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

　　The Business Builder Grant Program Manager will lead and manage a grant program for food and farm entrepreneurs as a key part of the GLM-RFBC, a large, 5-year federally funded project with regional partners that will also offer extensive technical assistance for food and farm entrepreneurs, prioritizing those who have been historically marginalized.

　　The Business Builder Grant Program Manager will:

　　Create and manage a regranting program with an equitable grantmaking approach that meets federal and institutional (MSU) rules and regulations;Cultivate, manage, and monitor food and farm business project portfolios, including:Development of grant program materials and processes, including applications, requests for applications, review processes, and evaluation criteria, in collaboration with regional partners and other stakeholders;  Administration and management of grant portfolios, including using Salesforce and related data processing software,Development, review, and evaluation of grants to ensure that grant requirements are met and funds are being properly used, and offering guidance and support to prospective and awarded grantees as needed; and,Working and communicating with regional partners and USDA to ensure federal and project requirements are met;Support the Evaluation Specialist and provide impact analysis on the regranting program, including for regular reporting;Regularly recommend and implement modifications of processes and/or materials to meet the needs of stakeholders and partners;Track, interpret, synthesize, and share about activities through public reports, presentations, and other outreach materials and methods and contributing to project reports, work plans, and other deliverables;Supervise the Grants Assistance Specialist, a new full-time position to support GLM-RFBC stakeholders with grant-writing support;Participate regularly in GLM-RFBC meetings as needed, including as part of the CRFS project leadership team and USDA Business Builder Grant Working Group;Actively develop, manage, and nurture working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and represent GLM-RFBC partners;Work across CRFS and the GLM-RFBC to actively communicate activities on the grant program and ensure the program is an accurate reflection of the partnership;Provide high level technical expertise and assistance to prospective grantees and awardees; andPerform 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 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/o