Job postings

Proposal & Capacity Strengthening Admin / Research Administrator II

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Work type: Support Staff

Pay Grade:12

Major Administrative Unit / College:International Studies And Programs

Department:International Studies And Programs Dean 10054474

Sub Area:AP- Professionals

Salary:Salary Commensurate with Experience

Location: East Lansing

Categories: Administrative/Business/Professional, Financial/Accounting, Research/Scientific, Administrative Professionals- AP, Full Time (90-100%), Union, Remote-Friendly

Working/Functional Title

Proposal & Capacity Strengthening Admin

Position Summary

The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) is seeking an experienced, organized, enthusiastic, energetic and results-oriented professional, who has an understanding of and appreciation for working in Africa, possess a consistent level of excellent communication skills, while being able to balance a fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable environment to join its MSU-based team as a Proposal and Capacity Strengthening Administrator. This is a full-time (100%), fixed term, 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal. ISP is currently operating under a hybrid modality structure, with staff working three days in person and two days remotely.

About the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP)

The AAP is a consortium of 10 leading African universities, a regional Think Tank network and Michigan State University (MSU). It was established by MSU in May 2016 to address today’s global challenges in a way that is sustainable, effective, and equitable. The vision of the AAP is to transform lives through co-created, research-driven initiatives that address shared challenges, and the mission is to initiate and support innovative, sustainable and equitable partnerships among African institutions, MSU and other collaborators. After a successful 5-year period of supporting new and innovative partnership development, AAP now requires a professional to coordinate its proposals and capacity development efforts with faculty in the AAP consortium.

Primary Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will coordinate proposal and capacity development collaborative efforts indicated below to support MSU and African faculty in the AAP consortium in the seven AAP priority areas with gender and inclusion as cross cutting, including other duties for the AAP on projects as needed:

Faculty Teams Proposal Development

• Work with faculty in the AAP consortium to identify and organize proposal teams to submit concept notes and grant proposals to external funding agencies;

• Coordinate preparation of proposals by reviewing funding opportunities; 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;

• Collaborate with the relevant department fiscal officer and contribute to proposal financial applications by reviewing budgets and budget justifications; assisting, as needed, with funder-required cost forms, certifications, and representations; drafting language regarding past performance and exemption requests; and facilitating institutional approvals and signatures on financial documents;

• Liaise internally at MSU and externally with AAP consortium members to prepare and process collaborative team agreements, memoranda of understanding, and sub-recipient awards;

• 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.

  Capacity building and partnership development

• Initiate and develop programs for strengthening capacity for proposal development across the AAP consortium;

• Support programs for strengthening capacity of faculty and professional staff on equitable partnership development and other relevant areas across the AAP consortium;

• Identify calls for proposals for AAP faculty and provide insights and recommendations to the AAP Directors and to AAP faculty and administrators;

• Participate in outreach to AAP consortium faculty and staff regarding services and processes.

  AAP Programming

• Provide insights to the AAP leadership on funding opportunities available from a network of funders such as individual donors, private foundations, governments, development banks etc to support the sustainability of the AAP;

• Liaise with the AAP Communications team to outreach to university faculty and staff regarding AAP’s services and processes as it relates to proposal and capacity strengthening;

• Support the preparation of the AAP semi-annual and annual reports including working with the AAP M&E team to compile data and develop data visuals that shows AAP’s resource mobilization;

• Support the pre-award processes for AAP grant programs including Africa GPS, PIRA, TI, Graduate Students Research Fellowships and others;

• Serve as a liaison with MSU International Advancement regarding pre-award processes for international scholarship and engagement;

• Serve as a member for the Resource Mobilization Team.

The International Studies and Programs (ISP) at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The ISP is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge normally acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in business administration, finance, or a relevant research-related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in proposal and budget development for foundation and government funding agencies such as USAID, Dept of State, NSF; and capacity development for international research, research administration including the area of pre-award processes, or related field such as regulatory administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This position requires completion of Essentials of Research Administration (MSU Certificate) or equivalent within one year of hire.

Desired Qualifications

• Masters degree program in a relevant research-related field

• International research experience in East, West and/or Southern Africa

• Strong writing and proof-reading skills

• Prior experience with Kuali-Coeus system

• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences, particularly internationally

• Demonstrated knowledge of the priorities and best practices for preparing proposals for consideration by external funders as well as external funders rules and regulations

• Demonstrated ability to work independently on and complete assigned tasks with specific deadlines including multi-tasking

• Demonstrated experience with virtual environments, project implementation and coordination

• Experience in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software

• Ability to respond effectively to changes in priorities on projects and activities

• Ability to travel in-state, out-of-state and internationally

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 and letter of interest

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.

Website

HTTPS://AAP.ISP.MSU.EDU/

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 May 21, 2024 at 11:55 P.M.

Advertised: May 15, 2024 Eastern Daylight Time