Research Development Administrator, Lead

Job Summary The Senior Research Development Specialist advances interdisciplinary research development across Purdue by connecting faculty, funding opportunities, institutional capabilities, and strategic priorities. The position leads interdisciplinary convening, opportunity intelligence, faculty engagement, and relationship-building activities that help seed future teams, initiatives, and externally funded proposals. Using data analytics, technology, and artificial intelligence, the position identifies emerging funding trends, maps institutional strengths to sponsor opportunities, and develops scalable resources, communications, and programming that expand the reach of the Office of Research. The position also contributes direct proposal and grant writing expertise to selected opportunities, helping faculty strengthen proposal competitiveness and advance strategically aligned initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing, Communication, Science, Engineering, Public Administration, Higher Education, Data Analytics, or a related field
• Seven or more years of professional experience in research development, faculty engagement, program development, proposal development, strategic communications, data-informed planning, or a closely related function
• Experience independently leading research development initiatives, interdisciplinary programs, faculty-facing services, convening activities, or other complex projects in higher education, research, government, nonprofit, or a similarly complex organizational environment
• Experience using funding intelligence, institutional data, faculty expertise, or stakeholder information to identify opportunities, develop recommendations, or support collaborative initiatives
• Strong research development and strategic planning skills, with the ability to connect funding opportunities, institutional capabilities, faculty expertise, and institutional priorities
• Demonstrated ability to research and analyze sponsor priorities, funding trends, program information, and institutional data and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Ability to build productive relationships with faculty, research leaders, colleagues, and external partners across disciplines and organizational units
• Strong convening, facilitation, and program-development skills, including the ability to design events and engagement strategies that support interdisciplinary collaboration and team formation
• Ability to synthesize complex technical and nontechnical information into clear opportunity briefs, faculty-facing communications, presentations, training materials, and strategic resources
• Demonstrated AI competency and digital literacy, including the ability to responsibly apply AI-enabled tools to research, analysis, communications, resource development, opportunity matching, and workflow improvement
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives, stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables concurrently
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, develop strategic recommendations, and lead complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders
• Working knowledge of proposal strategy and grantsmanship, with the ability to advise faculty and contribute to selected proposal-development efforts

What We Want You To Know

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check is required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not eligible for overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Immediately

Equal Opportunity Employer Purdue University is an EOE employer.