New

Research Development Professional

University of Georgia

retirement plan

United States, Georgia, Athens

May 01, 2026

Posting Details

Posting Number	S15096P
Working Title	Research Development Professional
Department	VPR-Strategic Rsch Dev
About the University of Georgia	Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About the College/Unit/Department
College/Unit/Department website
Posting Type	External
Retirement Plan	TRS or ORP
Employment Type	Employee
Benefits Eligibility	Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time	Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information	Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Advertised Salary	Commensurate with Experience
Posting Date	05/01/2026
Open until filled	Yes
Closing Date
Proposed Starting Date	06/01/2026
Special Instructions to Applicants	Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.
Location of Vacancy	Athens Area
EEO Policy Statement	The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement	The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Position Information

Classification Title	Grants Writer III
FLSA	Exempt
FTE	1.00
Minimum Qualifications	Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience
Preferred Qualifications	Experience editing scientific/academic writing Ability to provide constructive feedback and guidance to academic faculty Strong critical thinking and data analysis skills Broad lay knowledge of academic research Experience managing the proposal preparation process for large grant/contract proposals, including budget development Experience using Grants.gov, Research.gov, and other grant submission platforms Experience using institutional system-to-system grant submission systems Experience managing limited submissions for an academic institution Proficiency with industry standard graphic design software such as Illustrator, Canva, and InDesign Experience co-developing graphics with researchers
Position Summary	The Office of Research is seeking a dynamic individual for the role of Research Development Professional. Under the direction of the Director of the Oce of Strategic Research Development ( OSRD), you will perform professional-level research development duties related to increasing the extramural funding portfolios of individual faculty, faculty teams, and the University at large in close collaboration with other research development and research administration professionals on campus. This position involves working independently, solving complex, non-standard problems; leading teams of academic faculty; conducting research and data analysis; and writing, editing, and proofreading.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies	Knowledge of the methods, procedures, and systems used in grant and contract preparation, coordination, and implementation at an academic institution. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with university personnel, state and federal agencies, and private organizations. Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multitask. Strong customer service orientation and commitment. High level of initiative. Ability to work independently and with multiple partners and stakeholders in a deadline-oriented environment. Experience assigning tasks and monitoring progress to meet project needs and deadlines. Ability to lead as well as work as a team member with all project partners and staff. Ability to plan and implement required project responsibilities with little supervision. Ability to participate in the evaluation and analyses of existing approaches and procedures and to assist in devising new approaches. Prociency with Microsoft Oce 365, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Adobe Illustrator. Ability to quickly gain prociency with new software. Strong data management skills.
Physical Demands	Sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting up to 20 lbs. and carrying up to 20 lbs. in a standard office environment. May sit for long periods of time. Travel to meetings both on and off campus. Driving as needed to perform job duties
Is driving a responsibility of this position?	Yes
Is this a Position of Trust?	No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?	No
Does this position require a P-Card?	No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?	No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?	No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)	No
Credit and P-Card policy	Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy	Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Project Management for Large, Complex Grant Proposals

Lead faculty teams in developing large ($3M-$20M) multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary grant and contract proposals. Organize meetings, determine workflow, collect and manage documents, provide feedback on narrative pieces to improve the argument for funding.
Work independently or with other OSRD team members to develop and implement proposal development strategies. Lead proposal teams in accordance with this strategy throughout the proposal development process to ensure cohesiveness and competitiveness of proposal.
Edit grant proposal narratives for grammar, clarity, style, and impact. Synthesize writing contributions from multiple sources into cohesive narratives. Work with faculty to forcefully convey the significance, innovation, and impact of the research project.
Develop budgets and budget justifications in consultation with faculty for large ($2M-$20M) complex proposals.
Contribute to writing sections of proposal narratives and other required proposal documents as appropriate.
Coordinate closely with Sponsored Projects Administration and unit-level grant support staff to determine division of responsibilities and execute seamless workflow.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Limited Submissions

Under the direction of the Director of the Office of Strategic Research Development (OSRD), independently coordinate and administer internal competitions for limited submission grant opportunities for the University using InfoReady.
Serve as the primary point of contact for limited submissions for the University, assisting faculty, staff, students, and administration with questions about the limited submission process.
Evaluate funding opportunity announcements to determine whether they are limited and create internal competitions for limited submission opportunities to InfoReady.
Work closely with the Associate Vice President for Research for Strategic Research Growth, Associate Vice President for Research for Faculty Affairs & Campus Engagement, and the Director of the Office of Strategic Research Development to coordinate internal reviews of limited submission applications.
Stay abreast of limited submissions best practices, maintain in-depth working knowledge of InfoReady, and work with InfoReady personnel to create any needed process improvements.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Development of Extramural Funding Portfolios

Analyze funding for major grant, cooperative agreement, and contract opportunities with attention to Principal Investigator, project, and institutional characteristics of winning submissions. Collect and utilize published data from sponsor websites, federal agencies, and other sources. Map UGA assets and capabilities against this competitive intelligence.
Identify large grants and general grants suitable for UGA faculty, prepare and send weekly Large Grants email announcements, and prepare lists of general grants for including in the Office of Research's Research Insights newsletter each month.
Identify and recruit faculty and faculty teams to apply to opportunities suited to their research interests; offer project management, editorial, and/or logistical support as appropriate, in consultation with the OSRD Director.
Connect faculty to resources on campus to help strengthen their proposals.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Graphic Design

Use Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Design, Canva, and other graphics software to design and develop, in close consultation with faculty, graphics for large and complex proposals. Examples include flow charts, logic models, organizational charts, project overviews, graphical abstracts, Gantt charts, timelines, collaboration webs, and logos.
Assist faculty with revising existing figures, tables, and charts to improve layout, readability, and design.
Design and develop graphics and promotional materials for OSRD, including presentation materials, informational flyers, advertisements for OSRD programming, banners and signage for events, and OSRD performance reports and statistical graphics.
Learn new graphic design software as needed to better meet faculty needs.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities	Other Manage all OSRD data. Assist with reporting, including analyzing proposal development data. Special projects and other duties may include, but are not limited to, creating and conducting presentations, program coordination, contributing to webpage design, generating business process improvements, and attending conferences, workshops, webinars, and courses for professional development.
Percentage of time	10