R & D Coordinator

R&D COORDINATOR

Supervisor: Dr. Mitch Hunter
This is a 24-month appointment with the possibility of an extension.

We are seeking an R&D Coordinator to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the FGI R&D enterprise, which consists of two main components: 1) the Forever Green Grant Program, and 2) the FGI Crop Teams.

The R&D Coordinator will support both components.
To support our mission-driven interdisciplinary work, the Forever Green Grant Program solicits internal proposals at least biannually. Our funding is from State of Minnesota sources, such as the Clean Water Fund and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, that are administered in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The R&D Coordinator will have primary responsibility for administering this grant program, in collaboration with the FGI Co-Directors and R&D Executive Committee.

The FGI Crop Teams are multidisciplinary efforts organized to advance each FGI crop toward commercial readiness. Each team may include expertise in the areas of genomics, breeding, agronomics, natural resource sciences, food science, sociology, economics, and commercialization. The R&D Coordinator will enhance the functioning of these teams through a variety of supporting roles.

The FGI Executive Committee is a leadership group that oversees the FGI R&D enterprise and advises on broader FGI matters. It is made up of the two Co-Directors; the Director of Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling; the Director of Partnerships and Outreach; and six faculty members elected from researchers involved in FGI Crop Teams.

The R&D Coordinator will play a key role in helping FGI achieve its ambitious goal of transforming cropping systems in the Midwest and beyond. This is an excellent role for someone with a strong background in cropping system and end-use research and a desire to support research success through grant administration and other research-support roles.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administering the FGI Grant Program (50%)

• Supporting the development of the Request for Proposals (RFP), in collaboration with the FGI Co-Directors and R&D Executive Committee
• Managing systems to collect and organize proposals
• Disseminating the RFP and responding to questions from applicants
• Facilitating the peer review process, including by securing reviewers, providing them with materials, answering questions, scheduling review meetings, and staffing review meetings
• Communicating award decisions to applicants
• Administering awards, including working with Finance to set up budgets and fielding requests for award modifications
• Leading the process of reporting to funders, including writing overarching summary reports and coordinating the submission of reports from funded sub-projects
• Related activities necessary to manage a successful grant program

Supporting FGI Research Teams (30%)

• Developing and managing a system to 1) identify specific goals and objectives for each R&D team, 2) track progress against these goals and objectives, and 3) inform commercialization strategies
• Providing letters of support for external grant applications
• Where appropriate and as capacity allows, providing administrative and technical support for external grant applications
• Tracking FGI-related research grants
• Tracking FGI publications, patents, variety releases, student degree conferrals, faculty promotions, and other research achievements
• Working with communications staff to ensure public acknowledgment of the research achievements listed above

Supporting FG R&D Executive Committee (10%)

• Scheduling and staffing R&D Executive Committee meetings, including taking notes and tracking follow-up items
• Administering annual elections for R&D Executive Committee members

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or a combination of related education and work experience equal to at least four years.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office (including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
• A high level of accountability and follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education institution.
• Experience working effectively as a team member in a fast-paced complex environment with multiple deadlines and stakeholders and shifting priorities.
• Experience with grant submissions.
• Analytical mindset with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to creatively and critically address challenges.
• Ability for discretion with confidential or sensitive information.
• Experience facilitating an internal grants program.

This position will be located in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, on the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul, Minnesota.

ABOUT FOREVER GREEN: The Forever Green Initiative (FGI) is an innovation platform based in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) at the University of Minnesota. We use a comprehensive approach that combines research and development (R&D), commercialization, and cross-sector partnership to advance "continuous living cover" (CLC) cropping systems. These CLC systems have the potential to simultaneously improve environmental outcomes, enhance productivity, and provide new economic opportunities to farmers and rural communities. This unique approach-grounded in science and yet market-driven-is emerging as a national model for driving systemic change in agriculture.
Continuous living cover systems can augment and complement current Midwestern cropping systems by integrating perennial and winter-annual crops that keep the soil covered with living, productive plants all year long. We are developing over 15 novel crops-such as Kernza perennial grain, pennycress, camelina, winter barley, and hybrid hazelnuts-that offer both economic and environmental benefits, including multiple ingredients for food, feed, fuel and other end uses, as well as improved soil health, water quality, and enhanced biodiversity.

Pay Range: $58,600 - $62,400, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

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