International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Careers

Specific duties:

• Collaborate with relevant public and private sector institutions, contribute to deploying and scaling up seeds in support of cropping systems in Sudan, including but not limited to groundnut, sorghum, sesame, and vegetable seed systems.
• Provide technical support to seed companies, NGOs, and NARS in designing and implementing seed road maps and systems analysis for seed system scaling to meet seed demand for target beneficiaries.
• Work with Gender Lead to ensure gender- and market-responsive seed systems interventions and extension approaches for enhancing livelihoods, including demonstration of new varieties to generate demand and capacity building of local institutions.
• Support sustainable intensification practices that promote soil health in climate-resilient crop production.
• Promote and manage various rural development and innovation models around extension/seed system/climate innovative technologies engaging institutions, change agents, and stakeholders.
• Lead the development of approaches for promoting seed entrepreneurship amongst women and youth.
• Engage with knowledge agencies, training institutions, and experts for stakeholder capacity building and strengthening partnership.
• Lead the collection and dissemination of high-quality seed producibility data to seed companies, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
• Document the work through high-quality technical reports that demonstrate project impacts.
• Work with and support project and program economists to implement a broader social science research agenda related to seed system strengthening, seed marketing, market intelligence, agri-business, and end-user preferences in the region.
• Contribute to the positioning of CIMMYT as a thought leader in debate related to legume and cereal seed systems development through high-level publications and presentations.
• Engage local stakeholders (seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research to address bottlenecks in legume and cereal systems in Sudan and the region.

Requirements

• Arabic speaking and proven record of working in Arabic speaking regions on seed systems.
• Ph.D. in Crop Science, Breeding, Seed Systems would be desired. Candidates with different backgrounds will also be considered.
• 5 or more years of experience in international agriculture development research, preferably working on seed systems.
• At least 5 years in research project management or a related role, including publications, donor relations, reporting and fund raising.
• Core experience:
  • Expert knowledge of Seed Systems.
  • Long-term experience working with research organizations, NGOs, private sector seed companies or related.
  • Evidence of policy support and high-level government engagement in Seed Systems development.
  • Project management and donor relations expertise.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Team Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Communication.

Contribute to Strategic Management and Integration:

• Collaborate with our leadership team to guide the organization's strategic direction, focusing on integrating GESI throughout our research and innovation.
• Analyze global trends and their implications for GESI, advising the Director General and ensuring that CIMMYT remains a leader in this field by mainstreaming and innovating GESI throughout all our work.
• Manage and innovate GESI science and innovation protocols, methods, infrastructure, and initiatives, ensuring alignment with international best practices and standards.
• Promote CIMMYT's vision and GESI objectives, driving forward our mission with passion and commitment.

Expand Operational and Strategic Capacity:

• Stay abreast of global developments in GESI research and innovation, translating insights into action and policy upgrades.
• Establish and track objectives and key performance indicators for GESI initiatives, enhancing our impact and reach.
• Drive the GESI components of the CIMMYT 2030 Strategy, advocating for continuous improvement and high performance.
• Develop and execute strategic plans that bolster GESI in our research and innovation portfolio, ensuring effective, client-focused outcomes.

Lead and Inspire:

• Ensure that GESI principles are embedded across CIMMYT, translating strategic vision into excellence in execution.
• Oversee the development of GESI policies and research and innovation protocols, methods, and concepts, setting the bar for quality and impact, while inspiring change in our partners.
• Engage with a worldwide network, fostering unity in a diverse cultural landscape.
• Develop and lead a GESI research and innovation portfolio focused and improving GESI standards and implementation throughout research and innovation in the Global South.

Requirements

• An advanced university/academic degree in a relevant field, with a strong focus on gender equity and social inclusion.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in GESI-focused roles, demonstrating leadership and the ability to mobilize resources and people.
• Proven skills in fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building in GESI.
• A strong understanding of organizational change processes.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience with project management and administration.
• Experience working in an international environment.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong communication skills, with fluency in English required and additional language proficiency desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams and partners across cultures and geographies.
• You exhibit the following competencies: Strategic Impact, Operational Efficiency, People Management, Networking and Communication, and Individual Impact.

