Business Operations Analyst – Africa- CIMMYT

Reference number: 202643

Job status: In-progress

Job category: Local Position

Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya

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CIFOR-ICRAF

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a

Business Operations Analyst – Africa- CIMMYT

Overview

About our organization:
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

CIMMYT is hosted by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), a member of the CGIAR that is headquartered on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry by accessing our web sites: www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org

CIMMYT is looking for a:
Business Operations Analyst – Africa
The Business Operations Analyst – Africa serves as a strategic partner to the Regional BSD Manager by providing operational analytics, business intelligence, performance monitoring, governance support, project coordination, and reporting across all Business Services Department (BSD) functions in Africa. The role supports Procurement, Fleet Management, Travel Management, Inventory and Warehouse Management, Asset Management, Vendor Management, and other BSD operational activities by establishing performance monitoring frameworks, coordinating strategic initiatives, tracking action plans, supporting training and change management efforts, and transforming operational data into actionable business insights. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring regional visibility of operational performance, monitoring execution of strategic priorities, supporting compliance with institutional procedures, and enabling data-driven decision-making across BSD operations in Africa.

Duties and responsibilities

1.Regional Reporting
and Business Intelligence.

• Develop and maintain BSD regional
  dashboards, scorecards, and management reports.

• Extract, validate, analyze, and
  synthesize data from D365 and other institutional systems.

• Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual
  operational performance reports.

• Prepare executive presentations,
  briefing materials, and management updates.

• Develop reporting tools that provide
  visibility into operational performance, risks, trends, and opportunities.

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and
  operational planning exercises through data analysis.

2.Strategic Project
and Action Management.

• Coordinate regional BSD projects and
  strategic initiatives.

• Maintain project trackers, action
  logs, milestone reports, and risk registers.

• Monitor progress against
  implementation plans and escalate delays where appropriate.

• Facilitate follow-up on management
  decisions and agreed action items.

• Support implementation of process
  improvements, system enhancements, and transformation initiatives.

3.Procurement
Performance Monitoring.

• Monitor procurement cycle times,
  sourcing activities, and service delivery performance.

• Track LTAs, strategic sourcing
  initiatives, and procurement work plans.

• Analyze procurement spend and supplier
  performance trends.

• Monitor compliance with procurement
  procedures and documentation requirements.

• Identify opportunities for efficiency
  improvements and cost optimization.

4.Fleet Management
Performance Monitoring.

• Monitor fleet utilization, maintenance
  costs, fuel consumption, and vehicle performance indicators.

• Support fleet lifecycle planning and
  replacement reporting.

• Track compliance with fleet procedures
  and regulatory requirements.

• Develop fleet performance dashboards
  and management reports.

• Identify trends and opportunities to
  improve fleet efficiency and reduce costs.

5.Travel Management
Performance Monitoring.

• Monitor travel expenditures, travel
  service levels, and vendor performance.

• Analyze travel patterns and identify
  optimization opportunities.

• Support travel compliance reporting
  and performance monitoring.

• Develop travel-related dashboards and
  management reports.

6.Inventory and
Warehouse Management Monitoring.

• Monitor inventory levels, stock
  movements, and warehouse utilization across the region.

• Analyze inventory turnover rates and
  identify slow-moving, obsolete, or excess stock.

• Track inventory accuracy and
  reconciliation results.

• Monitor warehouse compliance with
  institutional procedures and controls.

• Support reporting on inventory
  valuation and asset accountability.

• Identify opportunities to improve
  inventory management efficiency and reduce operational risk.

• Develop inventory and warehouse
  performance dashboards.

7.Training,
Compliance, and Change Management.

• Track completion of BSD training
  programs across the region.

• Monitor adoption of new systems,
  procedures, and operational processes.

• Coordinate training, follow-up and
  compliance reporting.

• Support development and maintenance of
  user guides, SOPs, and operational documentation.

• Monitor implementation of audit
  recommendations and corrective actions.

8.Governance and
Operational Excellence.

• Support regional governance forums and
  operational review meetings.

• Prepare management reports and meeting
  materials.

• Maintain departmental risk registers,
  issue logs, and action trackers.

• Support audits, compliance reviews,
  and management assessments.

• Lead process mapping and continuous
  improvement initiatives.

• Recommend operational improvements
  based on performance analysis.

9.Stakeholder
Coordination and Leadership Support.

• Serve as a coordination point between
  country offices, regional leadership, HQ teams, and external service providers.

• Facilitate communication and
  information sharing across BSD functions.

• Support preparation of executive
  communications and leadership updates.

• Promote standardization of reporting
  and performance management practices across Africa.

• Act as a trusted advisor to the
  Regional BSD Manager by providing analytical support and recommendations on
  operational priorities and risks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business
  administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Data Analytics,
  Information Systems, Logistics, Finance, or a related field.

• Master’s degree is an added advantage.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in
  business operations, supply chain, procurement, inventory management,
  analytics, project coordination, or operational excellence.

• Experience supporting regional or
  multi-country operations.

• Experience working with ERP systems,
  preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Education, knowledge and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Logistics, Finance, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in business operations, supply chain, procurement, inventory management, analytics, project coordination, or operational excellence.
• Experience supporting regional or multi-country operations.
• Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Terms and conditions

• This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and qualifications. In Kenya, employment contracts are issued under ICRAF in compliance with Kenyan labour law. Locally recruited staff are eligible for a non-contributory pension scheme, comprehensive medical insurance, paid annual and statutory leave, and learning and development opportunities in line with CIFOR-ICRAF policies.
• The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.
• We will acknowledge all applications but will only contact short-listed candidates.

Application process

The application deadline is 24 Jul 2026.

We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.