The University of Oklahoma
OK Catalyst, based at the University of Oklahoma's Tom Love Innovation Hub, is the state's leading support organization for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. We work with researchers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to secure federal R&D funding and accelerate the commercialization of academic discoveries and innovative technologies. The Lead Proposal Strategist plays a critical role in supporting small businesses and research teams in securing non-dilutive federal funding. This position provides expert guidance and hands-on support in developing competitive proposals aligned with agency-specific guidelines, ensuring compliance, technical accuracy, and strategic positioning for commercialization.
Essential Duties:
Monitors projects, program evaluation, and development of long-range plans.
Writes grants and contract proposals and manages grants and contracts.
Serves on various committees and represents the unit to public and client groups.
Ensures the evaluation of programs and instruction.
Oversees project management.
Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position.
Assist clients with end-to-end proposal development for SBIR/STTR submissions, including topic matching, agency selection, and interpreting solicitation requirements.
Provide detailed reviews and editing of technical narratives, budget justifications, and supporting documents to ensure clarity, consistency, and responsiveness to solicitation criteria.
Coordinate proposal timelines and manage submission schedules to meet strict deadlines.
Ensure all proposal components comply with agency formatting, eligibility, and administrative requirements (NSF, NIH, DoD, DOE, NASA, USDA, etc.).
Advise on best practices for articulating innovation, technical merit, and potential for commercialization.
Support development of commercialization plans, including market analysis, IP strategy, and regulatory pathways.
Track and maintain records of client submissions, success rates, and feedback for continuous improvement.
Conduct SBIR/STTR trainings, webinars, and one-on-one consultations to build client capacity and awareness of funding opportunities.
Serve as a liaison with university tech transfer offices, startup incubators, and economic development partners to identify and support high-potential applicants.
Stay up to date on federal policy changes, solicitation updates, and agency-specific review trends.