Main Purpose of the Job

The Research Grant Development Officer is responsible for crafting high-quality grant proposals and related materials to support research initiatives, focusing on securing funding from diverse sources. This role requires strong writing, research, and organizational skills to align proposals with the University’s research strategic priorities and funding agency requirements. The Research Grant Development Writer will collaborate with the University of Southern California (USC), the Institute for Inequality in Global Health (IIGH), AmIU faculty, researchers and partners to develop persuasive and competitive grant submissions.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• A Bachelor’s degree in a Public Health, Social Sciences or related discipline; Masters degree
• At least three years of experience within an academic or research institution, including significant proposal and grant writing involvement.
• At least two years of experience responding to funding opportunities from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding agencies, including private foundations.
• Proven success in writing and developing research grant proposals, demonstrated by a track record of funded applications.
• Strong research, writing, and editing skills, with the ability to effectively and persuasively communicate complex ideas.
• Knowledge of budget development for grant proposals and understanding of grant compliance requirements.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.

Key responsibilities Key Area          

Main Tasks

 Pre-Positioning

• Collaborate with the University of Southern California, Institute for Inequality in Global Health, AmIU, and Amref Health Africa to scout for research funding aligned with University priorities.
• Analyse and prioritise potential funding sources and prepare recommendations based on AmIU-specific go/no-go decision criteria.

Grant Proposal Writing and Development

• Collaborate with the University of Southern California’s Institute for Inequality in Global Health and AmIU faculty to respond to research opportunities.
• Work closely with faculty and research teams to identify and synthesise relevant research opportunities.
• Draft concept notes aligned with the identified research goals and objectives.
• Develop and edit research grant proposals, letters of intent, and supporting documents that effectively communicate project objectives, significance, and methodologies.
• Tailor each grant proposal to meet individual funding organisations’ specific priorities and requirements, including foundations, government agencies, and international donors. Conduct literature reviews and synthesise findings to inform the study proposal

Collaboration and Coordination

• Work closely with research teams, finance staff, and other stakeholders to gather essential information for grant applications, ensuring all data is accurate and complete.
• Coordinate with faculty to develop program narratives, budgets, timelines, and other critical elements necessary for compelling proposals.
• Support research teams by collecting relevant country-specific and technical information to inform the proposal’s design and content.
• Manage proposal development timeline and review process, ensuring budget alignment, responsiveness, compliance with donor guidelines and the specific requirements of each call for proposals.
• Compile and format all proposal components as required by the funder, including obtaining letters of support and collecting information from partners.
• Foster effective working relationships with faculty and partners on proposal bids and support the management of consultants involved in proposal development.
• Network with strategic donors, including Ministries of Health, to gather intelligence on funding opportunities, maintain an updated donor contact database, and coordinate with crucial in-country and international donors.

Budgeting and reporting

• Draft budgets that align with funder requirements by working closely with USC, IIGH, AMIU, and other partners’ finance teams.
• Ensure budgets comply with institutional and funder guidelines and support realistic project implementation

Compliance and Post-Award Support

• Monitor and adhere to grant compliance standards, ensuring all submissions meet funder requirements and institutional policies.
• Support post-award activities by assisting with report generation, milestone tracking, and grant amendment processes

Capacity Building

• Participate in capacity building and training sessions for researchers on grant writing in line with funder expectations.

Personal Attributes

• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to prioritise own workload and work with minimal supervision
• Ability to lead complex proposal development teams
• Quick learner willing to go the extra mile to achieve deadlines
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work in a fast-paced environment