C-IGNITE Proposal Success Specialist, Office of Research and Innovation

The Collaboratory for Integrating Growth, Innovation, and Research Excellence (C-IGNITE) in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)

The Proposal Success Specialist primarily supports faculty and research teams in developing competitive, complex, multidisciplinary, and multi-PI research proposals from concept through submission. Most of the position’s effort is focused on direct proposal development, including grant writing, proposal review, faculty engagement, team coordination, and submission readiness.

The position also supports funding intelligence and emerging research areas, including appropriate use of AI/LLM-enabled research tools.

Key Responsibilities

Analyze funding solicitations and translate sponsor requirements into proposal strategies, outlines, compliance requirements, timelines, and action plans. Draft and edit proposal sections, including project summaries/abstracts, broader impacts, management plans, budget justifications, partnership and community-engagement sections, and letters of support.

Review proposals and pre-proposals for sponsor alignment, responsiveness, competitiveness, consistency, and gaps; provide substantive feedback and follow through on revisions. Lead proposal-development activities for complex, multidisciplinary, and multi-PI submissions, coordinating faculty, collaborators, and external partners through milestones and deliverables.

Work directly with faculty to shape research concepts, assess readiness and competitiveness, facilitate team development, and strengthen proposal strategy. Prepare and coordinate ancillary proposal documents, including facilities and resources descriptions, data management plans, support materials, and other sponsor-required components.

Coordinate proposal timelines, internal reviews, final routing, and submission activities with Sponsored Programs and other university offices. Support resubmissions by analyzing reviewer critiques, identifying proposal weaknesses, and helping research teams develop targeted responses and improvements. Maintain accurate, timely records of proposals, opportunities, meetings, action items, deadlines, and project status in shared C-IGNITE systems.

Proactively identify gaps, ask questions early, communicate risks, and take ownership of assigned proposal-development work through completion. Monitor funding opportunities and support research-intelligence activities that help identify potential faculty–funding alignment; use AI/LLM-enabled tools where appropriate, with human review and primary-source verification.

Other duties as assigned.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. At least 3 years of direct grant-writing or proposal-development experience. Experience developing complex federal, multidisciplinary, multi-PI, or collaborative research proposals. Experience drafting and editing substantive proposal components and ancillary documents.

Strong ability to communicate complex information to scientific, academic, corporate, and non-technical audiences. Experience with federal agencies, sponsored research, interdisciplinary collaboration, or industry/community partnerships. Experience with research-intelligence tools, funding databases, or AI/LLM-enabled research methods is desirable.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $70,000–$80,000 annually Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck.

The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Grade: GGS 11 University Title: Administrative Consultant I To review the University of Missouri’s Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Review of applications to begin immediately, for best consideration apply by November 30, 2026.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home.

Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor. UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action.

Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital. UMKC is proud to be “Kansas City’s university,” and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community.

To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses.

For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement Equal Employment Opportunity The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.