Executive Director, Proposal Development Services (Research Development Leader)

Department

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (UA-PDS-IUBLA)

Department Information

Indiana University's (IU) Proposal Development Services team provides structured, campus-wide support to help faculty and researchers secure external funding for research projects. The team offers assistance with funding opportunity identification, proposal strategy, writing, and revision as well as access to scientific reviews and project-management assistance tailored to diverse sponsor types. PDS specialists include professionals with PhDs and pre-award expertise, balancing scientific rigor with administrative efficiency.

Job Summary

The Office for Research Development (ORD) within IU Research at IU seeks an Executive Director of Proposal Development Services (ED PDS) who will lead efforts to identify and secure significant external funding in support of university-wide and campus-wide research and academic activities. The ED PDS will serve alongside ORD's other unit leaders such as the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Executive Director of Team-Based Research Development, the Director of Research and Faculty Development, and the Director of Pre-Award Services and will report to the Assistant Vice President of Research Development Services (RDS). The Proposal Development Services team comprises more than 10 PhD-trained specialists who collaborate closely with IU faculty and academic and administrative leaders in grant seeking activities.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Establishes a vision for the PDS team that will enable the team to significantly expand and grow its activities in support of the IU 2030 Strategic Plan.
• Collaborates with peers within ORD (including RDS) as well as leaders IU Research and campus-level research offices to create and implement strategies and goals, long-term planning, and policies and procedures as defined by the Associate Vice President for Research Development.
• In addition to serving proposal development on all level of grants, collaborates with ORD's Team-based Research Development unit for large, complex research center and support programs and initiatives.
• Leverages campus, state, and federal data to inform short- and long-term planning and implementation of research development activities.
• Leads the Proposal Development Services (PDS) team
• Provides direct supervision, mentorship, and performance oversight for a team of 11 proposal development specialists, providing clear expectations and regular performance feedback.
• Assesses and manages strengths and bandwidth of team members, ensuring an optimized workflow and opportunities for all team members to contribute meaningfully, advising and guiding staff in faculty outreach and grant seeking strategies.
• Works alongside team members on selected proposals when a leadership voice is needed.
• Maintains a small portfolio of projects.
• Provides strategic leadership to secure funding for faculty-driven research initiatives
• Works with other leaders within ORD (including the Assistant Vice President for Arts and Humanities, the Executive Directors of Team-Based Research Development and Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Directors of Research and Faculty Development and Pre-Award) and IU Research (e.g., Associate Vice Presidents for Research at IU Bloomington and IU Indianapolis and Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs at the IU School of Medicine) to develop competitive strategies for major federal, foundation, and industry funding initiatives.
• Partners with ORD leaders to identify opportunities aligned with IU expertise and provide proactive support to researchers.
• Contributes services from PDS staff, including strategic planning, partner engagement, proposal preparation, and broader impacts planning for large-scale funding applications.
• Identifies, tracks, and disseminates information on emerging research trends and federal and other sponsors' funding opportunities.
• Contribute to IU Research faculty education and training initiatives and lead continuous improvement for the PDS team
• In collaboration with ORD's Director of Research and Faculty Development and other colleagues, develops regular programming for faculty seeking funding support.
• Collects and reviews existing processes and protocols for PDS team at IU.
• Develops strategic plan for maintaining high standards of excellence for proposal development support across PDS staff.
• Engages in continuous improvement, changing process or addressing staffing concerns as issues arise.

General Responsibilities

• Provides high level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define research development approaches, processes, and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority and executive research development projects/initiatives.
• Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase research development initiatives.
• Oversees the development of new strategies in order to pursue external funding across all areas of research and scholarly activity.
• Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
• Collaborates with and serves on senior leadership teams and multi-discipline, multi-campus advisory groups.
• Manages high level assignments and allocation of technical resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams.
• Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
• Researches and works collaboratively with senior leaders, research compliance, and other stakeholders in recommending development standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in related field)

Preferred

• Master's degree
• Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent in science or social science field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 4 years research administration or related experience
• 1 year of management experience

Preferred

• 4 years of progressively relevant experience in grant seeking and/or research development
• Demonstrable experience with strategizing, writing, reviewing, and editing successful complex and technical proposals
• Knowledge or experience working within or across multiple disciplinary areas in a research or academic environment
• Experience working with diverse internal stakeholders (e.g., deans, department heads, central administration) to support research initiatives across multiple departments or colleges
• Experience with engaging program/project managers at various federal agencies

SKILLS

Preferred

• Exceptional analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills
• Superior verbal communication, written communication, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated professionalism and commitment to quality
• Ability to develop, coach, and deliver constructive feedback to others
• Excellent collaboration and negotiation skills
• Excellent judgment, decision-making, and conflict management skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Familiarity with the federal funding landscape for research-intensive universities, including various sponsoring agency submission mechanisms and electronic research administration systems
• Ability to lead collaborative efforts across staff and faculty teams
• A strong understanding of the federal funding landscape for research-intensive universities
• Familiarity with grants administration, policies, and procedures; basic understanding of Uniform Guidance; basic understanding of federal regulatory compliance requirements, including conflict of interest, export controls, and research involving animals and humans
• Understanding of topics such as intellectual property rights, facilities and administration costs, and cost-sharing within the context of academia, and the ability to explain IU positions on these topics

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Due to the broad responsibilities and abundant opportunities, the director will be expected to work extensively on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses; therefore, the selected individual may make their home in either location.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.