improvement of the Strategic Proposals program.

What You Should Know

• This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of three days on campus.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $92,000-$110,000. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in research development, proposal development, or a closely related field

What You Will Need

• Ability to bring structure to early-stage, evolving ideas and move them toward actionable plans
• Strong project management and organizational skills

What We Would Like You to Have

• Advanced degree (e.g., Master’s, PhD) or equivalent professional experience
• Experience leading end-to-end proposal development from early-stage concept through submission