The following are required for candidates to be considered for this position:
- A cover letter and resume. Please include the cover letter as the first page of your application. It should specifically address your interest in this position and outline particular skills and experiences directly related to the position.
- Two relevant, recent scientific writing or editing samples that demonstrate your writing and/or editing skills. Please include these as the pages following your resume.
Founded in 2011, the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI) is the nation's largest university-based institute of health services researchers and health policy experts. IHPI advances the work of its 700+ faculty members by creating a welcoming and supportive research community, including networking and engagement opportunities, education and professional development programs, access to data and analysis, grant development services, and robust communications and policy engagement support.
IHPI is seeking a Grant Development Specialist to support the development of health services research funding proposals as part of its Grant Development Services (GDS) team. In line with the GDS team mission, the successful candidate will provide exceptional editing services and other relevant resources to IHPI faculty members who are developing a wide array of health research proposals. This person will also support the administrative functions that keep the GDS unit productive, efficient, and responsive. This position will report to IHPI's Health Sciences Writer. An editing proficiency assessment will be included as part of the interview process.
Organizational Summary
For more than a decade, IHPI has brought together faculty from diverse fields of study across all three U-M campuses. The Institute's staff is also interdisciplinary and includes statisticians, data analysts, project managers, communicators, administrative specialists, and education professionals.
IHPI is firmly committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging, which are core to the culture and values of U-M and Michigan Medicine. We strive to create a work culture where each team member feels respected, valued, and safe, and support a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the organization.
Mission Statement
IHPI's mission: to foster innovative, interdisciplinary research to inform policies and practices that advance the equity, quality, safety, and affordability of healthcare, and improve health for individuals, families, and communities.
Our vision: the IHPI community strives to improve health and well-being throughout Michigan, our nation, and the world through collaborative research and learning, rigorous evidence, robust communication, and policy engagement.
Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations, and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research, and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally, and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components: patient care, education, and research that together enhance our contribution to society.
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Editing and other proposal development support (70%) - this proportion of effort will shift several times per year around major funder submission deadlines
- Under guidance/mentoring of the Grant Development Communications Manager and Health Sciences Writer, perform scientific editing, proofreading, and formatting of health services research proposals, including individual proposal sections and complete drafts as requested. These efforts will involve working in close collaboration with individual IHPI member investigators, their research teams, and other IHPI staff. Independent editing responsibilities will progressively increase as the writer develops their editing skills and experience.
- Review and edit letters of support for grant applications from IHPI's Director and ensure timely completion and routing of letters in collaboration with IHPI members, IHPI's Director and Executive Assistant to the Director, and other IHPI staff.
Tracking, scheduling, and administration (20%)
- Assist with monitoring and responding to requests for proposal development support services, including timely email communications, tracking incoming requests, and connecting members to resources and/or to appropriate staff members.
- Track and monitor grant development services metrics and assist in maintaining tracking spreadsheets, including results of proposal submissions.
- Participate in planning and scheduling of editorial reviews and other grant development services.
- Schedule and participate in proposal development consultations with IHPI members. Write and send follow-up emails to members to summarize discussion items and next steps.
Resource development and maintenance (5%)
- Stay informed of research development policy and current best practices, both within U-M and as released by federal funding agencies.
- Maintain standard Institute 'boilerplate' language and internal best practices guidance/procedure documents.
- Assist with development of resources for members, as requested, including organizing grant reviewer comments to support resubmissions.
- Support the processing, redacting, and uploading of sample proposals to the IHPI proposal archive.
Other responsibilities (5%)
- Provide staff support for GDS workshops and outreach events, including meeting administration, proofreading/formatting materials, and notetaking.
- As time allows, provide staff support for IHPI-hosted K Writing Workshops and R01 Boot Camp sessions, and engage with IHPI member participants to provide relevant proposal development resources.
- Participate in IHPI community events as available.
- Other responsibilities as needed.
- Bachelor's or higher degree in health sciences, communications, or a related field and at least 2 years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- High-quality writing and editing skills.
- Excellent time management and multitasking skills, with the ability to work on simultaneous deadline-driven projects.
- Effective spoken and written communication skills.
- Highly organized and attentive to detail.
- Excellent work ethic, positive attitude, and willingness to learn.
The most important qualifications for this position include the ability to:
- Work independently and remain flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
- Quickly learn new skills on the job.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with faculty and staff within IHPI and across the U-M community.
- Work well under time constraints and meet changing deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
- Demonstrate strong customer service and communication skills.
- Exercise foresight and sound judgment to meet the unique needs of each project.
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from oth
