Senior Portfolio Manager

About the role

The CGIAR System Organization's Office of the Chief Scientist manages the shared science and innovation strategy, planning, budgets, monitoring and reporting, and engages with governance, assurance and advisory bodies. It also supervises and manages bilaterally funded activities where the System Organization acts as financing, implementing or oversight entity, including projects overseen by it as an accredited entity to mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund and the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. The Senior Portfolio Manager coordinates and manages the portfolio of System Organization-led bilaterally funded activities and reports to the Practice Lead, Program Delivery and Special Advisor to the Chief Scientist.

Key responsibilities

• Create an enabling environment by leading the design, implementation and continuous improvement of frameworks, policies, procedures, guidelines, systems and tools for approval, delivery, oversight and performance management of bilaterally funded activities.
• Take part in upstream opportunity analysis and design of such activities, and seek alignment and shared learning across functions, rules, systems and tools.
• Ensure compliance with CGIAR, System Organization and funder rules and contractual terms, and engage with funders, evaluators and auditors; lead institutional responses to funder surveys and compliance reviews.
• Lead engagement with CGIAR Centers and other executing partners, including partner identification and due diligence, and supervise activities during implementation.
• Manage performance and results end to end, ensuring monitoring, reporting and performance requirements are met on time, and supporting the use of data and insights for learning and decisions.
• Promote learning and capacity sharing across teams, Centers and partners, and continuously improve internal rules, systems and practices based on stakeholder feedback.

Required profile

• Advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in project management, economics, international development, public administration or a related field.
• Extensive experience in portfolio coordination and/or project management in an international applied research or development context.
• Understanding of development and climate finance mechanisms such as the GCF and the FRLD.
• Track record of managerial and technical leadership in a diverse, geographically dispersed setting.
• Proven ability to design, roll out and oversee policies, procedures, guidelines and systems in an international organization or multi-stakeholder partnership.
• Ability to influence, persuade and align across organizations, teams and people.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of communication, convening and facilitation in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary context.
• Fluency in English is essential; a working knowledge of French is an advantage.