Organization: International Potato Center
Country: Peru
Closing date: 01 Mar 2019

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a high-calibre, experienced and committed professional to fill the position of Regional Manager for a hosted organization, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), also known as World Agroforestry.

World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is a center of scientific excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Leveraging the world’s largest repository of agroforestry science and information, ICRAF develops knowledge practices, from farmers’ fields to the global sphere, to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.

The Position is an exciting opportunity to join a leading international research center with an expanding, dynamic and enthusiastic team of young researchers, to make a strategic and innovative long-term contribution to ICRAF’s program, and to ‘make a difference’ by enhancing livelihoods and environment in Latin America. The Regional Manager will oversee and implement a diverse portfolio of management activities of ICRAF Latin America (ICRAF-LAM), encompassing both technical-strategic and administrative domains. S/he will serve as primary contact point between ICRAF-LAM and ICRAF Headquarters-based management, will directly supervise the ICRAF-LAM finance and administration team, and will chair the ICRAF-LAM Regional Management Team (RMT), made up also of Lead Scientist (Peru) and Lead Scientist / Country Coordinator (Brazil). Based in Lima, Peru, the Regional Manager will also be part of ICRAF’s global management team and will report to the ICRAF Deputy Director-General of Research. S/he will be based in Lima, Peru.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Financial, administrative and institutional management

· Oversee financial management and administration carried out by the ICRAF-LAM finance and administration team based in Brazil and Peru and other relevant countries as needed, ensuring compliance with institutional policy, legal requirements, directives from ICRAF Headquarters, and donor requirements.

· Oversee the preparation of the ICRAF-LAM annual budget, in coordination with the ICRAF-LAM Regional Financial and Administration officer, ICRAF-LAM RMT, and budget-holding scientists.

· Oversee processes of consolidating and maintaining ICRAF’s legal and institutional status in countries of current and, potentially, future activity in Latin America.

Human resources management

· Foment a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of high-calibre personnel at all levels.

· Promote accountability and staff growth by coordinating the ICRAF-LAM personnel performance-management process.

· Contribute to team-building efforts and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Partnership management and communications

· Serve as primary contact point between ICRAF-LAM and its partners in Peru, including host country representatives, donor agencies, and implementation partners (including government ministries, national agricultural research agencies, NGOs, and private sector), in liaison with Lead Scientist Peru.

· Develop and strengthen institutional relations with ICRAF-LAM partners outside Peru,in liaison with lead scientist / country coordinator, Brazil and other staff.

· Serve as Contact Point with the ICRAF Global Communications Unit and as liaison between the latter and ICRAF LAM communications specialists and researchers.

· Represent ICRAF in key events and meetings, especially in Peru but also occasionally in Brazil and in other Latin American countries, on themes relevant to ICRAF’s mission.

· Engage with existing and potential national and international partners in order to foster relationships and provide inputs to policies and processes.

Project coordination and research management

• Work with the ICRAF-LAM RMT and others in setting regional milestones, deliverables and indicators consistent both with team-members’ work plans and regional/institutional objectives and be directly responsible for completion of dashboard information required by the Research Directorate.
• Monitor and help assure timely implementation of the research portfolio.
• Conceptualize new strategies to improve performance and impact delivery, including those related to other responsibility areas.

Strategy and resource mobilization

· Provide strategic regional vision for continued growth and expansion of ICRAF-LAM

· Provide leadership in proposal and business development activities, including proposal writing, and overall stewardship and coordination of specific proposals.

· Oversee maintenance of ICRAF-LAM’s donor database and proposal pipeline and serve as primary contact point between ICRAF-LAM and ICRAF Headquarters-based Resource Mobilization Staff.

Others

· Contribute actively, as required, to global-level institutional processes and initiatives.

Selection Criteria:

· Academic qualifications: MBA or comparable qualification, also with an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in an area relevant to ICRAF’s mission (e.g. agriculture, conservation, development, forestry, economics), or equivalent work experience.

· Experience: At least 12 years of experience in project management. The successful candidate shall be familiar with the donor environment in the region, and will have a clear vision of the roles and niches of research orgaizations, and have experience in collaboration with stakeholders (with government and private sector) both for fundraising and building of strategic partnerships. Proven experience in management of financial resources.

· Knowledge: Strong knowledge of key development and environment issues in national and international agenda. Understanding of science and technical matters surrounding agroforestry highly desirable.

· Skills: Excellent communicator, with well-developed project management, people management, strategic thinking, planning, networking, and interpersonal skills.

· Languages: Excellent command of written and spoken English and Spanish. Portuguese is highly desirable.

· Availability to travel regularly within and beyond Latin America

Conditions: This regional position is open to candidates entitled to live and work in Peru. The employment contract will be for a one-year term with three months of probation period and with expected renewal depending on job performance.

How to apply:

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a letter of motivation, a full C.V. with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on March 01, 2019 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.*To learn more about ICRAF, visit* http://www.worldagroforestry.org