Specific duties:

• Developing analytical tools (e.g., software packages, web applications) to enhance the efficiency of agricultural research in collaboration with partner scientists.
• Assist the Genetic Innovation Breeding Analytics core team in improving data quality and standardizing analytics pipeline.
• Engaging with member breeding teams to create awareness of new tools and approaches for improving data quality standards and robust analyses in breeding pipelines.
• Developing strategy in collaboration with breeders and developing plans for the use of new analytics tools and methodologies.
• Mentoring and consulting with the partner breeding community.
• Contribute to the development of a training strategy and materials for implementation.
• Leading and contributing to both, virtual and hands-on training, and mentorship activities targeted at member breeding teams in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Providing support to internal and external reviews and evaluations.
• Contributing to publications derived from the breeding optimization projects.

Requirements

• Ph.D. with 2 years’ experience or MSc with 7 years’ experience or BSc with 12 years’ experience in Computer Engineering, Data Science, or any other related field with an excellent and clear track record of international collaboration and providing Data Science support to multi-cultural teams, preferably in CGIAR-NARES settings. Experience working in Africa is highly recommended.
• In-depth understanding of practical breeding applications and logistical constraints relevant to breeding programs targeting the developing world (i.e., CGIAR centers, national systems, and private sector organizations).
• In-depth understanding of programming languages, web applications such as AWS, Posit Work Bench, among others.
• Expertise in statistical analysis software (R, mixed modeling, perhaps machine learning, etc.) and a creative and innovative mindset.
• A good understanding of quantitative genetics and underlying mathematical theory.
• Good reporting and communication skills in English (working language).
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Problem-solving and decision-making, client orientation, negotiation and conflict resolution, communication, and teamwork.

Specific duties:

•  Support the development of high throughput phenotyping protocols for target dryland crops by designing new assays or recommending protocols based on regional network needs.
•  Support breeding efforts by assisting breeders to select for resistance to various biotic stresses of dryland crops.
•  Contribute to building dryland crop improvement networks and implementing ongoing DCP crops biotic stress screening activities in focus countries.
•  Support with supervision and reporting - the establishment of phenotyping facilities and protocols.
•  Support organization, presentation, and reporting of dryland crops biotic research results.
•  Support achievement of capacity development needs for dryland crop improvement network.
•  Ensure all network trials are uploaded in the Breeding Management System (BMS).
•  Support pathology data analysis using software like R, SAS, and Genstat.
•  Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

•  An earned Ph.D. plant pathology/phytopathology/entomology or any other closely related crop protection field from an internationally recognized university.
•  A publication record in high-impact crop protection Journals.
•  Expertise working with diverse biotic stresses and development of complex screening assays, including crop pests, pathogens, and weeds.
•  Experience with natural or artificial biotic stress infestation including establishment of dirty plots in compliance with host country phytosanitary regulatory guidelines.
•  Strong interpersonal and communication skills to manage complex collaborator relations including experienced breeders, social scientists, and crop protection experts.
•  Basic knowledge of international seed exchange and phytosanitary guidelines in East and Southern Africa region.
•  Ability to conduct staff training to staff working in resource-limited situations as part of establishing a cohesive network.
•  Working knowledge of data analysis software like R, SAS, and Genstat.
•  Track record of flexibility, adaptability, well organized and working under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Willing to travel widely (60%+) in East and Southern Africa, occasionally to West and Central Africa.
•  Able to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment and possess skills to manage support staff.
•  Good reporting and communication skills in English (working language).
•  The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Problem Solving and Decision Making, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Teamwork, and Communication.

Description
 Program management & administration

• Provide critical support to Initiative planning, management, administration, and development of Initiative-specific processes, in consultation with the Initiative Lead, work package leads, center focal points, scientists, initiative staff.
• Support the Initiative by facilitating and liaising with staff from operational divisions and units in OneCGIAR and at the CGIAR Centers involved in the Initiative.
• Work closely with relevant OneCGIAR units such as the Project Portfolio Unit [PPU], the Project Coordination Unit [PCU] and monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact assessment [MELIA] to coordinate the delivery and reporting of the Initiative targets while observing minimum standards, schedules, and budgets.

Project planning and reporting

• Organize and participate in planning activities including, but not limited to preparation of annual Programs of Results and Budgets (PORBs), annual People Plans (PPs), Theory of Change (TOC) updates, and other planning exercises employed by the Initiative.
• Organize and participate in end-of-year reporting through the Performance and Results Management System (PRMS) and other tools employed by the Initiative to monitor and assess performance, proactively explain variances, identify risks, and address operational issues to prevent or mitigate negative consequences.
• Coordinate with the FSI to ensure that donor financial reports are submitted in a timely and accurate manner and in compliance with Genetic Innovation Action Area and donor requirements.

