Assistant Director, Grant Writing Academy

The Stanford Biosciences Grant Writing Academy (https://grantwriting.stanford.edu) supports postdocs and graduate students writing grants. Our programing empowers trainees to elicit and provide effective feedback, trains in effective writing and editing, and provides coaching to improve scientific writings. Most recently, we demonstrated our core programing, an 8-week Proposal Bootcamp, almost doubled proposals’ success rates for our trainees vs non-participants and improved our trainees’ grantsmanship self-efficacy (PLoS One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243973). Annually, the Grant Writing Academy offers full-day seminars (300+ trainees), skill-focused seminars (e.g., Specific Aims; Scientific Storytelling, etc.), multi-week courses (e.g., 8-week Proposal Bootcamp), and individual guidance (e.g., Faculty Review Workshops; Office Hours).

The Grant Writing Academy is seeking an Assistant Director to partner and lead Grant Writing Academy efforts, especially for JEDI (Justice – Equity – Diversity – Inclusion) initiatives. The Assistant Director will work under the general direction of the Director of the Grant Writing Academy and collaborate across Stanford including with Schools of Medicine, Humanities & Sciences, and Engineering; School of Medicine’s Office of Graduate Education, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, etc. 

Duties include:

• Deliver and develop Grant Writing Academy curricula, including multi-week bootcamps, Grant Coach training, and other workshops that support and grow the diversity of grant writers at Stanford
• Generate and revise content and resources to guide grant writers, such as new resources for applicants to the NIH NRSA F31 Diversity, NIH Diversity Supplements, NIH K Awards, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow Program, and other diversity focused funding opportunities  
• Measure and quantify impact of training activities in terms of grantsmanship self-efficacy, career progression, etc. 
• Develop and manage programs to improve engagement of faculty mentors in trainees’ research and writing grants
• Recommend, design, and manage new policies to streamline research development and research administration processes for fellowships and career development awards 
• Source, collect, analyze data to track proposal success rates such as tracking proposals submitted and funded annually to external funding agencies by School of Medicine postdocs and Biosciences Program graduate students
• Write and edit complex content for proposals, research grants, peer-reviewed publications and other program activities that support grant writing efforts by trainees 
• Develop and implement strategies to promote activities to students and postdocs, including emails, flyers, Slack, Twitter, etc.
• Analyze data, create reports, review trends, and make program improvement recommendations. 
• Develop or contribute to outreach strategy related to program communications, development, partnerships, and funding
• Lead grant writing and training best practices at a national level in professional organizations (NORDP, AAMC GREAT, NPA, etc.)
• Coach and mentor staff assisting with proposal development process and pedagogical training
• Manage logistic aspects related to 100+ person Bootcamps and other activities

* - Other duties may also be assigned

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in related field (e.g. PhD, JD, MD, etc.) 
• Demonstrated expertise in writing grants fellowships and/or career development awards 
• Demonstrated expertise in developing evidence-based pedagogical approaches that supports postdocs and graduate students in the sciences
• Highly organized, analytical, proactive, and deadline-oriented 
• Communicates effectively (oral and written) 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working-relationships with a variety of persons, especially faculty, postdocs, graduate students, etc. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):

• Bachelor's degree and three or more years of relevant experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required for some programs. For jobs with financial responsibilities, experience managing a budget and developing financial plans.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources.
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization. 
• Ability to oversee and direct staff.
• Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:

• For teaching jobs, advanced degree or certification may be required for some programs. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently stand/walk, sitting, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Occasionally use a telephone, writing by hand, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.
• Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh >40 pounds.
• Ability to use voice to present information/communicate with others.
• On-campus mobility.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• May work extended hours, evenings or weekends.
• May travel locally. 
• Occasional overnight travel.

Stanford is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.