IRS24128 Project Manager at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Specific duties:

• Responsible for the day-to-day administrative management of the assigned projects, adhering to CIMMYT’s project management standards and processes, and compliance with the project terms and conditions of contracts.
• Assist the Project Leads by coordinating planning of project activities, compiling detailed implementation (technical, budgets) reports, communications, and procurement plans, and managing, assigning, and monitoring implementation.
• Ensure timely submission of high-quality project documents (e.g., work plan, financial and technical, monitoring, evaluation, and learning reports) to the funders in collaboration with CIMMYT’s Donor Relations and Fundraising Support team.
• Coordinate the management of project budget, including budget allocation, review, and realignment.
• Coordinate the development and regular updating of key project documents, including project charter, work plan, budget, human resource and procurement plans, communication plan, monitoring and evaluation plan, financial and technical reports, sub-grant contracts, and project deliverables.
• With support from institutional administrative units, use CIMMYT and CGIAR databases and systems to manage information and project documents, ensuring data is securely stored and appropriately shared.
• In coordination with the DCP Program Manager, manage consultancies and sub-agreements, including issuing of contracts, liaison, quality control, disbursement of payments, and performance evaluation.
• Generate and/or ensure the production of content for the project´s communications platforms, potentially including website, news features, success stories, research notes, reports, and social media posts.
• Contribute to the supervision of administrative staff and participate in the recruitment and selection process of project administrative staff.
• Provide administrative support to the project’s steering committee and management committee meetings, technical meetings, and planning meetings, and ensure effective minute-taking and follow-up.
• In close consultation with the Project Lead, support additional resource mobilization efforts that foster project objectives.
• Establish and maintain relationships with partner representatives, while ensuring clarity about roles and responsibilities among institutions and project team members.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a pertinent field; or bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of pertinent experience, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (or similar).
• At least 3 years of experience in project management of international multi-institutional projects, preferably in agriculture and low- or middle-income countries.
• Familiarity with agricultural research and plant breeding concepts is desirable.
• Good communication with excellent spoken and written English; French is desirable.
• Available to travel within Africa.
• Desire and ability to work respectfully and inclusively in a diverse, multicultural, multidisciplinary work environment.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Problem-Solving, Decision making, Achievement Orientation, Communication, and Teamwork.