Program Director and Principal Strategic Development for Research

Job Summary:

The Office of Research Development and Strategy (ORD&S), within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), advances research excellence by fostering strategic collaborations, expanding funding opportunities, and supporting high-impact interdisciplinary initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.

The Program Director and Principal Strategic Development for Research is a senior leadership position within ORD&S reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Development and Strategy. This position is responsible for developing and executing institution-wide, data-informed strategies to expand, diversify, and strengthen the CU Anschutz research funding portfolio across extramural sponsors (with a primary focus on foundations). This position will have significant synergies, interactions and collaboration with the Director of Extramural Research within ORD&S and the Office of Advancement.

The position dedicates at least 50%25 effort to building and managing a robust portfolio of foundation partnerships and funding opportunities, with the remaining effort focused on advancing broader funding strategies across federal and other sponsors, including agencies such as the NIH, ARPA-H, DARPA, and BARDA.

This role places significant emphasis on proactively cultivating large, complex funding opportunities—positioning faculty and institutional priorities ahead of formal solicitations—through strategic intelligence, sponsor engagement, interdisciplinary team development, and external relationship-building.

Success in this role is measured by increased diversification of sponsor portfolio, growth in large-scale awards, expanded foundation engagement, increased institutional competitiveness for sponsored research funding.

Key Responsibilities:

Foundation Funding Strategy Portfolio Development (50%25 Effort)

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to identify, cultivate, and expand relationships with private foundations and philanthropic organizations

• Build and manage a portfolio of foundation partners aligned with institutional research priorities

• Engage foundations proactively to shape funding opportunities and co-develop strategic initiatives

• Collaborate with Advancement and ORDS Leadership to align campus investments with research priorities

• Monitor and analyze foundation funding trends to anticipate opportunities and position institutional strengths

Proactive Funding Strategy & Opportunity Development (20%25 Effort)

• In close collaboration with the Director of Extramural Division (ORDS)

• Identify, shape, and cultivate large-scale and complex funding opportunities in advance of sponsor solicitations

• Develop a portfolio of federal and other sponsored partnerships, including NIH, ARPA-H, DARPA, BARDA, focused on emerging funding mechanisms

• Develop forward-looking strategies based on sponsor priorities, policy trends, and institutional strengths

• Guide formation of interdisciplinary teams for center-level, consortia, and multi-investigator funding opportunities

Engagement & Partnerships (20%25 Effort)

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with foundation leaders, federal program officers, and other sponsors

• In collaboration with the Director of Extramural funding proactively “socialize” CU Anschutz research by aligning faculty expertise with funder priorities through targeted outreach and engagement

• Represent the university in sponsor meetings, national forums, and strategic convenings

• Partner with investigators across CU Anschutz schools to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration and build synergies.

• Facilitate the formation of multidisciplinary research teams across departments and schools.

Data-Driven Strategy & Portfolio Management (10%25 Effort)

• Collaborate with the analytics team to develop and apply dashboards, reports, and predictive insights

• Monitor institutional funding performance and identify opportunities for growth and diversification

• Translate funding intelligence into actionable strategies for faculty engagement and opportunity development including sponsor site visits

• Align strategy with institutional goals through data-informed planning and continuous assessment

Work Location:

Remote – this role is eligible to work remotely, but the employee must be in the United States.

Why Join Us:

The Office of Research Development & Strategy (ORD&S) under the Vice Chancellor for Research at CU Anschutz, guides faculty in the pursuit of research funding, the formation of cross-disciplinary science initiatives, and the development of collaborative, team-science research. Our goal is to catalyze collaborations, improve funding success, and grow the CU Anschutz extramural funding portfolio.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10%25 of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 10/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, public administration, social/behavioral sciences, physical sciences, nursing, healthcare, finance, accounting, business administration, business, or a directly related field from an accredited institution

• 6-8 years of professional experience (experience in research development, funding strategy, and/or working with foundations and federal sponsors)

  • Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, DrPH, MBA, or related field)

• Experience working with foundations and/or major federal agencies (e.g., NIH, ARPA-H, DARPA, BARDA)

• Demonstrated success developing foundation partnerships and philanthropic funding strategies

• Experience supporting large-scale, interdisciplinary research initiatives

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution

• Advanced relationship-building and influencing skills

• Data-informed decision-making and analytical reasoning

• Strong understanding of biomedical and health research funding ecosystems

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders

• Strong organizational and project management capabilities

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

• Knowledge of research funding processes and academic environments

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
2. Curriculum vitae / Resume
3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Dr. Laura Buccini, laura.buccini@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until June 21, 206.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as 

• $220,000 - $245,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu​.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.