Title

Grant Research Development Specialist

Department Summary

Bridgewater State University is an inclusive community dedicated to the lifelong success of all students, focused on the continuous improvement of its people, and responsible for leading innovation that benefits Southeastern Massachusetts, the commonwealth, and the world. Bridgewater's accessible environment of teaching and learning stimulates critical thinking, pursuit of new knowledge, and deeper understanding, the cultivation of meaningful and diverse interpersonal relationships, and fostering an appreciation for global engagement.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our institutional values, which ensure that all students are supported and succeed.

The Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects (OGSP) lies administratively within the Division of Academic Affairs. OGSP is charged with facilitating all aspects of external grant funding and certain sponsored projects that otherwise do not fall under the purview of the Office of Alumni and Development. The OGSP is responsible for supporting the development and submission of grant applications, managing grant funding upon award, and overseeing federal, state, sponsor, and university guidelines and regulations.

Position Summary

The Research Development Specialist in the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects (OGSP) plays a key role in supporting the university's scholarship and research priorities. This individual works with faculty members to identify and document research/scholarship specialties and interests and align those with relevant funding opportunities.

Supervision Received: Reports to the Director of Grants and Sponsored Projects.
Supervision Exercised: None. Supports Proposal Coordinators' work as needed.

This is a full-time, 12-month APA position and is subject to the terms of that union agreement. This position is a remote-eligible position located on campus in Bridgewater, MA.

Standard Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM with exibility within regular business hours.
(This position is eligible for hybrid work in accordance with BSU remote work policy.)

This position is within the Association of Professional Administrators (APA) union and is subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Essential Duties

• Consult with faculty, staff, and librarians to learn about their research or scholarship goals in order to identify grant opportunities for compatibility and for campus-wide dissemination.
• Identify grant opportunities for compatibility with university priorities.
• Create plans and timelines for meeting proposal preparation requirements and advise colleagues about proposal structure and the coordination of required documents.
• Create matrices to ensure adherence with proposal evaluation criteria.
• Lead in the development of project budgets and budget narratives.
• Assist in identifying funding opportunities.
• Support grant writing and submission, including proposal development, and reporting.

Outreach:

1. Identify and document faculty research/scholarship specialties and interests through periodic outreach initiatives.
2. Maintain a research calendar on the OGSP website to advise faculty of research/scholarship seminars, visits from funding agency officials, and other notable grant-related events.
3. Publish a yearly Research/Scholarship Guide for Faculty New to BSU.
4. Engage in discussions with the Center for Research and Scholarship (CARS), the Faculty Advocacy Network (FAN), and the Senior Advisor for External Relations to stimulate professional interest areas and networking groups.
5. Develop and distribute communications (e.g., newsletters, targeted emails) about funding opportunities and research development resources.
6. Organize and participate in workshops, webinars, and information sessions on grant seeking and proposal preparation.
7. Represent OGSP at relevant meetings and events

Finding Funding:

1. Enable faculty to create research profiles that generate notifications of funding opportunities.
2. Maintain websites dedicated to Early Career Investigators and identify specialized funding opportunities for faculty in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
3. Subscribe to a number of search engines to find funding opportunities.
4. Manage limited submission competitions.
5. Research and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, state, private, and non-profit sources.

Specialized Faculty Support:

1. Conduct workshops on pre-award grantsmanship skills and for new faculty learning how to design projects and develop grant proposals.
2. Facilitate interdisciplinary discussions to promote complementary research/scholarship collaboration.
3. Provide specific feedback on proposals requiring competitive reviews.
4. Support high-visibility, strategic proposal efforts by organizing faculty teams and working with Proposal Coordinators to manage timelines for proposal development.
5. Maintain a database or system of faculty expertise profiles for use in funding alignment and strategic planning.

Data Management:

1. Track faculty funding interests and outcomes.
2. Generate reports or dashboards to inform strategic decisions and measure engagement.
3. Keep the Director of OGSP regularly informed on faculty engagement, funding trends, and emerging research opportunities.
4. Provide status updates on ongoing initiatives, proposal support activities, and strategic partnerships.
5. Support the preparation of reports, presentations, and briefing materials for strategic communication.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrable leadership capability with working independently and collaboratively with various stakeholders (university, industry, etc.)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify and evaluate funding solicitation notices to decipher applicability to faculty's research agenda and BSU's strategic initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills required, along with the ability to manage projects effectively and coordinate multiple priorities.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage multiple priorities, provide attention to detail (e.g., proofreading, editing, compliance, budget and narrative congruency)
• Excellent speaking and writing skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in an office environment and with diverse colleagues
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of programs, with an emphasis on Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of higher education principles, practices, and procedures.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field, including business, the sciences (e.g., physical, social, geosciences, life sciences), or non-science disciplines such as education, humanities, or social work .
• Experience conducting or analyzing research.
• Grants administration or related experience with grants management principles, practices, and procedures
• Experience in grant writing, research development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Strong understanding of STEM education initiatives, teacher preparation programs, and K-12 outreach.
• Knowledge of grant regulations and guidelines for alignment with research proposals.
• Experience in fundraising, development, or donor relations.

Work Environment

Bridgewater State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employee with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please complete and submit this electronic form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?BridgewaterStateUniv&layout_id=18

Special Conditions for Eligibility

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check. Bridgewater State University is an E-Verify employer.
This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Type

APA Professional

Salary Range

$57,000 - $60,000

Posting Number

S01285P

Open Date

11/26/2025

Close Date

12/26/2025

Open Until Filled

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please note the following information is required to complete your application for this position:

- a minimum of one (1) employment history entry.
- a minimum of three (3) professional reference entries.
- Resume/CV
-Cover Letter



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