RAO Research and Proposal Development Manager

Job Description

The Research Acceleration Office (RAO) Research and Proposal Development Manager position provides strategic Research Development (RD) guidance and project management skills to assist the CSU research community through broad RD activities, including complex and strategic proposal development efforts, limited submission proposal activities, and interdisciplinary or strategic research initiatives. This position focuses on strategic approaches to strengthen proposals, connect collaborators, and empower faculty, with primary responsibilities including: facilitating research team interactions and progress for large, complex and strategic proposal efforts; identifying funding sources and solicitations; building and organizing research teams and external partners, including industry, municipal, and community partners, to target such funding; analyzing and gauging internal faculty interest and paths for collaboration; synthesizing research concepts to develop competitive proposals; and engaging with agency sponsors. Assistance will also be expected in the development and coordination of interdisciplinary or strategic initiatives. This position will be supported through the Office of the Vice President for Research and will report to the RAO Director.

For full consideration, please apply by Monday, November 23, 2026, 11:59 PM (MT). This position will remain open until filled.

Essential Job Duties:

• •Provide highly developed knowledge and expertise to faculty and research teams for complex and strategic proposal development support, which may include: analyzing and interpreting sponsor guidelines and making recommendations to ensure fit, competitiveness, and compliance with sponsor requirements; creating, editing, and managing content for proposal documents including project descriptions, personnel documents, management plans, and budgets; coordinating letters of support and collaboration; coordinating sub-recipient communications; organizing and managing pink/red team evaluations and assessments; managing institutional support needs; coordinating submission of application packages; facilitating partner support and evidence of buy-in.
• •Provide project management for large complex and strategic proposal development efforts, including: organizing proposal team meetings; creating and managing virtual shared workspaces; developing and adhering to proposal development schedules; and monitoring proposal development performance.
• •Develop a working knowledge of Colorado State University’s research expertise and capabilities in order to identify and facilitate connections for collaboration and partnership.
• •Serve as a liaison to and develop relationships with potential proposal collaborators, partners, and stakeholders, both internal and external to the university, in preparation for proposal development, to include working closely with other colleagues in RAO and other university offices/departments/colleges to ensure information sharing and optimal support.
• •Analyze and identify faculty research interests and strengths to facilitate interdisciplinary teams and assist PIs with appropriate funding source identification, including maintaining familiarity with sponsor trends.
• •Research and analyze sources for external funding and build strong relationships with federal funding agencies.
• •Assist in the coordination of new and ongoing interdisciplinary strategic research programs/initiatives by facilitating working groups in anticipation of emerging areas of investment.

Participate in development and delivery of training workshops related to research/proposal development.

Conditions of Employment:

Must have authorization to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Minimum Qualifications:

• •Bachelor’s Degree.
• •3 years of experience in research development roles, including proposal development, proposal writing, research administration, project management, business development, or a closely related field.
• •Experience managing and supporting the strategic development of successful complex proposals.
• •Demonstrated ability to understand and explain complex proposal requirements and associated strategy to increase competitiveness.
• •Familiarity with various sponsoring agencies and submission systems.
• •Experience with supporting team science proposal development, including working with teams to develop complex multi-investigator proposals to one or more major federal agencies.
• •Experience developing and implementing research development strategic initiatives and support programs.
• •Demonstrated experience with relationship-building and/or partnership-building between diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, investigators, partnering organizations, and sponsoring agencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• •Advanced degree, preferably in STEM disciplines.
• •5 years of experience in research development roles, including proposal development, proposal writing, research administration, project management, business development, or a closely related field.
• •Professional experience in an academic environment.
• •Familiarity with and/or participation in professional organizations or other networks for research development, research administration, and/or team science.
• •Demonstrated experience facilitating the identification and building of interdisciplinary teams, including external partners or stakeholders.
• •Experience with technical writing.
• •Experience with data analytics, including use of related software/tools, for competitive intelligence.
• •Experience developing projects with high detail and strict deadlines.
• •Experience in roles with significant independence and responsibility.

Additional Information:

In your cover letter, please address specific experience in a research development office and alignment to required qualifications.

This position is a 12-month full-time appointment, based in Fort Collins, and is expected to be onsite/in-person, with potential for hybrid work depending on the experience of the candidate. The VPR Office supports flexible work arrangements for employees, including limited teleworking privileges. Read more here: https://pts.colostate.edu/employee/telecommuting/ .

Salary Range

$85,000 - $105,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in t