Associate Program Director - Discovery Research

About the role

CIMMYT is recruiting an Associate Program Director for its SAS Discovery Research program in Nairobi. The role contributes to the coherence and design of projects, reviews the implementation of science and guides team and partnership development, supporting the innovation agenda of the program. It is a scientific leadership position for a transdisciplinary portfolio aimed at making agrifood systems more productive, inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable.

Key responsibilities

• Define and oversee the SAS Discovery research strategy, using country, farmer, market and policy priorities to guide portfolio choices
• Lead research on systems and scaling science, integrating agronomy, soil and environmental science, climate, economics, social science and nutrition, together with maize, wheat, dryland crops and genetic innovation programs
• Integrate advances in technology, data science, gender and inclusion research and real-time feedback monitoring into research design
• Ensure farmers, national agricultural research systems, universities and the private sector help shape research questions, trials and tools
• Drive scientific quality and compliance, including peer review, research ethics, data integrity and responsible open science
• Lead competitive proposals, donor engagement, project execution, donor reporting and fiscal management, and support the SAS Director in planning, budgeting and compliance
• Monitor portfolio commitments, staff capacity and budget performance, and recommend corrective action
• Contribute to recruitment, development and mentoring of transdisciplinary teams, set objectives, give performance feedback and build succession plans
• Build partnerships with research systems, universities and the private sector, represent CIMMYT at international forums and co-manage the handover of validated innovations to the Systems Development and Scaling APD

Required profile

• PhD in crop science, agronomy, soil science, agroecology, environmental or climate science, agricultural or development economics, sustainable development or a related field
• At least 10 years of research leadership in an international research organization, academia or industry, including leading multidisciplinary teams
• Proven interdisciplinary science leadership and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications
• Demonstrated success in securing funding and managing large research budgets and multi-partner projects
• Strong international and developing-country experience, expertise in international legal frameworks and intellectual property agreements

What we offer

• Fixed-term position of three years, then subject to performance and available funds
• Housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children's education and paid vacation
• Annual home travel airfare, retirement plan contribution and relocation assistance