Proposal Development Specialist

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

JOB FUNCTION

Howard University’s Office of Research is seeking a Proposal Development Specialist as part of the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) team. The Specialist will provide proposal development support to faculty and research team pursuing external funding. The Specialist will also work across Howard’s research enterprise to help investigators transform promising ideas into clear, compelling, sponsor-responsive proposals and build sustainable funding strategies.

This role is well suited for a research development professional, research administrator, or proposal writer who enjoys working across disciplines, engaging directly with faculty, and helping teams communicate the significance and impact of their work. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to proposal development across a broad portfolio of federal and non-federal sponsors while helping strengthen grantsmanship capacity within a dynamic R1 research environment.

NATURE AND SCOPE

• Serve as a dedicated proposal development contact for an assigned portfolio of schools/colleges, supporting multiple concurrent engagements against sponsor deadlines.
• Analyze funding opportunities, sponsor priorities, review criteria, and relevant prior awards to help investigators assess fit and position proposals competitively.
• Consult with faculty from early concept development through proposal refinement, helping translate research ideas into compelling, sponsor-responsive applications.
• Provide writing, editing, and organizational support for proposal narratives and non-technical proposal components, including project summaries, management plans, mentoring plans, sustainability plans, education and outreach components, data management plans, budget justifications, and interdisciplinary narratives that integrate contributions across disciplines.
• Develop outlines, writing plans, templates, checklists, and guidance that help investigators organize strong applications and respond fully to sponsor requirements.
• Review proposal drafts for clarity, organization, consistency, responsiveness to review criteria, and alignment with sponsor expectations, while preserving the author's scholarly voice and technical ownership.
• Support investigators in developing resubmission strategy, including interpretation of reviewer feedback and development of responsive revision plans.
• Build sustained working relationships with faculty and researchers and provide individualized consultation on funding mechanisms, proposal readiness, and funding strategy.
• Identify and share targeted funding opportunities aligned with faculty research interests and goals.
• Help faculty identify collaborators, institutional resources, and expertise needed to strengthen proposed projects and research teams, and support early-career and established investigators in building competitive external funding portfolios.
• Facilitate proposal kickoff meetings, concept-development sessions, and writing meetings, and support multidisciplinary and multi-investigator teams through early-stage planning, team organization, and clarification of project goals, investigator roles, and proposal requirements.
• Contribute to and help deliver workshops, webinars, resources, and other faculty development activities focused on grantsmanship and proposal competitiveness.
• Contribute to RDI programs such as the Proposal Development Institute, Research Grants Academy, sponsor information sessions, and other faculty-facing initiatives, including sessions and campus visits involving funding agency representatives.
• Contribute to and maintain reusable proposal development resources, templates, guides, and FAQs, and to unit-level funding opportunity briefings and limited-submission announcements.
• Collaborate closely with Research Development colleagues, College Research Administrators, schools/colleges, and Sponsored Programs/Pre-Award staff to provide coordinated service to investigators.
• Support structured internal peer review and provide proposal development support to faculty applicants in intramural funding programs and limited-submission competitions.
• Maintain current knowledge of proposal preparation requirements and funding trends across federal, foundation, and other sponsors relevant to the assigned portfolio.
• Maintain records of faculty engagements in designated systems and track submission activity and funding outcomes for the assigned portfolio, preparing periodic activity and outcome reports.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide high-quality, timely, and faculty-centered proposal development support for an assigned portfolio while handling multiple concurrent engagements and sponsor deadlines.
• Work collaboratively across Research Development, schools/colleges, Sponsored Programs/Pre-Award, and other Office of Research units to support clear roles, effective handoffs, and coordinated service to investigators.
• Apply sponsor guidance, review criteria, and research development best practices to strengthen the competitiveness and responsiveness of proposals.
• Support the integration of all proposal components and help confirm that assigned proposals are complete and responsive to sponsor solicitation requirements in advance of institutional review and submission by Sponsored Programs/Pre-Award.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling pre-submission concepts, proposal materials, reviewer feedback, and other sensitive information.
• Contribute to an RDI culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and commitment to faculty and institutional research success.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex research concepts for varied audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex sponsor requirements and identify implications for proposal strategy.
• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to engage effectively with research across multiple disciplines.
• Strong consultation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility with faculty, researchers, and research teams.
• Ability to provide constructive, tactful, and actionable feedback on proposal concepts and written materials.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple concurrent proposal engagements and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team-based research development environment.
• Ability to build consensus and work effectively across academic and administrative boundaries without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong service orientation and commitment to faculty success, research competitiveness, and institutional research growth.
• Sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and attention to detail in handling confidential proposal and institutional information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative document platforms, and the ability to learn and effectively use funding databases, sponsor systems, and institutional research administration tools.

WHY JOIN HOWARD

Howard University offers the opportunity to work within a broad, interdisciplinary research enterprise and to contribute directly to faculty success and institutional research growth. The Proposal Development Specialist will engage with investigators across disciplines, build relationships throughout the University, and help strengthen the competitiveness and impact of externally funded research and sponsored programs.

Howard University offers a comprehensive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative environment committed to excellence in research, education, and service.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• At least three years of progressively responsible experience in research development, proposal development, grant writing, research administration, scientific or technical writing, sponsored programs, or a related field, including experience with federally sponsored programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, editing, reviewing, or coordinating federally funded proposals, other externally funded proposals, or complex professional, scientific, or technical documents.
• Ability to interpret funding announcements and translate sponsor requirements into clear guidance and actionable proposal development plans.
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty, researchers, technical professionals, or other subject-matter experts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree, PhD, or other advanced degree.
• Experience in a research-intensive university, academic medical center, federal funding agency, foundation, national laboratory, research institute, or similar research environment.
• Experience supporting proposals across multiple federal agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, NASA, HRSA, USDA, NEH, IES), as well as foundation, industry, or state sponsors.
• Experience supporting interdisciplinary, multi-investigator, training, instrumentation, or other complex proposal mechanisms.
• Experience providing substantive proposal editing, grantsmanship coaching, faculty consultation, or training.
• Familiarity with funding databases and proposal/research administration systems such as Pivot, InfoReady, Grants.gov, Research.gov, eRA Commons, or institutional electronic research administration and routing systems such as Cayuse.

COMPLIANCE SALARY RANGE DISCLOSURE

• Department: Office of Research / Research Development and Innovation
• Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt
• Location: Howard University, Washington, DC
• Expected Pay Range: $72,727 - $80,000

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure