Job Title
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. 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. 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.
What 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.
What You Need to Know
Salary : Commensurate with experience.
A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
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.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
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.
Essential 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…