Program & Grant Development Specialist

Position Function:

Directs the efforts and activities of identifying researching promoting and managing externally funded grants and contracts.

Conducts ongoing research on public and private funding opportunities at the local state and national level and informs college community of opportunities. Provides overall direction and management of department grants and contracts functions and operations. Reviews and interprets funding solicitations and announcements from public and private funding sources and remains current in funding trends and themes. Write proof and revise various responses to Request for Proposals (RFPs). Develops proposal and institutional match budgets in collaboration with the department fiscal personnel for new and continuing grants. Obtains current data and information gathered from subject matter experts as well as responds to proposals within required time frames.

Salary Grade:15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC these positions are Unclassified and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Anticipated Appointment Date:

July 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Assists in assessing college and community needs through facilitating focus group sessions developing and administering surveys and recommending projects for proposal development. Works collaboratively with staff faculty and community organizations to conceptualize draft and develop grant proposals including joint partnership proposals. Prepares draft applications for review and development editing them for accuracy completeness and clarity for submission (hard copy and electronic) according to funding agency guidelines and by deadlines laid out in the annual grant development plan. Prepares and submits proposals to meet institution priorities and goals.

2. Provides ongoing grants management/administration support to successfully funded grants including serving as liaison to funding agency and within the college to negotiate programmatic and fiscal awards reviews and assists in the submission of grant reports and assists in resolving project management issues. Creates revises and maintains departmental materials such as correspondences reports records forms minutes of meetings etc. from rough draft through corrected copy or previous versions.

3. Proactively facilitates the pre-award process and oversees certain aspects of post-award grants management. Pre-award activities include providing technical assistance and training to faculty and staff to ensure continuity in the submission of proposals for grants and contracts to potential funding agencies. Post award activities include providing training regulatory oversight and complete accurate and timely financial information pertaining to grants and contracts transitions to the university funding agencies and other external stakeholders. Provides training and technical assistance for faculty and staff on interpreting guidelines and regulations related to the submission and administration of grant projects. Leads external communications projects including social media and the website to support communications.

4. Assists in establishing writing and implementing Extension policies procedures and standards for internal grant development and programmatic grant administration.

5. Interprets reviewers comments on proposals not selected for funding and assists in revision of proposals accordingly.

6. Maintains proposal response database with finalized documentation and statistics. Maintains follow-up information for each request in proposal database. Maintains library of funding sources and procedural reference materials and assists investigators in obtaining extramural support.

7. Represents Extension on matters pertaining to grants contracts and gifts in meetings with Vice Presidents Deans Faculty sponsors and professional associations. Public contact may involve presentations/speeches chairing panel sessions and organizing meetings. Participates in site visits hosts auditors sponsor representatives and other visitors as required.

8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
None

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelors Degree in a related field.

Experience: Three (3) years experience in developing research opportunities grant preparation or grant accounting.

Preferred Qualifications:

Masters degree. Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and/or Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA)

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of externally funded programs; government grant policies and regulations.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

No or very limited physical effort required.
No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: complete online application; submit a cover letter resume three professional references and a current unofficial transcript. Please note that any social security number included on requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online and that official transcripts will be requested of finalists.

Screening Date:

June 18 2026 until filled.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment programs or activities based on race color ethnicity sex pregnancy religion national origin disability age sexual orientation genetic information status as a U.S. veteran or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance 231 Famous Maroon Band Street P.O. 6044 Mississippi State MS 39762 .

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