Design Research Assistant Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Research Administration and Development Coordinator
Job no: 536969
Work type: Staff
Senior management: Architecture, Arts, and Design
Department: Dean - Architecture
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Business / Accounting / Finance, Grants / Contracts
Job Description
Virginia Tech is a R1 university, meaning it has achieved and still achieving the highest tier of research activity in the United States. The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD) is a vibrant community that supports 250+ faculty and 1600 students. It includes four schools and 14 disciplines combining creativity, technical skills and wonder. The Research & Creative Scholarship team is specifically working to support faculty members and their success in research and creative scholarship, while fostering a thriving environment and infrastructure. AAD's research and creative scholarship outcomes reflect the breadth of talents and include publications, grants, live performances, screenings, patents, etc.
The Research Administration & Development Coordinator will demonstrate a strong code of ethics and integrity, exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality while serving as a trusted steward of research administration processes and resources. The successful candidate plays a pivotal role in helping to enhance the research and creative scholarship success in AAD. This individual will assist in coordinating an array of research development opportunities, including liaising with external stakeholders, internal research events (twice a year), and collaborative projects, with a particular focus on facilitating increased communications internal and external to the university. The coordinator will assist faculty and the dean's office in helping to manage contractual obligations, budget and logistics, while ensuring adherence to institutional and funding regulations. The Research Administration & Development Coordinator will support the college in achieving its goals related to increased grant success, research impact and reputation.
Key responsibilities of the position include:
• Research Development Coordination
o Support research development training workshops
o Coordinate events that showcase research and creative scholarship across the college (twice a year)
o Coordinate engagement with internal stakeholders (e.g. research institutes, centers, etc) and external stakeholders to develop new funding opportunities, both nationally and internationally
o Guided by the Associate Dean of Research & Creative Scholarship, engage with faculty across the college to understand their research agendas or creative ambitions to identify affiliated funding sources
• Proposal Funding Management
o Assist faculty in developing their budget for funding proposals
o Coordinate the collection of proposal documents and ensure expectations are addressed prior to submission with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
o Liaise with OSP for needed post-award support, such as monitoring research spending, re-budget requests, cost share reporting, etc.
o Track grants internal to the university received by AAD faculty and promote/support plans for pursuit of associated external funding
o Serve as an ongoing resource for faculty in addressing questions or issues that arise in the pursuit and execution of externally funded scholarships.
• Research Administrative and Logistical Support
o Maintain records of funding proposals, awards and press release
o Prepare reports and assemble data for college leadership and external stakeholders.
o Assist in the development of promotion materials and communication strategies to highlight the research and creative scholarship portfolio of the faculty
o Prepare and send out monthly newsletters which highlight upcoming deadlines for funding opportunities and faculty success
o Assemble information and data on the impacts of programs and the college's overall research and scholarship productivity
o Contribute to the college's annual report
o Keep track of the different measures of success (e.g. number of applications submitted, $ value of submissions, first time grant submission, etc.)
• Ongoing Improvement
o Stay informed about potential relationships, best practices, and emerging opportunities in research and creative scholarship.
o Solicit and evaluate feedback from faculty, and external partners to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong experience with budgets (development and submission)
• Proficient in use of MS Excel
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience in setting priorities, meeting deadlines, tracking work progress and agility against unplanned events and changing policies
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of faculty and external stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working in fields represented in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design
• Previous experience in higher education
• Experience with grant management software
Pay Band
4
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$60,000 - 65,000
Hours per week
40 hours per week; as needed
Review Date
August 3, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Kowtko at erink23@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: July 21, 2026
Applications close:
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