Job Description
PROJECT LEAD- INTERNAL ADVERT
THE ORGANIZATION
The Alliance of
Bioversity International & CIAT delivers research-based solutions that
harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to
improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of
malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
The Alliance
works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and
the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The
Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure
future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security,
and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The SERVIR
Global Collaborative (SGC) is a global partnership that strengthens resilience
through Earth observation information and related technologies and innovations,
working with six regional hubs with organizational support from the Spatial
Informatics Group – Natural Assets Laboratory (SIG-NAL). The SERVIR East &
Southern Africa (ESA) Hub, implemented by the Alliance under a Master
Implementation Agreement with SIG-NAL, integrates Earth observation, geospatial
AI (GeoAI) and predictive modeling into sub-national decision-support services
for food security and agricultural monitoring, water resources and hydrological
forecasting, climate services, and disaster risk and early warning. The hub
leads the development of GeoAI AgriNexus, the SGC’s food security intelligence
platform.
To guide the Hub's strategic development, strengthen
regional partnerships and ensure effective delivery of its portfolio, the
Alliance is seeking a Project Lead to provide overall strategic and operational
leadership. The Project Lead will oversee program performance, partner
coordination, resource mobilization and compliance, serving as the primary
point of contact for SIG-NAL and leading the Hub's multidisciplinary team.
The position is
split 70% leading the hub and 30% leading Alliance projects in Climate
Information Services for Agriculture.
KEY DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
and Program Delivery
Provide strategic and operational
leadership for the SERVIR ESA Hub, setting and adapting program priorities,
initiatives and approaches in alignment with the SERVIR GeoAI Strategy
(2026–2030), the SGC mandate, organizational priorities and stakeholder needs.Lead the design, coordination and
implementation of the Hub's multi-country portfolio across Eastern and Southern
Africa, including Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia, ensuring timely,
high-quality delivery within agreed scope, budgets and impact targets.Oversee needs assessments, service
design and the development of the Hub's platforms and products, including GeoAI
AgriNexus, working closely with the Science and Data Lead to ensure scientific
quality, relevance and responsiveness to user needs.
Program Management,
Compliance and Team Leadership
Serve as the primary point of contact
for SIG-NAL, overseeing Hub performance, contractual compliance, reporting and
coordination with the Prime Consultant.Lead the preparation and
implementation of annual workplans, budgets and staffing plans, ensuring timely
submission of annual narrative reports and quarterly progress and financial
reports in accordance with FFST and donor requirements.Oversee monitoring, evaluation and
impact reporting across the portfolio, working with relevant colleagues to
establish theories of change, performance indicators and mechanisms for
tracking results.Line-manage the Science and Data Lead
and all Hub staff supported by the Prime Consultant, including performance
management, staff development and team capacity building. Identify technical
expertise needs and support capacity development among national and regional
partners.
Partnerships,
Stakeholder Engagement and Resource Mobilization
Build and maintain strategic
partnerships with government agencies, regional and international organizations
and implementing partners. Lead institutional engagement, including the
negotiation of formal agreements with meteorological, agricultural and environmental
agencies, and ensure partner accountability for agreed results and
deliverables.Represent the Hub and the Alliance in
national, regional and international forums, promoting the uptake of Hub
services and products. Work closely with SIG-NAL and other SERVIR hubs to align
priorities, share knowledge and facilitate the replication of successful
products and approaches across the network.Lead resource mobilization and the
development of successful funding proposals, expanding the Hub's bilateral
funding pipeline and cultivating donor relationships, including opportunities
related to climate adaptation and climate finance.
Alliance Research
and Program Contributions
Lead the design, coordination and
implementation of Alliance projects in Climate Information Services for
Agriculture, including serving as Principal Investigator where relevant.Contribute to scientific and knowledge
outputs, including datasets, data papers and technical reports, supporting the
Hub, the Alliance and the CGIAR Climate Action Program.Perform other duties as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND
EXPERIENCE
PhD, or a Master's degree with
equivalent professional experience, in Earth science, geospatial science or a
related field.A minimum of eight years of relevant
professional experience, including program or portfolio management and
coordination of multi-partner, multi-country initiatives.Demonstrated knowledge of the SERVIR
model and program, including its Earth observation, geospatial technologies and
decision-support service approach.Proven experience working with and
collaboration network with national, regional and international space and Earth
observation agencies, including established institutional relationships and
collaborative networks.Demonstrated experience in strategic
program design, implementation and adaptation, with the ability to manage
complex portfolios and respond to evolving priorities and stakeholder needs.Proven track record of developing and
leading successful proposals funded by a range of national, regional and
international funding agencies, including experience in donor engagement and
resource mobilization.Proven experience in stakeholder
engagement, partnership development and negotiation of institutional agreements
with government agencies and other partner organizations.Experience in weather and climate
information services, including digital agricultural advisory services, is
highly desirable.A record of relevant scientific
research and knowledge outputs is highly desirable.Professional-level proficiency in
spoken and written English.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
This position is an Internationally
Recruited Position based
in Kigali, Rwanda, with regular travel across Eastern and Southern Africa,
including to the hub team in Nairobi, and internationally. The initial contract
will be for two years, subject to a probation period of Six (6) months and
is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. This
position is graded at BG10 level in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the
Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary
and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan,
staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working
arrangements.
The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT is committed to
fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our
innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission.
Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that
reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all
cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages,
disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender
identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are invited to visit https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/ to get full details of the position and to submit their applications.
Applications MUST include reference ( RFP301502) –
PROJECT LEADas the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as
one document using the candidate’s last name and first name for ease of
sorting.
Note: The Alliance does
not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application,
interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern
itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applications closing date: 20th November 2026
Please note that email applications will not
be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be