Administrative Assistant

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (known by our Spanish acronym Centro International de Mejoramiento de Maize y Trigo, or CIMMYT) in Bangladesh as an International Organization. CIMMYT’s core business in agricultural research and training and is recognized globally as an International Public Organization (IPO) and is part of CGIAR, or Consultative Group on International agricultural Research, that also includes the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI), and WorldFish, among others. With our partners, CIMMYT envisions a world with healthier and more prosperous people – free from the threat of global food crises – and with more resilient agri-food systems.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, 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

The posting place: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Administrative assistant duties and responsibilities include providing administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the office. Supports employees through a variety of tasks related to organization and communication. Administrative assistant is responsible for confidential and time sensitive material.

Ability to effectively communicate through verbal and email ensuring that all Administrative Assistant duties are completed accurately and delivered with high quality and in a timely manner.

Specific duties of this position include:

• Assist preparing Purchase Requisition based on project’s needs, collect quotation from vendors, prepare Comparative Statement, request for approval from purchase committee, issue Work Order for regional and field office within country & aboard as requirement.
• Assist to get approval from CIMMYT HQ (if require), preparing PO.
• Support for all kinds of procurement for Dhaka office and all field the offices.
• Support of maintaining procurement register with number for PR & PO and preserve its hard copy.
• Receive materials and ensure quality of goods & preserve procurement profile as document.
• Keep up to date of Purchase Order list and send to HQ regularly.
• Assist on coordinating procurement bill submission to finance for making payments.
• Support of periodic update of vendors/suppliers/service providers master data/register.
• Follow up with enlisted vendor and update with debarments list during procure.
• Support to draft contract for require procurement and follow-up with vendor regularly.
• Keep update agreements on time.
• Assisting all logistic support including travel, meeting and workshop/seminars logistics.
• Assist Administrative Officer regarding IRSs Bangladeshi work visa.
• Assist Administrative Officer regarding all IRSs different countries’ visas.
• Logistics support to IRSs and LRSs hotel booking, transportation, air ticketing etc.
• Assisting inventory management including all fixed assets.
• Perform any other tasks and assignments related to the projects, as required by the supervisor.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• Minimum two years of documented professional experience (internship period may be taken into consideration upon recipient of a proper certification on successfully completion of internship relevant to the position)
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business, Management or other relevant to the position will be preferred
• Demonstrated understanding of agricultural issues in Bangladesh will be advantageous
• Demonstrated experience in administering and overseeing logistics associated with agricultural or socio-economic related research projects and programs
• Demonstrated organizational, liaison and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated high level of computer skills in MS Office suite (outlook, excel (essential), access, power point), Team Work or similar project management software etc.
• Moderate to high standard of physical fitness and ability to engage in field work in rural contexts
• Ability to travel and undertake fieldwork in rural contexts
• In the interest of CIMMYT’s policy on Equal Opportunity Employment and work place gender balance, female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• Minimum two years of documented professional experience (internship period may be taken into consideration upon recipient of a proper certification on successfully completion of internship relevant to the position).
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business, Accounting, Management or other relevant to the position will be preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of agricultural issues in Bangladesh will be advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience in administering and overseeing logistics associated with agricultural or socio-economic related research projects and programs.
• Demonstrated organizational, liaison and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated high level of computer skills in MS Office suite (outlook, excel (essential), access, power point), Team Work or similar project management software etc.
• Moderate to high standard of physical fitness and ability to engage in field work in rural contexts.
• Ability to travel and undertake fieldwork in rural contexts.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Client orientation and Communication.

To participate in the process for this position, please apply online here for B22143_Administrative Assistant, no later than Wednesday August 10th, 2022. For more information on the process please e-mail Human Resources, CIMMYT (Email: CIM-Recruitment-BD@cgiar.org).

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

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.