Senior Research Development Officer

Senior Research Development Officer Agency Texas A&M University Department Research Development Services Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate Job Location College Station, Texas Job Type Staff Job Description Our Commitment Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.

About Tamus

• Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.
• Who We Are Research Development Services (RDS) is a unit within Texas A&M University's Division of Research dedicated to advancing research capacity and competitiveness across the university.
• We partner with faculty, researchers, and stakeholders to support strategic research initiatives, secure external funding, and develop high-impact proposals.

Responsibilities

• Through collaborative expertise, professional development, proposal support, and innovative research services, we help transform ideas into successful research programs that advance scholarship, innovation, and discovery.
• We Want We are seeking a Senior Research Development Officer to identify and pursue federal contract opportunities that align with the university's research strengths and strategic priorities.
• This role serves as a key liaison between faculty, university leadership, industry, and federal agencies, leading the development of compliant, competitive contract proposals from opportunity identification through submission.
• The successful candidate will monitor federal contracting pipelines, recruit and coordinate faculty teams, develop winning proposal strategies, and work alongside investigators to secure high-value federal research awards.
• Duties/Tasks Proposal Development and Management Serves as the end-to-end proposal manager for complex, high-value contract bids.
• Establishes proposal schedules, compliance matrices, Work Breakdown Structures, and storyboarding sessions.
• Translates complex technical/scientific capabilities into compliant, compelling proposal sections.
• Organizes and facilitates formal Red/Pink Team mock reviews.
• Coordinates with internal stakeholders (Export Control, Research Security, IT) to ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR/DFARS) clauses, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) rules, CMMC cybersecurity standards, and NSPM-33 mandates.
• Leads responses to agency requests for information (RFIs), Best and Final Offers (BAFOs), and oral presentations.
• Facilitates seamless handoffs to post-award administrative teams upon award.
• Program Oversight and Communication Proactively monitors SAM.gov, agency roadmaps, and BAA releases (e.g., NSF TIP, DARPA, ARPA-H, DOE) to evaluate prospective contract opportunities against university capabilities and strategic growth goals.
• Defines and executes a comprehensive capture plan for selected opportunities.
• Develops win themes, competitive analysis, risk mitigation strategies, and university discriminators.
• Assists Principal Investigators (PIs) in cultivating relationships with agency Program Managers.
• Coaches PIs on constructing and delivering Quad Charts, White Papers, and Heilmeier Catechism pitches.
• Identifies, selects, and facilitates non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and teaming arrangements with industry prime contractors, subcontractors, federal labs, and peer academic institutions.
• Leads internal "Bid/No-Bid" gate reviews with university leadership to evaluate opportunity alignment, cost-share requirements, and resource allocation.
• Research Resources and Tools Develops tools, templates, and guidance documents related to proposal development.
• Creates, manages, and updates standard information needed to support successful funding applications.
• Monitors various media sources for relevant new funding and program initiatives and circulates announcements accordingly.

Requirements

• Commensurate with experience.
• A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Four years of experience developing or writing proposals to or for federal, state or private agencies.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to independently make decisions.

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience executing both front-end business development/capture strategies (win strategy, teaming, shaping) and back-end proposal management (compliance tracking, schedule enforcement, narrative editing).
• Deep operational knowledge of FAR/DFARS procurement processes, Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), Other Transaction Authority (OTAs), and SAM.gov solicitation structures (in contrast to traditional Grants.gov assistance mechanisms).
• Ability to quickly comprehend complex scientific research across engineering, AI/cybersecurity, microelectronics, and applied sciences, translating it into federal contract deliverables (e.g., SOW, BOE, WBS).
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven track record of managing cross-functional teams of academic faculty, corporate partners, and executive university leadership under tight deadlines.
• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification (Foundation/Practitioner) or Shipley Capture/Proposal Management training.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of direct experience in research development, business development, capture management, or proposal management within defense, or civil federal contracting.

Benefits

• Creates and delivers informational sessions on contract-based funding opportunities and proposal development.
• Assists with training activities to improve investigators' knowledge in federal contracts.
• Systematically publicizes internal and external professional development opportunities for researchers.

Why Texas A&M University?

• We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.
• Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.
• Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.