Program Leader – Tropical Forages

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises, of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Alliance seeks a highly motivated and visionary Program Leader – Tropical Forages to lead the Tropical Forages Program. The incumbent will play a pivotal role in advancing the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of forage-based crop-livestock-tree systems in tropical regions. The successful candidate will oversee strategic planning, research development, external and internal partnerships, and program execution to ensure alignment with the Alliance’s mission and CGIAR’s global objectives and Science programs.

Key duties & Responsibilities

Research Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the strategic direction of the Tropical Forages Program, ensuring alignment with the Alliance’s mission and CGIAR objectives, while continuously reviewing and adapting to global trends
• Drive innovation in forage-based solutions to enhance productivity, resource efficiency, environmental health and climate resilience in agriculture.
• Oversee the development of a multidisciplinary research portfolio, fostering integration with other thematic areas.
• Ensure research excellence by establishing rigorous methodologies and maintaining alignment with global best practices in forage research.

Program Development and Resource Mobilization

• Identify funding opportunities and coordinate resource mobilization efforts to sustain and expand the program’s impact.
• Facilitate and develop partnerships with donors, research institutions, and private sector actors to leverage resources and knowledge.
• Engage with CGIAR Science programs and other international platforms to position the Tropical Forages Program as a leader in sustainable agriculture and as a leader in the Tropical Forages theme.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building

• Supervise and mentor a diverse team of scientists, technicians, and research staff.
• Promote a culture of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration within the global team, located in three continents.
• Build scientific capacity within the organization through training, mentorship, and talent development initiatives.

Impact-Oriented Research and Dissemination

• Lead research initiatives aimed at improving forage productivity, nutritional quality, socio-economic and environmental benefits.
• Ensure effective dissemination of research findings through high-impact publications, policy briefs, and stakeholder engagement.
• Facilitate scaling of tropical forages with public and private stakeholders, with a focus on seed supply systems
• Collaborate with knowledge management teams to document and share success stories and case studies.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivate strategic partnerships with national and international stakeholders, including national and international research organizations, NGOs, governments, and private sector entities.
• Serve as a thought leader and spokesperson for the Tropical Forages Program at global conferences, workshops, and forums.
• Engage with policymakers to influence decision-making processes in sustainable agriculture and forage-based systems.

Program Management and Administration

• Oversee program budgeting, resource allocation, and financial management.
• Ensure a cohesive team, addressing team health, and contributing to individual well-being and motivation
• Ensure timely delivery of program outputs and adherence to donor requirements.
• Report on program performance to internal and external stakeholders, including donors and partners.

Requirements

• PhD or master’s degree in Plant Science, Agricultural Science, or a related field with at least 10 years of experience in forage research and development.
• Proven track record in leading and managing complex research programs in forage-based systems; livestock or crops.
• Expertise in tropical forages, soil-plant-animal interactions, and climate change mitigation.
• Strong background in experimental design, data analysis, and research dissemination.
• Experience with international research initiatives and/or familiarity with CGIAR systems would be a benefit.
• Excellent leadership, team-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in resource mobilization and partnership development.
• High-level scientific publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and development initiatives.
• Professional working proficiency in English. Additional languages e.g. Spanish and/or French are an advantage

Terms of employment

This is an internationally recruited position and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya or Cali, Colombia. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six (6) months and is renewable depending on the performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG12 level, with a minimum basic annual salary of USD121,335 per annum on a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFP300463-Program Leader – Tropical Forages as the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name and first name for ease of sorting.

Applications closing date: Friday, 23^rd May 2024

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

http://alliancebioversityciat.org