Institutional Development Specialist
About The Position
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) seeks a highly skilled development professional to serve as the primary lead for institutional grant funding and as a writer and strategist for funding proposals across federal, foundation, and corporate sources, as well as sponsorships and major gifts. This role is responsible for writing and managing funding documents including concept papers, letters of inquiry, proposals, agreements, and reports. The Institutional Development Specialist leads narrative development and coordination of SfN's institutional grant funding submissions, ensuring alignment with funder priorities and strong articulation of SfN's mission and impact. This position reports to the Director of Grants & Development and works closely with staff, organizational leadership, and external stakeholders.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 3-6 years of experience in grants, institutional fundraising, or development, with demonstrated success in proposal development and reporting.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts for diverse audiences.
- Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
- Highly organized, detail oriented, and proactive in problem-solving.
- Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills across teams and with senior leadership.
- Strategic thinking and fundraising acumen.
- Comfort working with scientific, technical, or data-driven content.
- Ability to write comprehensive proposals, reports, and donor communications.
- Ability to conduct prospect research and track funding trends.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, CRM systems, and ability to learn new software quickly.
- Ability to work independently and set priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with scientific societies, research organizations, or higher education preferred.
- Direct experience with federal grants (e.g., NIH, NSF) strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary lead for federal, foundation, and corporate grant proposals, including research, strategy development, and proposal writing.
- Develop compelling cases for support aligned with SfN's mission, strategic priorities, and scientific impact.
- Manage the full grant lifecycle including proposal submission, interim and final reporting, renewals, and closeout.
- Support major and planned gift proposals, including drafting targeted narratives and impact reports.
- Assist with institutional giving efforts tied to the SfN Annual Meeting and sponsorships.
- Conduct prospect research on foundations, corporations, and government agencies to identify funding opportunities.
- Coordinate with the Society’s program staff, finance team, and leadership to gather information required for proposals and reports.
- Ensure compliance with all funder requirements and maintain accurate records.
- Work collaboratively with staff, volunteer leaders, and external stakeholders.
- Maintain accurate grant records in SfN’s contacts and grants management systems.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health plan through United Healthcare with a fully funded HRA up to $1,500, plus dental and vision coverage through MetLife
- Remote and hybrid work flexibility
- 40-52 days of annual paid time off based on tenure, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave
- 20 days of paid parental leave for new parents
- Retirement plans with employer contributions up to 8%
- Education assistance
- ASAE memberships
- Wellness and technology stipend
- Flexible Fridays
- Employee assistance plans
- Life and disability insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
