IRS26359 - Associate Program Director: Systems Development and Scaling

About us:

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

Purpose: Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Systems Development and Scaling

portfolio of SAS, so that tested innovations are adopted at scale and contribute measurably to

CIMMYT 2030 strategy, providing feedback and insights to improve innovation development

within CIMMYT's Discovery portfolios.

Key accountabilities

1. Systems Development and Scaling vision and strategy: Define and execute the System

Development strategy for SAS, aligned with CIMMYT's Excellence in Science and

Innovation objectives, identifying high impact opportunity innovations, innovation

combinations, countries and pathways using scaling science tools and approaches

together with cost-benefit evidence. Strengthen coherence across country and regional

projects so that investments build lasting institutional capacity and systems change.

2. Systems and scaling science: Contribute to research in scaling science, aligning outcome

delivery with tangible and high-value monitoring and learning.

3. Delivery pathways: Embed innovations in public delivery systems (policy, extension,

seed systems) and in market and enterprise systems (private distribution, value chains,

digital platforms). Promote viable delivery models and partner ownership that can

continue beyond project funding.

4. Finance: Build the investment case and pipeline to align innovations with government

programs, development banks, climate finance, and private capital.

5. Enabling environment: Identify and co-develop opportunities to alleviate policy,

regulatory, and institutional barriers to innovation adoption, working with national

partners.

6. Partnerships and influence: Build equitable, long-term, impact-oriented partnerships

with national agricultural research systems, universities, private sector players,

international centers, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies.

Advocate for CIMMYT's agenda in international forums and promote its outputs.

7. Inclusion and safeguards: Ensure system development and scaling activities actively

consider broad inclusion of beneficiaries, document and mitigate barriers to

participation and benefit sharing, agree safeguards and accountability arrangements

with partners and relevant institutional functions, and manage legal, and intellectual

property in partner agreements.

8. Funding and results: Lead and contribute to fundraising through projects, institutional

partnerships, donor and private-sector engagement. Set targets and actively monitor

scaling implementation and impacts.

9. Talent and operations: Mentor and lead multi-country, transdisciplinary teams; oversee

budgeting, resource allocation and compliance; manage delivery, financial and

reputational risk. Set objectives and review performance for direct reports, build

successor capacity, and work with Program Managers and Finance to monitor

commitments, partner delivery and cost recovery.

10. Interface with Discovery Research: Agree readiness criteria with the Discovery project

leads and wider CIMMYT research programs, and feed field evidence, farmer feedback

and demand signals back into research priorities.

11. Support the SAS Director in program-wide planning.

Key outputs: An annual Systems Development and Scaling workplan and budget; a funded

portfolio with outcome targets and learning milestones; viable delivery and financing pathways

with agreed partner responsibilities; evidence of sustained adoption and benefits; and

documented feedback to Discovery.

• 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 and cross-sector team leadership across multiple countries.

Demonstrated experience across project design, implementation, performance

management and evaluation, with evidence of sustained outcomes through public,

private or civil-society delivery systems.

• Demonstrated success in securing funding, including public, development and private

finance, and managing large

The position will be based at a CIMMYT office in Latin America, Asia or Africa.

The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Candidates must apply online. Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Internal applications could be considered in line with internal eligibility guidance, please contact HR for more information.

This position will remain open until filled.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.