Institutional Grant Writer Jobs

Envision yourself in a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that has a deep commitment to position our graduates for success in their professional and personal lives. Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer some of the best benefits of the industry while encouraging every team member to grow, collaborate, and provide input on how to consistently make the workplace a place people love to work. Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. If what was just described is what you look for in a workplace, welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)!

Research is part of the UCCS mission, one of our key core strategies in the 2030 strategic plan and is a fundamental part of the financial and psychological livelihood of our campus. To assist our research active campus, the Office of Research is seeking an Institutional Grant Writer that will support faculty and staff sponsored program activities by aiding in the writing of grant proposals. Successful grant proposals have far-reaching effects including faculty, student, and overall university success.

This position has the option for flexible hours and to work remotely on a partial or full-time basis. Working remotely will require access to the internet.

Who We Are:

In 2019, UCCS was classified as a "High Research Activity" university by the Carnegie Foundation and takes pride in being the only higher education institution in Southern Colorado that explicitly includes research as part of its mission. UCCS's reputation is enhanced by participation in research, publications, grants, performances, as well as national and international conferences and exhibitions. The Office of Research is thrilled to support the surging research agenda at UCCS and is committed to fostering research and creative excellence among our entire campus.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here:

The city, which was recently ranked as the number two Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2022, known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities. Find out more about living in Colorado Springs through the Visit Colorado Springs page:

Job Duties:

• Coordinates diverse teams of PIs/co-PIs.
• Provides full lifecycle editing and writing support for grant submissions, including creating proposal workplans, managing timelines and proposal milestones, coordinating meetings and documents within sponsoredprogram seeking teams.
• Identifies funding opportunities suitable for UCCS needs and priorities.
• Interprets sponsor guidelines and seeks clarification from sponsor when needed.
• Provides guidance to PIs/co-PIs and other key personnel to clarify opportunity expectations/requirements with program officers and attends conference/consortium meetings to stay up-to-date with expectations and guidelines of funding agencies.
• Designs and maintains an intake process for enacting a project priority list as well as a tracking progress to document outcomes (e.g., if the grant was funded).
• Collaborates with appropriate units across campus (e.g., Office of Research, Office of Sponsored Research and Integrity, department chairs, Dean offices, Institutional Research) to help sponsored-program seekers prepare compliant and responsive proposals.
• Evaluates complex funding solicitations and past awards to advise the PI on sponsor expectations and help guide responsive concept development for new proposals or renewals.
• Integrates content from multiple authors and ensures unified voice and appearance across all narrative documents.
• Reviews proposal feedback for potential resubmission opportunities and/or submission to other grant agencies.
• Edits proposals for persuasive language, clarity, and length; applies knowledge of proposal writing best practices (e.g., win themes, logic models) to improve narrative flow.
• Reviews draft proposals to ensure alignment with the solicitation and funder’s research priorities.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Job Competencies:

• Proficient at creating graphics, logic models, tables, and other figures for proposals.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and editing skills with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both verbal & written forms with all members of the university community.
• Fluency in relevant technology/platforms (e.g., Word, Excel, Teams, submission portals, Google docs) and openness to learning new tools (e.g., Overleaf, Slack) to best serve faculty and staff.
• Proficient at literature searches.
• Demonstrated expertise in academic writing.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs and Adobe.
• Ability to work independently while exercising appropriate judgment in seeking assistance and guidance in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to Work effectively under pressure and manage a heavy workload with multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
• Ability to Interpret complex material.
• Ability to communicate and work with diverse individuals in a professional setting and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships.
• Knowledge of federal research funding agencies and their associated guidelines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proficient in understanding the concepts of diversity equity and inclusion.
• Ability to maintain the highest ethical standards.
• Ability to edit and write clear, precise, and grammatically correct documents.
• Knowledge of literature, data, and programs for student-focused initiatives; for example recruitment, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Proficient at summarizing institutional and other data.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to understand a variety of research disciplines, gained through experience and/or training or an openness to learning new disciplines to best assist faculty and staff.

Work Location: Remote or Hybrid

This position has been determined to be exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $35,000-$40,500 (.5 FTE) per year

This position is funded for three years, with the possibility of the position being extended. The salary of the finalist(s)
selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience,
education, specialty, and training.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits, some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Off Campus Housing Resources
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (14.67 hours of vacation and 10 hours of sick accrued per month, prorated if part-time)

Tentative Search Timeline:

• The potential dates for interviews with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of July 3, 2023.
• Priority will be given to applications submitted by May 31, 2023. However, this posting will remain open until filled.
• The potential dates for interviews with the search committee will be the week of June 26, 2023
• The potential dates for video interviews will be the week of June 12, 2023.
• The potential employee start date is August 1, 2023.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check.

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (Substitution: Year for year directly related experience)
• 2 or more years of experience in developing or writing proposals to federal, state, or private funding agencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience successfully writing and coordinating development of multi-disciplinary, multi-year proposals.
• Master’s degree demonstrating general knowledge of various technical fields with 5 years of experience in sponsored program proposal writing experience resulting in grant funding.
• Professional experience in a research environment, such as a university, non-profit, or national laboratory.
• In-depth understanding of proposal preparation and submission processes.