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 Grants Assistance Specialist for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center (GLM-RFBC). This position is classified as Academic Specialist -- Outreach.

　　The Grants Assistance Specialist will provide grant writing support and capacity building for food and farm entrepreneurs through the new GLM-RFBC. The GLM-RFBC is a large, 5-year federally funded project with regional partners that will offer extensive technical assistance and a grant program for food and farm entrepreneurs, prioritizing those who have been historically marginalized.  

　　The Grants Assistance Specialist will support and collaborate with food and farm business entrepreneurs across the region (IL, IN, MI, and WI) who seek funding through competitive grant awards, including:

　　Identifying funding opportunities to best support businesses and tracking and sharing information about eligibility, deadlines, etc.;Conducting needs assessments with eligible entrepreneurs, as appropriate;Providing high-level technical expertise and assistance to prospective grantees and developing proposals in partnership with food and farm entrepreneurs;Conducting outreach to engage entrepreneurs, including in collaboration with regional partners and network coordinators;Communicating with potential funders and business owners, and coordinating with GLM-RFBC regional partners;Developing and tracking metrics, in collaboration with GLM-RFBC partners, on outcomes of funding received by businesses, including through Salesforce, supporting evaluation activities led by the Evaluation Specialist, and contributing to project reports, work plans, and other deliverables;Developing and implementing capacity building opportunities (virtual and in-person training, etc.) to increase skills and knowledge on grant writing with food and farm businesses and the stakeholders who support them;Participating in GLM-RFBC meetings as needed;Actively developing, managing, and nurturing working relationships with internal and external stakeholders;Regularly communicating activities with GLM-RFBC partners and CRFS and ensuring activities accurately reflect partnerships, goals, and values; andPerforming 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; 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 w