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RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE SR

Job Title: RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE SR
Job Code: 1313
FLSA: E
Job Level: 14
Revised Date: 05/01/2022
Job Family: JF 28

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Occupational Summary

Working in the School of Medicine's Office of Research Development, this individual will be responsible for the following activities: Facilitate identification and development of appropriate faculty investigators to pursue external funding opportunities identified by faculty or by the incumbent; Oversee and support the development of individual and/or complex funding proposals through effective interactions with all involved parties and by providing proposal management, proposal editing and/or writing integration service, and program and budget development support. A Research Development Senior (RDA Sr.), with minimal direct oversight, facilitates and leads complex grant applications. These grants typically involve a minimum of four faculty investigators, and multiple projects and/or cores. The timelines for complex grant development is often 3 months or less until the submission deadline, and thus the RDA Sr. operates at a high level under considerable deadline pressure. The RDA Sr. will typically lead development of multiple complex grant applications per year as well as facilitate a number of individual, less complex (led by single investigator) grants in a given year. The RDA Sr. provides comprehensive guidance to faculty and other personnel during the planning and decision making for the application. They provide a high impact level of mentorship/expertise to faculty and other personnel as well as integrated knowledge in project management, science, scientific communication/editing, sponsors requirements, Duke requirements and resources, reviewer preferences, etc. The RDA Sr. can act as a subject matter expert on complex grants and can guide Research Development Associates in facilitating and submitting basic and complex grants.

Work Performed

Through existing mechanisms as well as research and communications with possible sponsors, identify funding opportunities from federal and non federal sources that capitalize on existing strengths and expertise.

Identify Duke faculty to lead and/or collaborate on proposals, facilitate development of appropriate teams of faculty investigators to pursue these opportunities, and independently guide investigators and teams to submission of competitive applications.

Manage and coordinate the proposal development process, working with individuals at various levels across the organization to ensure successful integration of all parts and full compliance with all funding solicitation and sponsor requirements.

Edit proposals and write or provide writing support for non scientific/technical sections for complex and individual grant applications; provide comprehensive editorial review of all sections; and independently advise investigators on proposal strategy, content, and organization.

Provide drafts and/or templates of non-scientific sections, such as education and outreach, administrative/management plans, etc.

Identify and align effort with broader SOM initiatives in research to proactively develop resources for faculty and other research staff; contribute to updates and maintenance of institutional resource template materials.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training

Bachelor's degree in English, communications, business or a related field with demonstration of understanding of and familiarity with a broad range of science or technical subject matter. Advanced degree in science is highly desirable.

Experience

Five years of experience working with relevant extramural grants and contracts in an academic setting, with such experience to include at least 2 years of significant editing and advising responsibilities regarding scientific and administrative components.

Skills

Ability to organize, analyze and interpret complex scientific, medical or technical data is required; proven ability to make complex information understandable to a broad range of audiences is desirable.

Must be able to write clearly and concisely.

Must possess excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills and be able to effectively interact with individuals at all levels in the organization.

Must be able to balance the needs of multiple projects simultaneously in a fast paced, often deadline driven environment where priorities change in response to external needs and opportunities.

Must be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and to shift roles as circumstances require.


The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.


Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.


Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.