Position Title: Proposal Development Specialist (Research)
Reports To: Director, Institute of Age Care Research (IAR)
Tenure: One year (renewable based on performance budget availability)
About Us
HelpAge India is a secular, not-for-profit organisation in India, registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Set up in 1978, the organisation works for the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons to improve their quality of life. It runs healthcare, agecare, livelihood, disaster response and awareness initiatives throughout the country & advocates strongly for the elder cause. It became the first and only Indian organization to be honoured with the UN Population Award 2020 for its exemplary work in the field of ageing and population issues, and earlier in 2014, has been the recipient of Vayoshreshtha Samman by Government of India, as an institution working for senior citizens. We have been awarded highest CRISIL VO 1A grading for excellence in operations and high credibility. We have been recognized as a Great Place to Work.
Position Summary
The Proposal Development Specialist (Research) will support the development of grant proposals and fundraising efforts for research and innovation in ageing and age care. This role is ideal for an early/mid-career professional interested in research, public health, and development financing. The candidate will assist in identifying funding opportunities, drafting proposals, and coordinating with internal teams to advance the Institute's mission in healthy ageing, gerontology, and long-term care.
Key Responsibilities
1. Proposal Writing Support
- Assist in drafting grant proposals, concept notes, and letters of inquiry.
- Support the translation of research ideas into structured proposal formats.
- Compile background information, literature reviews, and supporting data.
2. Funding Opportunity Research
- Identify and track funding opportunities from:
- Government agencies
- Foundations and donors
- International development organizations
- Maintain a regularly updated database of funding calls and deadlines.
3. Coordination & Documentation
- Coordinate with researchers and program teams to gather inputs for proposals.
- Organize proposal documents, annexures, and submission materials.
- Maintain records of submissions, feedback, and outcomes.
4. Editing & Quality Assurance
- Proofread and edit proposals for clarity, grammar, and consistency.
- Ensure compliance with donor guidelines and formatting requirements.
5. Administrative & Research Support
- Assist in preparing donor briefs and institutional profiles.
- Support post-award reporting and documentation when required.
- Contribute to knowledge products such as briefs, summaries, and reports.
6. Strategic Partnership Support
- Identify and engage potential funding and implementation partners
- Coordinate inputs across internal teams and external stakeholders
- Align proposal development with partner priorities and donor requirements
- Facilitate effective collaboration among partners
- Support co-creation of high-quality proposals
- Strengthening positioning of partnerships to enhance competitiveness
- Contribute to improved resource mobilization outcomes
- Promote partnerships that drive long-term program impact
Requirements
Qualifications, Skills & Competencies
- Master's degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gerontology, or related field.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in research, writing, or grant support
- Strong interest in ageing, health systems, or social development.
- Strong writing and editing skills in English.
- Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
- Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
- Basic understanding of research methods and academic writing.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Prior experience in proposal writing, academic writing, or NGO sector will be preferred.
- Familiarity with ageing-related themes such as:
- Elderly care systems
- Healthy ageing
- Social protection for older adults
- Livelihood
- Sound knowledge of MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint), and reference tools.
