Center for Regional Food Systems

Position Summary

The Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) within the Department of Community Sustainability is seeking a full-time, fixed-term Grants Support Specialist for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center (GLM-RFBC). This position is classified as Academic Specialist – Outreach.

The Grants Support Specialist will assist farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs across IL, IN, MI, and WI with grant writing and building skills with finding and applying for relevant grant opportunities. The GLM-RFBC is a large, 5-year federally funded project with regional partners that will offer assistance and a grant program for farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs, prioritizing those who have been historically marginalized.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Outreach to, and educating, farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs about relevant grant opportunities from various funding sources, including federal grants;
• Developing and implementing training and other capacity building opportunities (virtual and in-person, etc.) to increase grant writing skills, knowledge and experience among farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs;
• Supporting individuals or groups in the region to find, prepare, and apply for grant opportunities for their respective farm and food businesses, including the GLM-RFBC’s Business Builder grant program;
• Prioritizing and following up on requests for grant writing support and/or making referrals for assistance for available grant opportunities;
• Supporting network building and connections between business owners and actively developing, managing, and nurturing working relationships with internal and external interested groups, including funders;
• Consulting on all phases of the Business Builder Grant Program implementation and administration, including to improve and refine it in future phases based on experiences and feedback from farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs;
• Regularly meeting with the Business Builder Grant Program Manager and participating in project meetings, including to communicate and advocate for the needs of farmers, producers, and food business entrepreneurs;
• Developing and tracking metrics on outcomes of funding received by businesses, including through Salesforce;
• Supporting project evaluation activities led by the Evaluation Specialist;
• Contributing to project reports, work plans, and other deliverables;
• Regularly communicating activities with GLM-RFBC partners, the CRFS leadership team and staff, and ensuring activities accurately reflect project partnerships, goals, and values; and
• Performing other duties related to this role not explicitly stated above.

Expectations for CRFS Academic Specialists

• Contribute to relationship-building and regularly convene and/or collaborate with CRFS staff and state, regional, and national partners virtually and in person;
• Engage with relevant networks led by CRFS and/or partners and appropriate professional organizations;
• Provide leadership for outreach, training, technical assistance, research, data collection and/or analysis, including through web-based platforms, electronic surveys, etc., and share results;
• Develop papers, resources, and other creative forms of scholarship in a timely fashion for diverse audiences, including practitioners, stakeholders, the general public, and academics. Publication examples include reports, fact sheets, guides, videos, webinars, and journal articles;
• Present on outreach, research and/or education projects and findings at conferences, meetings, and other venues, which may include scholarly, government, association, and community audiences;
• Document and share project work and accomplishments; maintain regular internal and external communication about project activities; and develop and report on an annual plan of work;
• Actively participate in CRFS staff and strategic meetings and stay current on CRFS projects, activities, resources, and publications as relevant to this work;
• Represent projects and CRFS in a professional manner in all forms of engagement and communication; and
• Help to foster, facilitate, and maintain the CRFS culture of anti-racism, trust, support, and accountability.

Status

This is a full-time, annual year (12-month), fixed-term position. Initial appointment will be for one year with annual reappointment throughout this 5-year project (ending 6/30/2028) contingent upon funding and performance.

Current MSU Benefit Highlights

Compensation for this academic specialist 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; education assistance benefits for employee and dependents; employer-paid life insurance; and a large menu of voluntary benefits. Additional details about benefits at Michigan State University can be found on the MSU Benefits website.

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 Degree

Bachelor's

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least five years of grant writing experience, with federal grant writing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience providing technical assistance, training, and/or outreach.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Proven ability to effectively and diplomatically engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders and groups.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and experience using a broad range of communication tactics.
• Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, and project and team management skills in collaborative work environments.   
• Proven ability to self-direct and balance multiple streams of programming, information, and deliverables simultaneously and to easily shift between working independently and collaboratively, including as part of a team.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness, collaboration, and ability to problem-solve and think critically, with a detail-oriented approach.
• Experience fulfilling responsibilities such as program coordination and delivery, project management, and data collection, analysis, and reporting preferred.
• Experience using approaches that foster equity in programming and working with multicultural and diverse populations; experience or familiarity with working with sovereign tribal nations and other historically marginalized communities preferred.
• Understanding of, and committed to, a culture of anti-racism and inclusivity.
• High degree of knowledge of, and comfort and flexibility with, using technology in completing job requirements including Microsoft Office suite; online search, file-sharing, and collaboration platforms; electronic survey and data analysis software; and phone/web conferencing systems. Prior experience with Salesforce, Asana, and Qualtrics preferred.
• Available and willing to occasionally travel by car throughout the state and by plane within the U.S., including overnight. Possession of a valid, current state driver’s license required.
• Preference will be given to applicants residing in, or willing to relocate to, the GLM-RFBC region of IL, IN, MI, and WI.

Required Application Materials

• CV or 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 Center for Regional Food System’s commitment to racial equity as expressed in its Racial Equity Statement (canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/about/racial-equity-statement).
• 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 Julie Jesmer at jesmerju@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.

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/

Department Statement

Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS)

The mission of the Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University is to engage the people of Michigan, the United States and the world in applied research, education, and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems.

CRFS Racial Equity Statement

CRFS recognizes that racism in the food system is historic, ongoing, and systemic. As we collaborate with partners to advance food systems rooted in local regions and centered on food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable, we emphasize racial equity as a foundation of our work.

MSU Affirmative Action Statement

The MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) 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 CANR 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.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer and is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Michigan State University employment opportunities are open to eligible/qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Michigan State University is a pioneer Land Grant institution based in East Lansing, Michigan that provides regional, national, and international leadership in basic and applied research, excellence in teaching, an emphasis on international engagement, and a strong extension program that partners with diverse stakeholders to bring science-based responses to social and environmental challenges.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.