Sr Research Development Administrator chez The University of South Florida Board of Trustees

Research Funding Strategy:

• Develop and implement strategies to increase external research funding for College of Education faculty.
• Collaborate with university offices, including the USF Office of Research & Innovation and the USF Research Development Institute, to align college research initiatives with institutional priorities.
• Provide leadership in the development of multi-investigator, interdisciplinary, and large-scale proposals.

Funding Landscape Analysis:

• Scan, analyze, and share updates on emerging funding opportunities.
• Partner with the Associate Dean for Research to map faculty expertise against federal, state, and USF priority areas.
• Support faculty in framing projects as design-based, impactful, and scalable—qualities valued by agencies such as NSF and IES.
• Provide direct consultation, coaching, and technical assistance on proposal strategy, grant writing, and submission processes through workshops, small groups, and on-demand support.
• Establish structured proposal development timelines (e.g., “ten-week countdown”) with defined milestones for drafts, budget alignment, and review.
• Facilitate at least one mock review session per semester, pairing experienced faculty with early-career researchers to strengthen proposal quality.

Capacity Building & Faculty Development:

• Lead training programs for faculty, staff, and graduate students on grant writing, budgeting, project management, and compliance.
• Mentor junior and early-career faculty in developing competitive external funding proposals.
• Promote a culture of research excellence, collaboration, and innovation across departments, colleges, centers, and institutes.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in education, public administration, business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in grant development and administration.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.