Regional Director, Africa
2026-02-18T07:58:19+00:00
International Maize And Wheat Improvement
https://cdn.greatkenyanjobs.com/jsjobsdata/data/employer/comp_5345/logo/The%20International%20Maize%20and%20Wheat%20Improvement%20Center%20(CIMMYT).png
https://www.cimmyt.org/
FULL_TIME
Nairobi
Nairobi
00100
Kenya
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Management, Project Management, Agriculture / Agro-Allied
2026-02-25T17:00:00+00:00
8
Background
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org
Key Responsibilities:
Oversight & Compliance
- Oversee regional activities, ensuring application of standards, policies, processes, and regulatory requirements in alignment with HQ.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
- Maintain and promote in coordination with the CSO, CNO and COO the highest standards of excellence in science, engagement, and operations.
Foster Positive Work Environment
- Promote a respectful work environment, ensuring the highest standards of conduct in line with CIMMYT's values.
- Maintain good working relationships among staff and teams within the countries and regions.
Project Portfolio Development and Promotion
- Support the development of a diversified project portfolio in coordination with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Promote the overall portfolio and the projects at both country and regional levels.
- Enhance visibility of CIMMYT activities and impacts in the region.
Leadership and Strategic Planning
- Work collaboratively with LT colleagues to deliver CIMMYTs 2030 strategy through activities in the region.
- Develop and implement regional strategies and plans in alignment with the organization's overall goals and oversee the development of aligned country-level strategies & plans.
Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization
- Represent CIMMYT and its DG in the region, managing relationships with government ministries and hosting organizations to build and maintain strategic partnerships.
- Develops relations with the regional bodies.
- Interacts and positions CIMMYT vis-à-vis the CGIAR regional structure
- Engage in active networking and effective communication with government ministries, funders, and partners, collaborating with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Lead and foster resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Coordinate activities at both country and regional levels and develop proposals in partnership with scientists and Chapter members.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners to support regional initiatives.
Operational Functions and Issue Resolution
- Oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the Science, Operations and Engagement Chapters staff members in the region, facilitating functional reporting to corresponding Chapters.
- Supervise CIMMYT Country Representatives (CCRs) in that specific function, providing guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of regional strategies.
- Facilitate the resolution and escalation of issues at the country and regional level in collaboration with the corresponding Chapters.
- Support the development or renewal of Host Country Agreements to enable optimized operations, securing advantageous terms for CIMMYT.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Monitor and evaluate country/ regional performance, providing regular reports to the DG and other relevant stakeholders.
Additional Duties
- Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Requirements
- 10-15+ distinguished years in a senior management position in a nonprofit organization, foundation, private company, or government agency, with significant scientific leadership and executive management experience.
- PhD in agriculture, natural resources management, development studies, or a related field, with at least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
- Experience of program, country or regional management.
- A global perspective grounded in international and developing country experience, driven by a deep commitment to elevating living standards in emerging economies.
- A history of achieving exceptional outcomes, earning esteem for a cooperative and inclusive approach, and contributing to a culture of excellence.
- Versatility in managing a multitude of tasks and priorities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, exemplifying agility, and strategic multitasking.
- Proven expertise in forging and nurturing relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals, across diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
- An innate ability to navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy with finesse, employing tact and discretion as fundamental tools of engagement.
- Strong communication skills, with fluency in English required and additional language proficiency desirable.
- The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Strategic Impact, Operational Efficiency, People Management, Networking and Communication, and Individual Impact.
* Oversee regional activities, ensuring application of standards, policies, processes, and regulatory requirements in alignment with HQ. * Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and legal requirements. * Maintain and promote in coordination with the CSO, CNO and COO the highest standards of excellence in science, engagement, and operations. * Promote a respectful work environment, ensuring the highest standards of conduct in line with CIMMYT's values. * Maintain good working relationships among staff and teams within the countries and regions. * Support the development of a diversified project portfolio in coordination with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter. * Promote the overall portfolio and the projects at both country and regional levels. * Enhance visibility of CIMMYT activities and impacts in the region. * Work collaboratively with LT colleagues to deliver CIMMYTs 2030 strategy through activities in the region. * Develop and implement regional strategies and plans in alignment with the organization's overall goals and oversee the development of aligned country-level strategies & plans. * Represent CIMMYT and its DG in the region, managing relationships with government ministries and hosting organizations to build and maintain strategic partnerships. * Develops relations with the regional bodies. * Interacts and positions CIMMYT vis-à-vis the CGIAR regional structure * Engage in active networking and effective communication with government ministries, funders, and partners, collaborating with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter. * Lead and foster resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter. * Coordinate activities at both country and regional levels and develop proposals in partnership with scientists and Chapter members. * Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners to support regional initiatives. * Oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the Science, Operations and Engagement Chapters staff members in the region, facilitating functional reporting to corresponding Chapters. * Supervise CIMMYT Country Representatives (CCRs) in that specific function, providing guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of regional strategies. * Facilitate the resolution and escalation of issues at the country and regional level in collaboration with the corresponding Chapters. * Support the development or renewal of Host Country Agreements to enable optimized operations, securing advantageous terms for CIMMYT. * Monitor and evaluate country/ regional performance, providing regular reports to the DG and other relevant stakeholders. * Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.
