Great Lakes Midwest RFBC Administrator / Research Administrator II | Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Location
East Lansing, MI | United States
Job description
Working/Functional Title
Great Lakes Midwest RFBC Administrator
Position Summary
The Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) within the Department of Community Sustainability is seeking a full-time Research Administrator II to provide post-award administration services for the new Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center .
In July 2023, the Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) at Michigan State University was awarded a large, 5-year USDA cooperative agreement to establish a food business center with regional partners that will offer extensive technical assistance and a grant program for farmers and food business entrepreneurs, prioritizing those who have been historically marginalized.
The Research Administrator will oversee post-award and research administration activities to support the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center (GLM-RFBC). This will be a hybrid position with at least 1-2 days per week in person on campus expected. Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Implement and oversee project management system for planning, completing, and communicating about program activities among project teams;
- Manage and oversee project budget and contracts including processing financial and other transactions in the Kuali Financial System (KFS);
- Initiate requisitions for purchase orders and/or assist the MSU Office of Contract and Grant Administration (CGA) with subcontracts with technical assistance providers and manage POs/subawards through completion including request and review invoices for accuracy, process payments, track progress through the financial system, and communicate with vendors, subcontractors, and sponsors as needed;
- Order supplies, services, and equipment;
- Examine project financials, budget, and expenditures for accuracy and report discrepancies to immediate supervisor and GLM-RFBC Director;
- Provide monthly grant tracking expense reports and Business Intelligence (BI)/Power BI reports;
- Communicate with MSU Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and CGA to ensure submissions, revisions, awards, extensions, and closeouts are in compliance and meet deadlines as required by grant sponsor.
- Understand and ensure compliance with federal cooperative agreement, university policies, and administrative procedures, including in response to inquiries that may require further action;
- Participate in CRFS project leadership team meetings and communicate regularly with the GLM-RFBC Director, Fiscal Officer, and Business Builder Grant Program Manager (who will manage the grant program administration), and CRFS leadership team to ensure timely execution of programming and operations as identified in the project work plan, which will be updated regularly and reviewed by USDA;
- Track deadlines, status, and completion of deliverables, including to USDA as the funder, and coordinate planning, review, approval, and submission of semi-annual reports and other deliverables;
- Identify, track, and coordinate efforts to resolve project issues, challenges, or bottlenecks, and escalate project issues to the management team and/or GLM-RFBC Director for further action and decision-making;
- Schedule meetings for various groups and purposes and manage meeting logistics and expenses for virtual and in-person meetings, including occasionally traveling to in-person meeting sites within the project region (MI, IN, IL, and WI);
- Respond to general project email inbox, including forwarding emails to appropriate team members and partners;
- Contribute to and/or review project reports, work plans, budgets, and standard operating procedures and/or standards of practice;
- Assist with compiling, recording, and summarizing project data for evaluation, communications, outreach, and reporting purposes;
- Communicate website updates to the CRFS communications team;
- Manage project files, including multi-media files.
Current MSU Benefit Highlights
Compensation for this support staff position includes generous paid time off; a 10% retirement match with a 5% employee contribution to the base retirement plan; health and dental insurance plan options with premiums paid fully by MSU; education assistance benefits for employee and dependents; employer-paid life insurance; and a large menu of voluntary benefits. Details can be found in the Support Staff Open Enrollment Guide and respective collective bargaining agreements on the MSU Human Resources website at .
Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business Administration, Finance, or a research-related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in research administration including the area of pre- or post-award processes, or related field such as regulatory administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This job requires completion of Essentials of Research Administration (MSU Certificate – job release time allowed for completion) or equivalent within one year of hire.
Desired Qualifications
- Excellent organization, interpersonal, and communication skills and experience using a broad range of communication tactics.
- Experience with, and high degree of comfort, using standard office software (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Zoom, Google suite, etc.), and experience with project management software (such as Asana) preferred.
- At least five years of related and progressive work experience in a professional or academic setting, with experience in project and budget management or research assistance and collaborative work environments preferred.
- Familiarity and experience with applying equity-based strategies and approaches with multicultural and diverse partners and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness, collaboration, and ability to problem-solve and think critically.
- Proven ability to self-direct and balance multiple streams of programming, projects, and deliverables simultaneously and to easily shift between working independently and collaboratively, including as part of, or leading, a team.
- Proven ability to effectively and diplomatically offer project support and provide stellar customer service to diverse partners and stakeholders.
- Understanding of, and committed to, a culture of anti-racism and inclusivity.
- Available and willing to occasionally travel by car throughout Michigan and Great Lakes Region and by plane within the U.S., including overnight. Possession of a valid, current state driver’s license required.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
- Resume
- Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position. Include a statement of your philosophy that specifically addresses the alignment between your goals and the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resource’s (CANR) focus on excellence through diversity and inclusion, including a summary of your experience with, or interest in working in, diverse communities or with diverse partners and stakeholders.
- Names and contact information of three references
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Special Instructions
If you have questions about the position or search process, you may contact Ali Farra at [email protected] .
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Description of End Date
This is an off-dated position funded for 12 months from date of hire with annual extension contingent upon funding throughout this 5-year project.
Website
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding eligibility ends on 1/2/2024 at 11:55 PM
About Michigan State University
Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.
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