Head of ICT, Data Systems and Digital Transformation at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities

Digital Transformation

•  Strategic Vision & Leadership: Develop and lead ILRI’s digital transformation and data strategy leveraging AI, analytics, and emerging technologies (including Gen AI), ensuring alignment with the 2030 Corporate Strategy and long-term institutional goals.
•  Operational Management & Innovation: Oversee departmental planning, budgeting, and performance management to ensure cost-effective delivery of high-impact data and digital solutions while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
•  Governance & Policy Development: Establish and implement policies, standards, and governance frameworks (including business continuity plans) to ensure secure, efficient, and strategic use of digital technologies across ILRI.
•  Cross-Sector Collaboration: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify digital needs and co-create solutions; build partnerships with CGIAR Centers, academia, industry, and vendors to access shared services, technologies, and innovation pipelines.
•  Talent Development & Change Leadership: Provide strategic leadership in staff development, mentoring, and change management to build a digitally capable workforce and ensure delivery of KPIs and SLAs institutional wide.

Data and Research Systems

•  AI-Enabled Data Strategy: Provide strategic oversight for the collection, management, and analysis of complex research datasets using AI, and advanced analytics to enable evidence-based decision-making and maximize research impact.
•  Data Governance & Compliance: Maintain and enforce robust data governance policies to safeguard integrity, confidentiality, and ethical standards, ensuring compliance with FAIR principles and global regulations (e.g., GDPR) while preparing datasets for AI-readiness.
•  Collaborative Digital Innovation: Partner with researchers and departments to design and prototype human-centred digital tools that streamline research workflows and enhance scientific outputs.
•  Digital Solutions for Science: Lead the design and delivery of agile, user-centred research and business applications, ensuring secure, scalable platforms that support ILRI’s research agenda and global data sharing needs.

ICT Operations

•  Service Management & Process Optimization: Implement ITIL-based service management frameworks and optimized workflows to deliver consistent, SLA-driven support and seamless user experiences.
•  Strategic IT Partnership: Position the ICT department as a trusted business partner across ILRI, providing proactive, responsive and value-driven support and technical backstopping to research, business, and regional teams globally.
•  Infrastructure Leadership:   Govern the evolution of ILRI’s IT infrastructure, comprising networks, servers, and communication platforms, integrating automation and AI to enhance efficiency and reliability.
•  Cybersecurity & Risk Mitigation: Lead organization-wide information security strategy, including policy development, threat detection, vulnerability management, and business continuity planning to minimise risks.
•  Innovation & Compliance: Drive adoption of emerging technologies through structured scouting and pilot programs, ensuring IT systems comply with global security standards and institutional policies.

Requirements

• Advanced degree i.e PhD, MSC, Masters in Information Systems or MBA equivalent with significant relevant experience.
• 9 years’ experience with PhD or fifteen years’ relevant experience with masters and progressively responsible experience in leadership roles overseeing digital transformations and data science in a research or academic environment.
• Experience in digital strategic planning, budgeting, and people management by delivering efficient and effective digital leadership and delivering technology solutions within a global/international organizational setting.
• While technical acumen is important, success in this role will depend equally on interest and track record on strategic thinking, change management, and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, decentralized environment.
• Ability to build trust and alignment across scientific, operational, and regional teams in a matrixed and multi-stakeholder environment.
• Capacity to influence without authority and to navigate institutional complexity through strategic communication, listening, and coalition-building.
• Ability to translate technical vision into organizational priorities and to adapt messaging for diverse cultural and disciplinary audiences.
• Ability to manage some ambiguity, balancing institutional priorities, and supporting teams through change and transformation.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of stakeholders and influence change through relationship and referential power
• Ability to build and strengthen partnership with internal teams — including researchers, country offices, and operational units is essential, as is the ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and digital learning.