Director for Research Training Programs and Grant Initiatives

Director for Research Training Programs and Grant Initiatives East Carolina University - 4.3 Greenville, NC Job Details 16 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Qualifications Technical editing Project management experience in education Schedule management Full Job Description Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Development, the Director for Research Training Programs and Grant Initiatives provides strategic leadership to advance ECU's research enterprise through grant writing and deployment of multi-college training and capacity-building initiatives. The Director collaborates with faculty, academic units, and institutional partners to identify, develop, and submit competitive external funding proposals, including large-scale training grants, workforce innovation programs, and curriculum enhancement initiatives that align educational pathways with emerging industry needs and future-focused research priorities. The position works to maximize the inclusion and support of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars in externally funded projects by promoting opportunities for student stipends, tuition support, health insurance, professional development, and experiential learning. The Director also facilitates cross-campus partnerships that strengthen research competitiveness, expand workforce development opportunities, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and build sustainable programs that prepare students and trainees for success in research-intensive and high-demand career fields. The Director for Research Training Programs and Grant Initiatives is responsible for advancing ECU's research enterprise and capacity-building efforts. The Director will collaborate with faculty to submit training grants and strengthen funding that includes student and postdoctoral scholars' in proposals to strengthen workforce innovation. Funding Opportunity Identification (10%) Conduct background research on funders, program officers, and funding trends. Assist in developing strategic initiatives to increase research competitiveness. Contribute to institutional reports, research communications, and capacity‑building efforts. Monitor federal agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, DOE, NEH), foundations, and industry for relevant funding opportunities. Match opportunities with faculty research interests and institutional priorities. Prepare opportunity summaries and briefings for faculty and leadership. Ensure proposal submissions are aligned with and optimize the university's research portfolio and strategic priorities. Promote training, research, and workforce readiness grants that include undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars. Faculty & Researcher Support (15%) Consult with faculty to conceptualize project aims, research design, and broader impacts. Provide coaching on proposal strategy, narrative structure, and funder expectations. Coordinate proposal development meetings and timelines across departments. Project Management & Compliance (5%) Manage proposal timelines, deliverables, and internal routing processes. Collaborate with pre‑award and post‑award offices to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies. Maintain accurate records of submissions, awards, and proposal components. Grant writing (40%) Collaborate with subject matter experts to gather required institutional and regional needs assessment data. Write, edit, and assemble high‑quality grant proposals, letters of intent, white papers, and supporting documents for federal, state, foundation, and corporate sponsors. Translate faculty research concepts into clear, persuasive, and funder‑aligned narratives. Develop boilerplate language for institutional resources, facilities, and capabilities. Program Leadership (25%) Oversee grant expenditures to ensure funds are spent appropriately, allowably, and in compliance with federal and university requirements. Serve as the custodian of program and training data, ensuring compliance with data sharing and retention policies. Prepare and submit required annual progress reports, performance metrics, and other deliverables to the sponsoring agency. Other Duties (5%) Participate in technical training and other professional development to refine grant writing techniques and ensure adherence to funder guidelines. Perform other duties as assigned. Contingent upon availability of funds. Minimum Education/Experience Master's degree or higher. Two years or more of grants management experience. Strong technical writing, editing, and proofreading capabilities and the ability to translate completed information into compelling narratives. Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple overlapping deadlines. License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation None Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education Doctoral degree. Two years of experience in higher education leadership roles at the associate dean or director level or higher. Success in securing multi-million-dollar federal awards. Experience as Principal Investigator on federal grants. License or Certification Required by the Department Special Instructions to Applicant East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online. At the time of employment two to three original letters of reference, official transcripts, a criminal background check, and proper documentation of identity and employability are required. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the References section in the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Additional Instructions to Applicant In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable. Unless otherwise identified in the applicable job posting and consistent with University policy, the University will principally employ individuals who reside in the State of North Carolina to the greatest extent practicable. As such, most positions at East Carolina University require employees to live and work in North Carolina (or live within a reasonable daily commuting distance from their duty station) after hire. Candidates should be prepared to relocate within a reasonable, agreed-upon time after an offer of employment has been made and accepted to meet this requirement. Job Open Date 06/29/2026 Open Until Filled No Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date. If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date. 07/17/2026 Initial Screening Begins 07/18/2026 Rank Level Not Applicable Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/94652 Nondiscrimination Statement East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability. Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA . Eligibility for Employment Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. If highest degree earned is from an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, final candidates are required to have their degree validated as equivalent to the degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to . Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.