Job Description

Overview:

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Utah State University invites applicants for a full-time Proposal Development Specialist position.

Incumbents in the Proposal Development Specialist series work with faculty to develop and submit proposals to a wide range of external funding agencies and organizations, including both public and private entities.

This position is funded for 1 year but may be longer continent upon funding and need.

Estimated start date is December 1, 2025
Responsibilities:
Reviews application guidelines, evaluates funder criteria and priorities, and interprets funding agency requirements. Drafts non-technical and transitional sections of a proposal. Assists with the preparation of proposal budgets, working closely with Business Services staff and Sponsored Programs. Reviews proposal components for typos, grammatical errors, clarity, format, and adherence to RFP requirements. Prepares, manages, and submits proposals in a timely manner via USU's internal proposal management system, working with Sponsored Programs and other university compliance offices, as necessary. Prepares and manages proposal packages in external electronic submission portals, as appropriate. Serves as an administrative liaison to collaborating institutions to obtain required subaward documentation. Recommends changes in proposal scope, format, and content, restructuring and editing as necessary. Fosters opportunities for collaborative efforts with other USU faculty. Promotes cooperation between colleges or departments and develops teams involving multiple campus organizations. Develops and analyzes reports using institutional data, researches and prepares materials to represent sponsored research activity. Works closely and collaboratively with Research Development and other proposal development staff. Engages in appropriate professional development activities and ad hoc projects, as requested. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Six years of related work experience or a Bachelor's degree plus two years of related work experience or a Master's degree, or an equivalent combination of education plus experience is required. Proven experience writing, coordinating, and managing proposals to federal, state, or private funding sources. Technical Skills:
+ Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, and basic working proficiency in PowerPoint.
Project Management:
+ Demonstrated flexibility, versatility, and ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Interpersonal Skills:
+ Ability to facilitate proposal development by faculty with diverse backgrounds and experience across departmental, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with or knowledge of:Major funders or programs supporting programmatic implementation and demonstration grants. Federal agencies and land-grant universities and their funding processes. Budget development and cost-sharing for competitive funding requests/proposals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge and understanding of proposal writing procedures and requirements. Knowledge and understanding of research and creative activity funding agencies. Knowledge of strategic planning. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Skilled at project management. Skilled at technical writing. Leadership abilities. Ability to facilitate proposal development by faculty with diverse backgrounds and experience across college, departmental, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries. Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines. Ability to develop and deliver trainings and/or workshops. Ability to make complex administrative/procedural decisions and judgements.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please attach:
1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits ADA:

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.
University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah's counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies' long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university's ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.updated 09/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU's non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director
Civil Rights & Title IX Office
matthew.pinner@usu.edu
435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator
cody.carmichael@usu.edu
435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education
Denver Regional Office
303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov* updated 10/2025