Senior Research Development Officer (Federal Contracting)

Location: College Station, Texas, United States

Company

Texas A&M University’s Research Development Services advances university research capacity and competitiveness through strategic initiatives, external funding support, proposal development, and research services.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end development and management of complex, high-value federal contract proposals.
• Monitor SAM.gov, agency roadmaps, and BAA releases, evaluate opportunities, and execute capture plans.
• Develop win themes, competitive analyses, risk mitigation strategies, compliance matrices, schedules, Work Breakdown Structures, and storyboards.
• Translate technical and scientific capabilities into compliant proposal sections and contract deliverables, including SOWs, BOEs, and WBSs.
• Coordinate faculty, university leadership, industry partners, federal laboratories, and academic institutions, including NDAs and teaming arrangements.
• Lead RFIs, BAFOs, oral presentations, bid/no-bid reviews, proposal mock reviews, investigator training, and post-award handoffs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• At least four years of experience developing or writing proposals for federal, state, or private agencies.
• Ability to multitask, work cooperatively, make independent decisions, and communicate orally and in writing.
• Organizational skills and knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

Nice to have

• Experience with front-end business development and capture strategies, including win strategy, teaming, and shaping, as well as back-end proposal management, compliance tracking, schedule enforcement, and narrative editing.
• Operational knowledge of FAR/DFARS procurement processes, BAAs, OTAs, and SAM.gov solicitation structures.
• Ability to understand complex research in engineering, AI, cybersecurity, microelectronics, and applied sciences and translate it into federal contract deliverables.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams of faculty, corporate partners, and executive university leadership under tight deadlines.
• APMP certification or Shipley Capture/Proposal Management training.
• Five to seven years of direct experience in research development, business development, capture management, or proposal management within defense or civil federal contracting.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, AD&D, flexible spending, and long-term disability insurance, with employer contributions to employee health and basic life premiums.
• Annual paid holidays, monthly paid sick leave, and paid vacation.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Free exercise programs, wellness resources, professional development training, webinars, and limited conference support.
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for degree completion.
• All positions are security-sensitive and require a criminal history investigation and credential verification.