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[new to me]

I'm struggling with writing a cover letter for a job I'm applying to. Most examples that I've found are geared toward newly minted Ph.D.s seeking a first job. I'm in a bit of a different situation, I've had only one academic job in an R1, I have tenure, and will go up for Full in a year, I'm really happy in my current situation. But, a job has come up in a top top department in a highly desireable location, and I'll be sorry if I don't apply. I know the main format of the cover letter, but how much detail do I get into about my research, grants I've had (and those I can bring with me to a new job) number of publications, etc. or is that obvious from my CV?
How do I weave in what I know about the univeristy and dept. without being smarmy? Of course they know they're a top department, it seems disingenous. Anyway, what would a committee look for from someone at my level.

[anon]

It's probably best to think in some detail about your audience. Rather than try to think of all the things you might say about yourself considered in isolation or in respect to your current job, focus on what you could bring to the new job. Can you bring a new subfield? Add to an existing strength? Teach existing courses? Develop new ones? Are you interersted in/do you have administrative experience? What sort of grants can you bring/ are you likely to get?

You don't really need to repeat the information in the CV on the cover letter or explain your published research in great detail. What might be useful is a "career trajectory" paragraph -- e.g. "I had been working on X for 10 years, and that  led me to investigate Y,
a project I should be finishing in 2 years. In my work on Z, I encountered problem A, which I intend to investigate in greater details in 2-3 years.:

[Tenured Feminist]

Think about who you are as a scholar and feel free to rip off your tenure statement if it helps.  Just don't make the mistake of writing a one-page letter that says, "I want a job at your institution" and trust your credentials to speak for themselves.  Especially if you're not sending letters right off, this could kill you.

[new to me]

Tenured Feminist, can you explain what you mean by, "Especially if you're not sending letters right off, this could kill you."
thanks

[Tenured Feminist]

Sorry to be cryptic -- letters of recommendation.  Recommenders usually do a good job of situating the candidate in the field, but for many senior positions, letters aren't required until the school is looking at a candidate seriously.

[new to me]

Thanks for the clarification TF, that's exactly right, there are no letters required at this point.
Thank you and anon for your advice it's been very helpful.