Manager, Proposal Development

About the Role

The Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) within Harvard University’s Financial Administration (FAD) provides high-quality administrative and financial assistance to faculty and affiliates performing sponsored research. OSP supports researchers and schools across Harvard in obtaining and negotiating awards, assisting with grant proposal preparation, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and University policies, providing financial support (including reporting, billing, and collections), assisting with audits, and promoting knowledge of sponsored research administration through training and educational programs.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Proposal Development, this position leads one of three FAS Proposal Development Teams and manages a team of three to five members. The role involves providing expert proposal development and Just In Time (JIT) support, guidance, strategy, and process development, as well as resolving complex research administration issues with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and supervision for a central-office-based proposal development team (junior and senior staff) embedded within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, including workload planning, assignment of complex proposals, performance management, and professional development to ensure high-quality pre-award support.
• Oversee the full pre-award proposal development lifecycle for the team’s portfolio, from opportunity identification and concept development through final submission and JIT, establishing standards, timelines, and review processes to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Serve as the primary central-office liaison to Divisional and Departmental Leadership, Principal Investigators (PIs), and other central units (e.g., OSP, compliance, finance, legal), resolving escalated policy and risk issues and aligning departmental proposal strategies with institutional research priorities.
• Develop, implement, and refine proposal development policies, templates, tools, and metrics; analyze proposal volume, turnaround times, and success rates to identify gaps and drive process improvements, training initiatives, and resource allocation decisions.
• Direct and coordinate the team’s management of JIT actions and other time-sensitive sponsor requests for complex and high-risk proposals, ensuring consistent interpretation of requirements, rigorous quality control, and timely, accurate submissions.
• Directly engage in proposal development and JIT-related work for a portfolio of departments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience.
• Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations.
• Supervisory experience.

Skills

• Demonstrated advanced, specialized expertise in sponsored research administration.
• Ability to lead comprehensive operational activities and serve as a primary resource within the department or school.
• Experience developing and refining practices, processes, and metrics.
• Expertise in leading large, complex projects, often crossing functional boundaries, and developing solutions to complex challenges.
• Ability to advise on policy development and implementation, conduct advanced analysis, and oversee major initiatives.
• Experience mentoring colleagues, delivering advanced research solutions, and recommending policy and process improvements.
• Strong facilitation skills for broad, cross-functional dialogue on complex, sensitive, or high-impact issues.
• Collaborative approach to resolving matters and providing expert guidance on strategic plans and implementation.

Additional Information

This position is primarily remote with flexibility to work on-site and optional in-person meetings bi-monthly. On-site attendance expectations may evolve based on business needs. The role is based in an office setting and requires working in a Harvard-registered state when not on-site. Standard hours are 35 hours per week.

Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Pre-employment screening includes identity and education verification. This position has a 90-day orientation and review period.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

Pay

This position is salary grade level 058. Visit Harvard's Salary Ranges for the corresponding salary range and related information.