Grant Specialist

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering (COE) at South Dakota State University (SDSU) is offering an exciting career opportunity as a Grant Specialist in our Office of Engineering. We are looking for a creative and innovative professional to join us in assisting faculty and staff with development, preparation, and submission of proposals for external funding in order to increase the quality of proposals submitted to funding agencies, foundations, and companies. This is a 12 month, full-time, benefit-eligible position. This position is supervised by the Associate Dean for Research in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.
 

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• The Grant Specialist will work closely with faculty and staff in the COE to ensure that applications for external funding are assembled completely and effectively and in accordance with all sponsor requirements and with internal and external policies and regulations.
• This position will work closely with research administrators, including SDSU’s Office of Research Assurance and Sponsored Programs, Research Compliance Coordinator, Grants and Contracts, and College/Department/Unit staff to execute and to identify areas of improvement in the grant/contract submission process.
• The Grant Specialist must be able to contribute to faculty development of excellence in grantsmanship and must be or quickly become well-versed in pre-award research administration (including application formats for electronic submission via Grants.gov, FastLane, etc., as well as standard sponsor demands).

The Grant Specialist must be able to assist in:

• Submit proposals to sponsors via Grants.gov, ASSIST, FastLane, etc., as the funding environment dictates.
• Interpret and follow application instructions and sponsor guidelines.
• Complete application forms and final submission packets.
• Manage proposal development within submission deadlines.
• Improve readability of proposals, including presentation, grammar, and spelling.
• Identify appropriate research compliance requirements.
• Train workshops, seminars, and info media updates for faculty and staff.
• Facilitate large interdisciplinary applications.
• Develop project ideas into project plans.
• Identify appropriate funding opportunities for proposed projects.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communication, English, Writing, Technical Writing or relevant field by the date of hire;
• At least one year of relevant experience in writing, editing, or reviewing technical documents and/or grant proposals;
• Effective oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in use of computers, including MS Office applications, web-based applications and databases;
• Capability to work independently and with self-initiative;
• A valid driver’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate degree in a relevant field;
• Effective teamwork;
• Effective organization skills;
• Relevant work experience in university research or research administration;
• Experience in grant proposal development and submission;
• Familiarity with federal, state and regional research funding sources;
• Familiarity with federal and state compliance regulations and guidelines for grants and contracts;
• Commitment to developing knowledge and skills related to the position.

BENEFITS:

South Dakota State University offers a wide range of benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays and vacation leave. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
This system will guide you through the electronic application form and requires the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, resume, a writing samples to include, but not limited to the following: an academic manuscript, grant proposal, or other technical document, and a reference page with contact information for three professional references. Please contact SDSU Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, a criminal background check.

South Dakota State University is a tobacco free environment.

It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

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