POSITION: Deputy Director; Fixed-term, 12-month basis, 50% time.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Represents the Management Entity in the conduct of the Dry Grain Pulses CRSP; serves operationally as the secondary administrative officer in line with USAID contractual requirements for “key personnel” and Michigan State University regulations and procedures.
- Backstops Director; participates in staff discussions, assists in organization of staff responsibilities and carries out identified tasks.
- Maintains responsibility for management of the Office in the Director’s absence.
- Organizes material for, and contributes to the preparation of grant proposals, Requests for Proposals, Research and Training Workplans, Annual Reports, briefs, newsletters and other technical documents as appropriate.
- Organizes materials for and represents the CRSP at national and international meetings; participates in international and domestic travel as necessary for program support.
- Assists the Director in monitoring the technical progress of projects (research, training and outreach activities) with the aim of achieving developmental outcomes.
- Acts as a resource to project Principal Investigators regarding USAID/Washington training regulations; keeps records on degree and short-term training supported by the CRSP.
- Assists in the design and planning of applications (e.g., CRSP On-line Reporting System, etc.) for the effective utilization of the Dry Grain Pulses CRSP’s website.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. An earned doctorate in a social- or economics-related science with an interest in international agriculture development and agriculture research program administration
2. Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environments
3. Excellent writing skills (experience in proposal writing highly desirable)
4. International experience required
5. Ability to travel domestically and internationally
6. Previous administrative experience not required
7. Proficiency in French, Spanish or Portuguese not required but would be helpful
APPLICATIONS:
Applications due October 20, 2009. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU 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. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must provide documentation evidencing employment authorization in the United States. Application should refer to position 02-0483. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and Curriculum Vitae and have three letters of recommendation sent on his/her behalf to: Dry Grain Pulses Associate Director Search Committee, Attention: Sarah Kittle, 321 Agriculture Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039. Electronic versions of the application and supporting documents can be sent to: kittlesa@msu.edu.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Dry Grain Pulses CRSP is a global program funded through the Office of Agriculture, Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade (EGAT), USAID/Washington. The technical vision of the Dry Grain Pulses CRSP is to contribute (1) to economic growth and food and nutritional security, (2) to sustainable growth and competitiveness of pulse value chains, and (3) to the empowerment and capacity building of agriculture research institutions in developing countries and the U.S. The Dry Grain Pulses CRSP achieves its technical vision by supporting a portfolio of integrated, multi-disciplinary research, training and outreach projects which focus on pulse crops (e.g., common bean, cowpea, lima bean, pigeon pea, etc.) and involve collaborations between scientists at U.S. universities and their counterparts at institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Michigan State University has served as the Management Entity of the Bean/Cowpea CRSP and its successor, the Dry Grain Pulses CRSP, since 1980. The current Dry Grain Pulses CRSP contract is through September 29, 2012 with the possibility of a five-year extension. Annual obligations are approximately $3 million per year. For more information about the Dry Grain Pulses CRSP, visit the program website at http://pulsecrsp.msu.edu.