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DIR, RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
Job Title: DIR, RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
Job Code: 1692
FLSA: E
Job Level: 98
Revised Date: 12/01/2023
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
The Director of Research Proposal Development is responsible for providing strategic oversight and direction to the Research Proposal Development group. This role involves identifying opportunities, proposal development, governmental compliance and relations, and managing a team. The director will also build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and support the Executive Leadership.
Work Performed
Research Proposal Development Management
Provide strategic oversight of the proposal development process including the preparation, budgeting, revision, and negotiation of proposals in compliance with all funding solicitation, sponsor, and School of Medicine requirements including:
Identifying proposal requirements and tailoring the proposal development process to address these specific needs.
Providing general direction and guidance to the group for the preparation of clear, consistent, and compelling proposals.
Ensuring all resources needed to complete the project are identified; Serving as a resource to the group in the development of non standard pricing exercises (i.e., deliverable-based contracts, etc.).
Serving as a resource to the group in negotiating the scope of work, budget, and payment schedule as applicable to ensure financial solvency.
Ensure the roles and responsibilities of all staff involved in the proposal development process are clearly defined and delineated, and that work assignments are appropriately allocated.
Facilitate efforts to develop, implement and refine tools, templates, systems, and processes (i.e., budget models, DCRI federal guidelines, application templates, etc.) in partnership with applicable stakeholders (Research Proposal Development staff, functional groups, faculty, School of Medicine partners, and sponsors).
Facilitate efforts to develop, implement, and refine standard procedures for the filing and archival of proposal information (including budgets, text, etc.) to ensure that information is maintained in a consistent manner and that the final budget and scope of work for each proposal and out of scope (OOS) is easily accessible.
Facilitate efforts to develop and report metrics to assess the effectiveness of the proposal development efforts (i.e., hit rate, etc.).
Facilitate efforts to develop, implement and refine standard procedures for the entry of information regarding new project opportunities into the Project planning and tracking system; ensure the availability of accurate information regarding the due dates of upcoming proposals and the timelines of potential projects (i.e., work start date, enrollment date, etc.); and communicate information to faculty and operations staff in a timely manner.
Compliance Oversight
Develop and maintain a relationship with the Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) office as well as the Office of Research Administration (ORA), to ensure that timely and accurate processing and submission of both pre and post award workload is conducted as needed.
This includes troubleshooting problems, developing solutions, and creating efficient processes.
Ensuring all costs are calculated in accordance with School of Medicine guidelines.
Providing oversight and guidance to faculty and staff regarding regulations, compliance, and School of Medicine requirements.
Account Management Relations
Provide high level oversight of processes associated with the preparation and coordination of strategic meetings with external funders or partners.
Serve as a resource for the group in conducing meetings involving large, complex, and high priority projects.
Provide high level guidance and direction to the group in the development of their annual strategic plans.
Oversee efforts to coordinate the development and revision of the standard slide set for use in sponsor presentations.
Represent department in sponsor negotiations, including the negotiation of budget, SOW, payment terms, cashflow, and sponsor specific rate cards.
Supporting Executive Leadership (Director and Deputy Director)
Develop strategy plans for the group to support dynamic workload requirements, new KRPs, new service offerings, etc.
Develop relationships with key leaders across and within the School of Medicine, including all domains.
Ensure the team is providing excellent support to internal customers.
Support the review of potential opportunities to ensure they meet the mission of the School of Medicine and align with strategic plan and service offerings.
Facilitate efforts to develop, implement, and refine reports summarizing new project opportunities in a manner that supports effective decision making regarding opportunity selection and capacity planning.
Facilitate organizational efforts to develop, implement, and refine standard procedures surrounding proposals and pricing development. This may include, but is not limited to:
Identifying organization wide problems, issues, and concerns regarding the proposal and budget development process and develop and implement enhancements to the process.
Developing and implementing organization-wide procedures for proposal review, approval, and sign off.
Developing organization wide standard procedures for the preparation/evaluation of RFIs, RFPs, RFAs, & PAs.
Business and Financial Management
Prepare budgetary forecasts for the group expenses (operating and capital) on an annual basis.
Ensure appropriate utilization of resources and adherence to targets.
Monitor expenditure of funds relative to budget, provide justifications for variances, and ensure that appropriate interventions are implemented.
Coordinate the development of annual financial targets of new project awards for each therapeutic area.
Ensure a proper mix of staff are on hand and trained to effectively complete all deliverables.
Track and analyze department metrics and develop learnings at least annually to ensure we are optimizing our business plan (e.g., hit rate; number of proposals won, lost, submitted, and outstanding; pricing benchmarks; industry standards, reasons for win or loss etc.).
Personnel Management
Manage and mentor Research Development staff.
Assist with career development and advancement plans.
Oversee staff recruitment, scheduling, coaching, and disciplinary actions.
Assign federal and non profit opportunities to staff equitably.
Conduct regular staff meetings and communication.
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Bachelor's Degree in business, science or other related discipline. Strongly prefer advanced degree in business administration.
Experience
Ten years of experience in clinical research, including a minimum of five years' experience in proposal development and a minimum of two years of personnel management.
Minimum of ten years of experience supporting faculty in an academic or research setting with clinical research specific opportunities is preferred.
Skills
Knowledge of applicable federal regulations related to pre and post award grant administration.
Proven ability to work effectively with researchers and to interact productively with federal and non profit funding agencies.
Ability to make complex information understandable to a broad range of audiences.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent leadership skills.
Excellent organizational, planning, prioritization, facilitation, negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Previous financial management experience.
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.