* Scientific leadership * Executive management * Program management * Country management * Regional management * Global perspective * Relationship building * Networking * Communication * International diplomacy * Tact * Discretion * Strategic multitasking * Agility
* PhD in agriculture, natural resources management, development studies, or a related field * At least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience * 10-15+ distinguished years in a senior management position in a nonprofit organization, foundation, private company, or government agency * Significant scientific leadership and executive management experience * Experience of program, country or regional management * A global perspective grounded in international and developing country experience * A history of achieving exceptional outcomes, earning esteem for a cooperative and inclusive approach, and contributing to a culture of excellence. * Versatility in managing a multitude of tasks and priorities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, exemplifying agility, and strategic multitasking. * Proven expertise in forging and nurturing relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals, across diverse backgrounds and disciplines. * An innate ability to navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy with finesse, employing tact and discretion as fundamental tools of engagement. * Strong communication skills, with fluency in English required and additional language proficiency desirable. * Strategic Impact competency * Operational Efficiency competency * People Management competency * Networking and Communication competency * Individual Impact competency
JOB-6995711bbd3c4
Vacancy title:
Regional Director, Africa
[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, Category: Management, Project Management, Agriculture / Agro-Allied]
Jobs at:
International Maize And Wheat Improvement
Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, February 25 2026
Duty Station:
Nairobi | Nairobi
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, February 18 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
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JOB DETAILS:
Background
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org
Key Responsibilities:
Oversight & Compliance
- Oversee regional activities, ensuring application of standards, policies, processes, and regulatory requirements in alignment with HQ.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
- Maintain and promote in coordination with the CSO, CNO and COO the highest standards of excellence in science, engagement, and operations.
Foster Positive Work Environment
- Promote a respectful work environment, ensuring the highest standards of conduct in line with CIMMYT's values.
- Maintain good working relationships among staff and teams within the countries and regions.
Project Portfolio Development and Promotion
- Support the development of a diversified project portfolio in coordination with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Promote the overall portfolio and the projects at both country and regional levels.
- Enhance visibility of CIMMYT activities and impacts in the region.
Leadership and Strategic Planning
- Work collaboratively with LT colleagues to deliver CIMMYTs 2030 strategy through activities in the region.
- Develop and implement regional strategies and plans in alignment with the organization's overall goals and oversee the development of aligned country-level strategies & plans.
Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization
- Represent CIMMYT and its DG in the region, managing relationships with government ministries and hosting organizations to build and maintain strategic partnerships.
- Develops relations with the regional bodies.
- Interacts and positions CIMMYT vis-à-vis the CGIAR regional structure
- Engage in active networking and effective communication with government ministries, funders, and partners, collaborating with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Lead and foster resource mobilization efforts in close collaboration with the Science and Innovation Chapter and the Engagement Chapter.
- Coordinate activities at both country and regional levels and develop proposals in partnership with scientists and Chapter members.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners to support regional initiatives.
Operational Functions and Issue Resolution
- Oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the Science, Operations and Engagement Chapters staff members in the region, facilitating functional reporting to corresponding Chapters.
- Supervise CIMMYT Country Representatives (CCRs) in that specific function, providing guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of regional strategies.
- Facilitate the resolution and escalation of issues at the country and regional level in collaboration with the corresponding Chapters.
- Support the development or renewal of Host Country Agreements to enable optimized operations, securing advantageous terms for CIMMYT.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Monitor and evaluate country/ regional performance, providing regular reports to the DG and other relevant stakeholders.
Additional Duties
- Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Requirements
- 10-15+ distinguished years in a senior management position in a nonprofit organization, foundation, private company, or government agency, with significant scientific leadership and executive management experience.
- PhD in agriculture, natural resources management, development studies, or a related field, with at least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
- Experience of program, country or regional management.
- A global perspective grounded in international and developing country experience, driven by a deep commitment to elevating living standards in emerging economies.
- A history of achieving exceptional outcomes, earning esteem for a cooperative and inclusive approach, and contributing to a culture of excellence.
- Versatility in managing a multitude of tasks and priorities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, exemplifying agility, and strategic multitasking.
- Proven expertise in forging and nurturing relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals, across diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
- An innate ability to navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy with finesse, employing tact and discretion as fundamental tools of engagement.
- Strong communication skills, with fluency in English required and additional language proficiency desirable.
- The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Strategic Impact, Operational Efficiency, People Management, Networking and Communication, and Individual Impact.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 12
Level of Education: postgraduate degree
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