Assistant Director, Research Development-AI Institute

About the role

The Assistant Director of Research Development, AI Institute advances the research mission of the Syracuse University Institute for Artificial Intelligence by leading research development and business development activities, including strategic funding opportunity identification, funder relationship management, proposal development support, and strategic intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Institute’s primary research development advisor, working with faculty to identify the strongest funding targets and develop competitive proposal strategies.
• Advise investigators on proposal framing, competitiveness, team composition, and alignment with sponsor priorities.
• Review draft proposals for alignment with funder requirements and strategic fit prior to submission routing.
• Track all proposals and white papers across Institute members and maintain institute-wide research development metrics, including submission volume, dollar amounts, success rates, and investigator participation.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and campus partners to submit strategic, competitive, and compliant proposals that are aligned with funder and university priorities.
• Facilitate and synthesize strategic intelligence for the Institute.
• Actively search, identify, and disseminate funding opportunities relevant to Institute faculty across federal, philanthropic, and industry sources.
• Maintain CRM-based tracking of funding leads, program officer engagement, emerging programs, and Requests for Information (RFIs).
• Facilitate funding strategy sessions with researchers to align Institute capabilities with sponsor priorities.
• Manage the production of white papers, quad charts, capability statements, one-pagers, and other targeted materials in support of funder engagement.
• Ensure all funder-facing materials are consistent with University and Institute branding standards and comply with University trademark and brand guidelines.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings between Institute faculty and federal program managers, foundation program officers, and other funders.
• Support Institute leadership in preparing for funder visits, site reviews, and sponsor-facing presentations.
• Facilitate coordination among campus partners (OoR/RD, CFR/Advancement, Government Relations) to cultivate and manage industry partner relationships in pursuit of collaborative grant awards and sponsored research agreements.
• Keep industry partners informed of Institute research progress and capabilities.
• Participate in Office of Research Development team meetings, professional development activities, and cross-institutional research development initiatives to maintain alignment with University-wide research development practices.
• Contribute AI-domain expertise and funding landscape intelligence to the broader ORD mission.
• Coordinate with ORD colleagues on multi-institute or University-wide proposal opportunities that involve AI Institute faculty.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a STEM field, particularly in artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline, and four (4+) or more years of relevant research development experience preferred.
• Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and six (6+) or more years of direct experience in research development at an accredited institution will be considered.
• Preferred: Doctoral degree in a relevant field. Seven or more years of research development experience in a university or federal research setting.
• Experience supporting an interdisciplinary research institute or center.