Are you passionate about helping innovative ideas become funded research that drives meaningful change? As the Grants Manager – Research Development, you will play a pivotal role in growing the University's research enterprise by partnering with faculty, investigators, and institutional leaders to secure and manage external funding. From identifying strategic funding opportunities and developing competitive proposals to overseeing award administration and compliance, you will serve as a trusted advisor throughout the grant lifecycle. This highly collaborative, faculty-facing role offers the opportunity to influence research success, strengthen partnerships, and help transform bold ideas into impactful outcomes.
What you’ll do:
- Lead the full pre-award process by identifying and evaluating funding opportunities, partnering with faculty to develop competitive proposals, preparing budgets and supporting documentation, coordinating with collaborators and subrecipients, and ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant submissions.
- Advance research development initiatives by engaging faculty to understand research priorities, matching projects with strategic funding opportunities, supporting proposal planning and development, and proactively guiding submissions from concept through award.
- Manage post-award administration and sponsor relations by monitoring grant activity and expenditures, overseeing subawards and reporting requirements, supporting progress and final reports, and serving as a liaison between principal investigators, sponsors, and university offices to ensure successful project execution.
- Ensure compliance and administer research agreements by reviewing and coordinating contracts, subcontracts, material transfer agreements, and confidentiality agreements; providing guidance on federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements; and supporting adherence to Uniform Guidance and other regulatory standards.
- Strengthen institutional research capacity by maintaining grant and sponsored project databases, preparing reports for leadership, delivering training on grants administration systems and best practices, supporting internal funding programs, and contributing to initiatives that enhance research funding, faculty engagement, and overall research growth.
What we are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., Master’s or PhD in a relevant field) preferred.
- Three to five years of experience as a grant’s administrator, research support or related professional experience is required.
- Demonstrated progressive experience providing advanced research planning and proposal writing in industry or academia.
- Demonstrated knowledge of financial principles and methods associated with grants and contracts.
- Experience supporting proposal development and submission processes.
- Experience interpreting and/or providing consultation to others regarding federal financial regulations.
- Ability to administer contracts and subawards, including negotiating terms and ensuring compliance with federal and institutional regulations.
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) preferred or willingness to obtain within a year.
*To see the full job description go to Position Description at the bottom of this posting.
Total Rewards:
Our employees are what make DMU special, so we treat them well! Our Total Rewards reflect this commitment. Qualified faculty and staff enjoy a generous employer contribution toward the medical plan, 10% retirement match, flexible work arrangements, community service time, tuition assistance, professional development funding and access to wellness facilities with programs that promote a well-balanced lifestyle. Visit www.dmu.edu/employment to learn more about our benefits.
DMU is proud to offer employees generous benefits and perks, paid time off, free use of wellness facilities and a host of employee engagement and recognition programs throughout the year.
About:
Founded in 1898, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is a premier medical and health sciences institution comprising three colleges — the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the College of Health Sciences. DMU offers graduate-level professional degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration, medical science, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and public health.
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa’s capital metro, DMU provides a collaborative, student-centered academic environment. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks in board exam performance, certification pass rates and medical residency match outcomes. Our mission is to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.
It is an exciting time to join DMU. Our 88-acre campus in West Des Moines brings the entire academic community together in one collaborative, future-focused environment, while the Des Moines University Clinic serves patients within the DMU32 Health and Business Complex in downtown Des Moines. Our state-of-the-art campus features technology-rich, flexible learning environments that support innovative teaching and connect faculty and students across all of our programs. Modern research facilities include a vibrant open-concept laboratory that fosters collaboration, accelerates discovery and empowers faculty and students to advance the health sciences.
DMU enhances our community’s quality of life by educating outstanding health professionals and leaders, providing expert and compassionate patient care, serving the community in diverse ways and contributing to the vitality of central Iowa.
At DMU, you will make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic future of medicine and health sciences by supporting a diverse community of faculty and staff with programs and services across the employee lifecycle.
Required Documents:
Resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references required at time of online submission. Apply at www.dmu.edu/employment.
Department: Office of Research
Status: Exempt
Position Description