Research Administrator II

Job no: 594099
Work type: Support Staff
Pay Grade: 12
Major Administrative Unit / College: International Studies And Programs
Department: Ofc Intnl Research Collaboration 10054470
Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location: East Lansing
Categories: Full Time (90-100%), Administrative Professionals- AP, Administrative/Business/Professional, Financial/Accounting, Union
Working/Functional Title

Proposal Coordinator

Position SummaryThe Proposal Coordinator will play a vital role in supporting a new Global Innovations in Development, Engagement, and Scholarship (Global IDEAS) platform at Michigan State University (MSU). Working with faculty and administrators, the Global IDEAS Proposal Coordinator will work with MSU faculty and department administrators across campus to develop proposal application packages for international development research, education, and capacity building programs at MSU. .

Innovating, creating, learning, anticipating the future: Global IDEAS presents a novel higher education model for international development programming and scholarship. Aligned with areas of MSU expertise - food and agriculture, environment/energy/water, health and nutrition, and education - Global IDEAS will serve as a nexus for interdisciplinary development expertise. Convening communities of practice on key development topics such as gender, scaling and entrepreneurship, human and institutional capacity development, resilience, and monitoring and evaluation, the platform will cultivate domestic and international partnerships and serve as a campus resource for the international development community. Global IDEAS will provide expertise and resources to facilitate access to funding from the U.S. government (especially USAID, State, and MCC), foundations, bilateral and multilateral organizations, foreign governments, and non-profit and for-profit entities. Ultimately, linkages among Global IDEAS personnel, MSU faculty, collaborating partners, and the broader international development community will serve as a conduit for co-creation of high-quality programming, groundbreaking research, and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Proposal Development (80%)

Work with MSU faculty and Global IDEAS staff to identify and organize proposal teams;

Coordinate preparation of proposals, for international development programming, by distilling solicitations; creating proposal development timelines, matrices, and outlines; setting and monitoring internal deadlines; organizing and tracking inputs and drafts; and facilitating proposal team meetings;

Contribute to all aspects of technical applications, including preparing templates, sharing relevant language from past proposals, writing capacity statements, collecting and editing personnel documents, and drafting text for institutional management sections and relevant annexes;

Working in collaboration with the Global IDEAS financial team, contribute to proposal financial applications by reviewing budgets and budget justifications; assisting, as needed, with funder-required cost forms (e.g. SF-424s), certifications, and representations; drafting language regarding past performance and exemption requests; and facilitating institutional approvals and signatures on financial documents;

Liaise with OSP, faculty, and external collaborators to prepare and process partner teaming agreements, memoranda of understanding, and sub-recipient awards;

Review technical and financial proposal components and drafts; provide comments to faculty and staff regarding adherence to solicitation-specific requirements, funder expectations, and proposal standard practices;

Proofread, edit, and format technical and financial applications;

Prepare proposals for submission, including compiling application packages and uploading them in MSU internal (Kuali Coeus) and external (funder-specific) electronic systems;

Work with faculty and OSP to ensure high-quality, timely application submissions that are compliant with MSU and funder rules and regulations;

Maintain records and copies of submitted applications and proposal resources; contribute to unit annual reporting and metrics.

Market Intelligence & Communications (15%)

Review solicitations and industry platforms to assess the competitive landscape of select funding opportunities;

Provide insights and bidding recommendations to the Global IDEAS Director and market intelligence staff and to MSU faculty and MSU senior administrators;

Conduct outreach to university faculty and staff regarding Global IDEAS services and processes.

MSU’s International Policy, Analysis, & Practice (5%)

Represent Global IDEAS at university events and on workgroups;

Learn and maintain knowledge of university pre-award systems, procedures, rules, and regulations;

Serve as a resource for faculty and staff regarding pre-award processes for international scholarship and engagement;

Provide suggestions and inputs, as requested, on university pre-award initiatives;

Contribute to the advancement of Global IDEAS initiatives.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in a relevant field; three to five years of professional experience in proposal preparation for international development programming; experience in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

Experience working on or directly supporting international development activities;
Experience applying for federal grant or contract funding, notably from USAID, MCC, and/or multilateral development banks;
Experience preparing proposals for an international development firm, international non-governmental organization, or similar organization.

Required Application Materials

Resume and letter of interest

Special Instructions

To be considered for both Proposal Coordinator - Research Administrator II openings, you must apply for both postings, #594099 & #594118.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Description of End Date

This is an off dated position funded for one year from the date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Bidding eligibility ends on 7/23/2019 at 11:55 PM

Advertised: Jul 17, 2019 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Aug 29, 2019 Eastern Daylight Time