Communication and knowledge management

• Coordinate and facilitate internal communication between and among organizations participating in the Initiative, including CGIAR Centers and their research and scaling partners.
• Coordinate and facilitate external communications with, among and about the Initiative and its partners, funders, and stakeholders, in close collaboration with CGIAR’s Communications Unit and other CGIAR Centers involved in the Initiative, relating to both: (1) scientific and technical research products including but not limited to scholarly publications such as journal articles, working papers, research briefs, and datasets, and (2) communications activities such as meetings, workshops, conferences, media, and social media.

Financial management

• Monitor and report on initiative’s spending against budget on a quarterly and annual basis in coordination with the FSI, and report to the Initiative lead to support informed programmatic and resource allocation decisions.
• Periodically review the spending levels of work packages and discuss with work package leads and budget holders any anticipated over/underspending to ensure that spending matches with work plan.
• Coordinate with the FSI on the preparation of the annual initiative budget for approval by the Initiative Lead, fully costed budget for new proposals, budget realignment when needed and budget distribution to work packages and centers.

Requirements

• Post graduate degree in Project Management, Knowledge Management, Business Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation or any other related field.
• Mid-career (minimum of 5-7 years of relevant program/project management experience)
• Good knowledge of theories, practices, and procedures in project management, partnership, financial, monitoring, and knowledge management.
• Proficiency in standard software such as minor programming using macros, mail merge, designing customized reports, developing audio visual presentations and advanced skills in Windows Operating System, LAN, and Internet.
• Familiarity with and regular usage of task management systems and tools such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Teamwork, Trello, Pomodoro-tracker, ilovepdf etc
• Work experience in Program/Project Management and Administration.
• Good computing skills; EXCEL, MS-Word, PowerPoint, MS-Project, Web Management etc.
• Ability to work respectfully and inclusively in a diverse, multicultural, multidisciplinary work environment

Core competencies:

• Ability to solve complex issues/ challenges during implementation, detail-oriented – proactive thinker and anticipate challenges and plans for solutions.
• Multi-tasker with attention to detail focused on the big picture and desired outcomes.
• Ability to speak, read, communicate – English (essential), French (highly desirable).
• Ability to analyze data, situations, or problems, evaluate possible courses of action and make appropriate decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and desire to thrive in a multi-cultural international environment and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to demonstrate financial and non-financial resource awareness.
• Ability to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
• Client Orientation, Critical Thinking, Strategic Communication

Specific duties:

• Collaborate with relevant public and private sector institutions, contribute to deploying and scaling up seeds in support of cropping systems in Sudan, including but not limited to groundnut, sorghum, sesame, and vegetable seed systems.
• Provide technical support to seed companies, NGOs, and NARS in designing and implementing seed road maps and systems analysis for seed system scaling to meet seed demand for target beneficiaries.
• Work with Gender Lead to ensure gender- and market-responsive seed systems interventions and extension approaches for enhancing livelihoods, including demonstration of new varieties to generate demand and capacity building of local institutions.
• Support sustainable intensification practices that promote soil health in climate-resilient crop production.
• Promote and manage various rural development and innovation models around extension/seed system/climate innovative technologies engaging institutions, change agents, and stakeholders.
• Lead the development of approaches for promoting seed entrepreneurship amongst women and youth.
• Engage with knowledge agencies, training institutions, and experts for stakeholder capacity building and strengthening partnership.
• Lead the collection and dissemination of high-quality seed producibility data to seed companies, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
• Document the work through high-quality technical reports that demonstrate project impacts.
• Work with and support project and program economists to implement a broader social science research agenda related to seed system strengthening, seed marketing, market intelligence, agri-business, and end-user preferences in the region.
• Contribute to the positioning of CIMMYT as a thought leader in debate related to legume and cereal seed systems development through high-level publications and presentations.
• Engage local stakeholders (seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research to address bottlenecks in legume and cereal systems in Sudan and the region.

Requirements

• Arabic speaking and proven record of working in Arabic speaking regions on seed systems.
• Ph.D. in Crop Science, Breeding, Seed Systems would be desired. Candidates with different backgrounds will also be considered.
• 5 or more years of experience in international agriculture development research, preferably working on seed systems.
• At least 5 years in research project management or a related role, including publications, donor relations, reporting and fund raising.
• Core experience:
  • Expert knowledge of Seed Systems.
  • Long-term experience working with research organizations, NGOs, private sector seed companies or related.
  • Evidence of policy support and high-level government engagement in Seed Systems development.
  • Project management and donor relations expertise.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Team Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Communication.

