Regional Director, Africa at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Key Responsibilities:

Oversight & Compliance

• Oversee regional activities, ensuring application of standards, policies, processes, and regulatory requirements in alignment with HQ.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
• Maintain and promote in coordination with the CSO, CNO and COO the highest standards of excellence in science, engagement, and operations.

 Foster Positive Work Environment

• Promote a respectful work environment, ensuring the highest standards of conduct in line with CIMMYT's values.
• Maintain good working relationships among staff and teams within the countries and regions.

Project Portfolio Development and Promotion

• Support the development of a diversified project portfolio in coordination with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
• Promote the overall portfolio and the projects at both country and regional levels.
• Enhance visibility of CIMMYT activities and impacts in the region.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Work collaboratively with LT colleagues to deliver CIMMYTs 2030 strategy through activities in the region.
• Develop and implement regional strategies and plans in alignment with the organization's overall goals and oversee the development of aligned country-level strategies & plans.

Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization

• Represent CIMMYT and its DG in the region, managing relationships with government ministries and hosting organizations to build and maintain strategic partnerships.
• Develops relations with the regional bodies.
• Interacts and positions CIMMYT vis-à-vis the CGIAR regional structure
• Engage in active networking and effective communication with government ministries, funders, and partners, collaborating with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
• Lead and foster resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
• Coordinate activities at both country and regional levels and develop proposals in partnership with scientists and Chapter members.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners to support regional initiatives.

 Operational Functions and Issue Resolution

• Oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the Science, Operations and Engagement Chapters staff members in the region, facilitating functional reporting to corresponding Chapters.
• Supervise CIMMYT Country Representatives (CCRs) in that specific function, providing guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of regional strategies.
• Facilitate the resolution and escalation of issues at the country and regional level in collaboration with the corresponding Chapters.
• Support the development or renewal of Host Country Agreements to enable optimized operations, securing advantageous terms for CIMMYT.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate country/ regional performance, providing regular reports to the DG and other relevant stakeholders.

Additional Duties

• Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• 10-15+ distinguished years in a senior management position in a nonprofit organization, foundation, private company, or government agency, with significant scientific leadership and executive management experience.
• PhD in agriculture, natural resources management, development studies, or a related field, with at least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Experience of program, country or regional management.
• A global perspective grounded in international and developing country experience, driven by a deep commitment to elevating living standards in emerging economies.
• A history of achieving exceptional outcomes, earning esteem for a cooperative and inclusive approach, and contributing to a culture of excellence.
• Versatility in managing a multitude of tasks and priorities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, exemplifying agility, and strategic multitasking.
• Proven expertise in forging and nurturing relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals, across diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
• An innate ability to navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy with finesse, employing tact and discretion as fundamental tools of engagement.
• Strong communication skills, with fluency in English required and additional language proficiency desirable.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Strategic Impact, Operational Efficiency, People Management, Networking and Communication, and Individual Impact.