Job Description

Benefits of Working at UNCW
Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach.

Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.

As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.

We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy,and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.
Recruitment Range $56,000 - $59,045
Vacancy Number S02486
Position Title University Program Specialist
Working Title Research Development Specialist
Competency Level Journey
Home Department Research and Innovation - 31100
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
Research and Innovation (R&I) stimulates and supports high-impact research, scholarship, creativity, and innovation (collectively “research”). UNCW research enhances student learning, discovers new knowledge, forges knowledge leaders, and solves problems critical to North Carolina, the nation, and the world. R&I provides strategic vision, efficient administrative services and training, and leadership to create crucial infrastructure, partnerships, and programs to achieve research excellence and impact. Within R&I, there are seven reporting units: Research Development Office, Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance, Research Integrity Office, Office of Innovation and Commercialization, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Institute for Interdisciplinary Identity Sciences, and Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations.
College Research and Innovation - 311 College
College/School Information
University Information
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.
Location of Workplace Main UNCW Campus
Brief Summary of Work for this Position
The Research Development Specialist is a critical and valued member of the Research and Innovation Service Team supporting an emerging research institution. This position will focus on strategic research advancement by primarily managing internal catalytic funding programs and limited submission competitions. It is expected that this individual will possess the necessary analytical, organizational, and administrative skills to support both the programs they will oversee and the Research Development Office (RDO) as a whole. This position reports to the RDO Director.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
With the Electronic Research Administrator, optimize the InfoReady platform for research development activities including catalytic funding programs, limited submission competitions, and research achievement award nominations
Serve as lead technical expert for all stages of the above processes – application set up, marketing and promotion, troubleshooting submissions, eligibility and compliance check, reviewer assignments, result calculations, award notifications and announcements, and funding distribution (where applicable)
Effectively communicate complex processes and policies
For limited submissions, identify new opportunities and develop and communicate internal calls for proposals
Where applicable, collect final reports and ensure deliverables are met
Track program metrics
Evaluate programs to support data-driven improvements
Assess appropriate follow up and additional RD support needs
Maintain resource library, including website and SharePoint
Conduct funding searches
Work with the RDO Director to support RD strategy, programming, and reporting
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Preferred education, professional skills and experience
Graduate Degree
3 or more years of related experience working in research development, research administration, program development, project management, or grant writing
University research experience sufficient to earn the trust and respect of faculty across disciplines
Experience with InfoReady or other form building/document collection web-based platforms
Ability to administer and manage a program with established guidelines and standards and to recommend improvements in procedures and workflow
Ability to find, synthesize, and provide relevant information in an organized and comprehensive fashion, including funding agency specifics such as guidelines, eligibility, and submission protocols
Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
Strong organizational and self-management skills that include tracking multi-step processes and prioritizing responsibilities to meet required deadlines
Strong ability to take initiative, work independently, and collaborate with teams
Excellent oral and written communication skills, both to understand and carry out instructions and to communicate professionally and effectively with others
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with an aptitude for interpreting and presenting complex and/or technical material to diverse audiences
Proficient skills in frequently used software programs (Microsoft Office including SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom) and database searching skills