Summary of responsibilities:

HR Administration.

• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, take responsibility for all Personnel Administration activities (hiring, retiring of regular, temporary and consultants LRS).
• Provide efficient and proactive support to the IRS and attend in a timely manner to management team request from HQ related to IRS in Kenya.
• Act as an HR business partner to the CCR and the Programs by identifying the Recruitment and Training needs, providing guidance and advice in the implementation.
• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, ensure full compliance with local legislation and all HR policies and procedures established by CIFOR-ICRAF and by CIMMYT for various Staff categories, including but not limited to hiring, discipline, promotion, termination, etc.
• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, provide timely inputs for all payroll transactions to be processed in accordance with CIMMYT’s practice, thus ensuring full compliance with tax and social security provisions.
• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, take responsibility for the management of all HR benefits and provide support to the Staff should they need assistance in processing claims.
• Develop, plan, implement and review regular induction sessions for new staff.
• Oversee maintenance of LRS staff personnel files in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF.
• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF and CIMMYT Global HR at HQ, prepare benchmarking analysis on compensation and benefits and prepare and submit proposal for salary adjustment.
• In collaboration with CIMMYT HQ, support any Training by providing information on the local needs, market practices and feedback on processes. Equally, support training needs assessment prepared by CIMMYT for IRS and LRS in aspects that may not be covered by CIFOR-ICRAF.
• In collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, facilitate the processing of the yearly reviews of Performance evaluation, salary, and promotion for all LRS.
• Contribute to the implementation of a new HR Information Systems and ensure that the information entered in the global HR management system is constantly updated and always accurate.
• Assist in managing the satellite offices within the Africa Satellite Office Management Framework through contact with the other CGIAR hosting centers.
• Oversee all casual labor agreements.
• Coordinate CIMMYT Kenya Townhalls, the Director General’s and other high-level visits to CIMMYT.

HR Development.

• Lead the development of the annual HR work plan and budget in collaboration with relevant stakeholders from CIMMYT Programs and HR Management to ensure alignment in terms of priorities and joint efforts across the organization.
• Facilitate the resolution and escalation, when necessary, of issues at country level, in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF.
• Facilitate the internal and external audits taking place in-country and ensure the implementation of audit recommendations relevant to the organization and/or the RO.
• Approve shared budget: review and approve shared budget expenses for corporate services.
• CIMMYT Country Management Committee (CCMC) – Kenya: Assume membership of CCMC-Kenya, act as its secretary and facilitate its meetings.
• Contribute to the updating of CIMMYTs global HR policies and lead the changes related to Kenya. Review and prepare appendices to CIMMYT standard policies when the specific situation of the regional office requires deviation from the standard policies.
• Ensure appropriate internal communication on HR related matters in coordination with the relevant HR team at HQ. Assist the CRR in mediation of conflict and addressing respect in the workplace.
• In collaboration with the CIMMYT HR Management, prepare and implement the Occupational Health and Safety plan to comply with CIMMYT policies and regulations.

Management of Agreement.

• Ensure agreements between CIMMYT and other government agencies are up to date and renewed on time.
• Ensure the CIMMYT – ICRAF management agreement is effectively being managed and renewals are done in a timely manner.
• Provide safe custody of CIMMYT Host Country Agreement with the government of Kenya.
• Ensure proper management of the agreement in relation to the CIMMYT’s mandate in the country.

Security & Risk Management.

• Oversee the Security matters and coordinate with the CIFOR-ICRAF Security officer and the CIMMYT HQ Risk Management Unit to ensure prompt resolution of any matters arising. Assist in the preparation of the Security SOP, Contingency and Evacuation Plan.

Protocol.

