Assistant in Research, 12 Month Salaried (Project Coordinator - Learning Systems Institute)

Department

The Learning Systems Institute is a multidisciplinary research and development organization dedicated to improving learning, education systems, and human performance. Our project-based teams are composed of faculty with a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and experience. These teams feature LSI's own experts, top researchers from FSU's other units and partners at leading institutions across the country and the globe. LSI's clients and funders include a variety of private, federal, and state agencies, as well as international governmental entities. Among the U.S. federal agencies LSI has served are the Department of Education, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Department of Homeland Security. Since its founding in 1969, LSI has attracted more than $800 million in research and development funding. At present, approximately 100 LSI faculty and staff are engaged in more than forty active projects in the state of Florida as well as in Zambia, Lebanon, Armenia, Rwanda, Malawi, and Egypt.

The Learning Systems Institute seeks candidates for an Assistant in Research position. This faculty member will serve as Project Coordinator for the Malawi STEP Activity and other projects on an as-needed basis. Additional responsibilities include providing technical support for international development education projects around the world on an as-needed basis.

Responsibilities

The primary role of the Project Coordinator is to provide support to Project Directors (Primary Investigators) and Senior Technical Advisors in the execution of their projects. The Project Coordinator may also provide support to other Learning System Institute faculty and administration on an as-needed basis.

• Financial Management
  • Process consultant purchase orders, invoices, and expense reports for approval and payment.
  • Update project budget monitoring for sub-awardees, including pipelines and actuals.
  • Inform partners of obligation burn rates and needed increases.
  • Lead procurement for projects as needed.
• Project Management
  • Support tracking of project activities, deliverables, and products.
  • Provide direct support to consultants and partners when needed.
  • Maintain project files and contact sheet.
  • Provide logistical and technical support to the project on an as-needed basis, which may include assisting with training and training preparation, creation and development of certificates or data collection tools, and monitoring data collection efforts.
• Contract Management
  • Work with Project Director to ensure project is executed in compliance with the contract and troubleshoot, as necessary.
  • As requested, prepare, and manage consultant and institutional contracts.
  • Prepare approval requests for submission to partners, including travel and personnel requests when applicable.
  • Provide administrative support to LSI staff and consultants.
• Programmatic Technical Support
  • Support the development of training materials and facilitate trainings as requested by project teams.
  • Support the data collection monitoring process by using standard protocols and resources (such as templates or previous data collection tools).
  • Provide ongoing troubleshooting support to project teams related to data capture, training, or data collection as requested.
  • Assist with data cleaning using SPSS or R software as requested by project teams.
  • Contribute to the creation and finalization of project deliverables, including quarterly and annual reporting.
  • Provide other logistical and technical support to projects, as requested.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Master's degree in international development, education, economics, statistics, project management, research methods, or a related field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant work experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) as well as Outlook and Teams.
• Proven organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail and quick-learning skills.
• Technical knowledge and experience with international literacy interventions.
• Demonstrated initiative, versatility, integrity, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience traveling and working in Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) contexts.
• Willingness to travel internationally to LMICs frequently and for extended periods of time.
• Spoken and written fluency in English.
• Required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-20 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience.
• Proficiency in a second language.
• Demonstrated success in leading education development activities.
• Familiarity with donor-funded project compliance requirements and reporting processes (i.e., USAID, UNICEF, FCDO, etc.)

Helpful

Environmental and Physical Conditions: The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces with other workers, vendors, and partners. May be in situations which require conflict resolution.

Supervision and Oversight: The Project Coordinator reports to a Project Director (Principal Investigator). The Project Coordinator may serve as a member of various teams and will support those teams through their respective Project Directors (Principal Investigators) or Senior Technical Advisors.

Contact Info

Dr. Adrienne Barnes-Story: abarnes@lsi.fsu.edu

University Information

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research, encourages creativity, and embraces diversity. At FSU, there's the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow's news!

Learn more about our university and campuses.

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How To Apply

If qualified and interested in a specific Faculty job opening as advertised, apply to Florida State University at https://hr.fsu.edu/facultyjobs. If you are a current FSU employee, apply via myFSU > Self Service.

Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include education details even if attaching a Vita.

Considerations

This is a Faculty position.

This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check .

The successful candidate can be based in the Tallahassee area or remote and should be capable of and prepared to engage in travel abroad.

Equal Employment Opportunity

An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer.

FSU's Equal Opportunity Statement can be accessed at : https://hr.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu2186/files/PDF/Publications/diversity/EEO_Statement.pdf .