Associate Program Director: Systems Development and Scaling

About the role

CIMMYT, a non-profit international organization working on improved production systems and basic cereals, seeks an Associate Program Director for its Systems Development and Scaling portfolio within Sustainable Agrifood Systems. The role provides strategic and operational leadership so that tested innovations are adopted at scale and contribute to CIMMYT 2030, while feeding insights back into CIMMYT's Discovery portfolios. The position is based at a CIMMYT office in Latin America, Asia or Africa.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the Systems Development strategy for the portfolio, identifying high-impact innovations, combinations, countries and pathways together with cost-benefit evidence, and strengthen coherence across country and regional projects.
• Contribute to scaling science research and align outcomes with monitoring and learning.
• Embed innovations in public delivery systems (policy, extension, seed systems) and in market and enterprise systems, promoting viable delivery models and partner ownership.
• Build the investment case and pipeline to align innovations with government programs, development banks, climate finance and private capital.
• Co-develop ways to overcome policy, regulatory and institutional barriers with national partners.
• Build long-term partnerships with national research systems, universities, private sector, international centres, NGOs and agencies, and advocate for CIMMYT's agenda in international forums.
• Ensure inclusion of beneficiaries, safeguard participation and benefit sharing, and manage legal and intellectual property in partner agreements.
• Lead fundraising through projects, institutional partnerships, donors and private-sector engagement, set targets and monitor scaling impacts.
• Mentor and lead multi-country, transdisciplinary teams; oversee budgeting, resource allocation and compliance, and manage delivery, financial and reputational risk.
• Set objectives and review performance of direct reports, build successor capacity, and interface with Discovery research to feed field evidence and farmer feedback back into research priorities.
• Support the SAS Director in program-wide planning.

Required profile

• PhD (or master's with exceptional experience) in agricultural or development economics, sustainable development, agricultural systems, rural development, agroecology, public policy or a related field.
• At least 10 years of distinguished leadership in agricultural development, scaling or program delivery in an international research or development organization, academia or industry.
• Proven interdisciplinary, cross-sector team leadership across multiple countries.
• Demonstrated experience in project design, implementation, performance management and evaluation, with sustained outcomes through public, private or civil-society delivery systems.
• Demonstrated success in securing public, development and private funding.

What we offer

• Fixed-term appointment of three years, with further employment subject to performance and available funds.
• Internationally competitive salary and benefits including housing allowance, car, health and life insurance, children's education assistance, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, retirement plan contribution and relocation assistance.

Applications are made online with a CV, contact details and reference confirmations, and a cover letter; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Internal applicants should contact HR for eligibility guidance.