Proposal Coordinator

Overview

Position Summary:

The 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 funderrequired 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 subrecipient awards;
  • Review technical and financial proposal components and drafts; provide comments to faculty and staff regarding adherence to solicitationspecific 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 (funderspecific) electronic systems;
  • Work with faculty and OSP to ensure highquality, 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, 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 in workgroups;
  • Learn and maintain knowledge of university preaward systems, procedures, rules, and regulations;
  • Serve as a resource for faculty and staff regarding preaward processes for international scholarship and engagement;
  • Provide suggestions and inputs, as requested, on university preaward initiatives;
  • Contribute to the advancement of Global IDEAS initiatives.

Other

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of grant and contract pre and post-award administration;
  • Knowledge of the priorities and best practices for preparing proposals for consideration by international development funding entities (USG, international donors, foundations, etc.);
  • Knowledge of US government funding rules and regulations;
  • Knowledge of funders’ proposal procedures and best practices;
  • Ability to review budgets and budget narratives for federal grant and contract proposals for international work;
  • Strong analytic skills; ability to synthesize and interpret information from multiple sources and to understand complex problems and develop effective solutions;
  • Excellent written and verbal professional communication skills, notably editing and proofreading skills, but also skills in team communications;
  • Strong interpersonal skills to provide quality internal and external customer service;
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously;
  • Ability to meet strict deadlines;
  • Ability to learn and comply with university policies and procedures;
  • Ability to learn and use MSU systems, specifically Enterprise Business Systems and Kuali Coeus.

Education and Experience

Required:

  • Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a fouryear 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.

Desired:

  • 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 nongovernmental organization, or similar organization.

Required Application Materials

Resume and letter of interest and complete the application at: https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/501971/research-administrator-ii

Contact Information

Company
Michigan State University
First Name
Anne
Last Name
Stanton
Address
Phone
5178842987
Contact Email
stant106@msu.edu
Contact URL
https://globalideas.isp.msu.edu/

Background Information

Education
4-Year Degree
Years of Experience
3 to 5
Industries
  • College/University
Categories
  • Research Administrator/Manager
  • Sponsored Projects/Programs
  • Other
Work Authorization
Authorized to work in the US
Security Clearance
None

Target Job Information

Salary
Job Type
  • Full Time