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with government offices, counterpart national and international organizations, partners, and communities.
• Prepare and/or examine documents for exemption processing for all CIMMYT International staff and other protocol related documentation in compliance with the Kenyan laws.
• Organize, coordinate, and advise on protocol services and securing support for CIMMYT.
• Ensure compliance of activities with international norms of diplomatic protocol and sharing the same with relevant staff and CIMMYT stakeholders.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in human resources or related field, or professional qualification.
• 7 to 10 years – Requires good knowledge of theories, practices, and procedures within a discipline.
• IHRM Membership – full member.
• Advanced knowledge of relevant administrative and/or operating protocols and policies of the function.
• Specialized knowledge limited to small field of expertise.
• Basic managerial competence.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Able to prepare and make presentations and reports.
• Good team player and motivates others to focus on results.
• Ability to work under minimum supervision.
• Good interpersonal skills in a diverse environment with multi-cultural setting
• Ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-driven and well organized.
• Experience in budgeting and budget management.
• Ability to manage and provide effective communication in complex situations.
• Excellent computing skills; EXCEL, MS-Word, PowerPoint, MS-Project, Web Management etc.

Specific duties:

• Lead an ambitious and innovative research-for-development (R4D) agenda focused on the challenges for cereal seed sector in Eastern Africa related to:
• Increased relevance and scale of informal cereal seed systems
• Demand-led strategies for the development of formal cereal seed systems
• End-user preferences for foods derived from maize, wheat, millet, ground nut and sorghum systems.
• Influence of gender relations on access to and preferences for cereal varieties
• Private sector capacity to deliver and distribute (market) quality seed products.
• Increased effectiveness of seed aid programs by governments and NGOs
• Provide strategic leadership for the implementation and growth of a high-impact social science research agenda on cereal seed systems.
• Support the capacity development of CIMMYT’s partners in the region, including seed companies, extension programs, and national agricultural research centers, in themes related to cereal seed systems development.
• Engage local stakeholders (NARS, seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research needed to address bottlenecks in cereal systems in East Africa and beyond through workshops, briefs, and periodic one-on-one engagements.
• Engage staff from CIMMYT, NARS, NGOs, and seed companies in the region to understand plant breeding, seed production, and seed distribution, as input for designing a stronger client orientation by social science in its seed systems agenda.
• Support regional efforts to mobilize resources to expand R4D agenda on seed systems and related areas of work.

Requirements

• PhD. in agricultural economics, development economics, natural resource management, gender studies or similar field, with at least twelve years of relevant experience in a developing country context. Private sector experience will be viewed favorably.
• Strong quantitative research skills and experience
• Track record of publications in high-level peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in complex multidisciplinary research or development projects.
• Good partnership building skills, including the ability to interact with funding agencies and local partners.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines as a member of a diverse work team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Team Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Communication.

Specific duties:

• Actively support CIMMYT maize breeders in developing improved germplasm with resistance to major insect-pests, especially stem borers and Fall Armyworm (FAW), including efficient mass-rearing of insect-pests, artificial infestation of maize germplasm, and phenotypic data generation that contributes to stage-gate advancement of products.
• As a part of CGIAR Plant Health Initiative, design and implement impactful work on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of maize insect-pests, in partnership with relevant public and private institutions, as well as through participatory engagement of extensional personnel and farming communities in eastern and southern Africa.
• Execute innovative entomology research in accelerating genetic improvement for insect-pest resistance in maize, including lab and field testing of Bt transgenes in the biosafety lab, greenhouse, and field as a part of TELA Project.
• Support the development and implementation of Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies that enable sustainable deployment of Bt-based insect-resistant maize in the TELA project countries.
• Technical backstopping and capacity strengthening of the national/regional partners on advanced areas of maize entomology, including breeding and deployment of insect pest-resistant maize germplasm, and IPM.
• Design and implement high-quality research that enables publications in peer reviewed journals with high impact factor.
• Develop and implement new project proposals in high-priority areas of CIMMYT, including IPM.
• Contribute to the visibility of CIMMYT' s research, partnerships, and impacts, especially in Africa.
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor or Director, CIMMYT Global Maize Program.

Requirements

 

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology.
• At least 5 years of research experience in agricultural entomology.
• Applied knowledge of experimental design, management of field trials, and field breeding operations.
• Experience in mass rearing of insect-pests under controlled conditions, and their effective use in screening for resistance in lab and field-based crop research.
• Demonstrated contributions in developing and testing appropriate technologies in controlling pre- and post- harvest insect-pests, and/or integrated pest management (IPM).
• Excellent computer skills and experience with SAS, SPSS, or other statistical software.
• Demonstrated ability to publish in refereed, high-impact scientific journals.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, and good communication skills.
• Interest in international research and development; preferably with experience of working in Africa.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Critical and Creative Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Conflict Resolution, Communication, Teamwork, and Client Orientation.