CIMMYT Deputy Director, Research Partnership and Coordination- BISA

CIMMYT is seeking a candidate for the position of Deputy Director, Research Partnership and Coordination at the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) (http://bisa.cimmyt.org/), newly established in collaboration with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). The position reports to the BISA Director of Research and BISA Director General.

The selected candidate will play a key role in the BISA leadership team focusing on developing research partnerships with public and private organizations in South Asia and internationally, as such contributing to shaping BISA’s research agenda and fundraising. Special focus is on applied biotechnologies, mitigation of climate change, germplasm adaptation to climate change, the sustainable intensification of farming systems, and interactive knowledge management. The position is based in at the CIMMYT India offices in New Delhi.

Main responsibilities of this position will include:

• Aligned with the overall BISA strategy, develop the partnership and collaboration strategy for BISA.
• Lead the effective operationalization of the partnership and collaboration strategy within the BISA research team.
• Contribute ideas and concepts, and elaborate on vanguard research proposals that capitalize on the complementary strengths of BISA and partner organizations and are focused on BISA’s vision of success.
• Conceptualize, develop and negotiate partnership agreements in collaboration with researchers and IP management specialists.
• Operationalize the strategic engagement of visiting scientists, students and post-doctoral fellows of South Asian and international partner institutions in BISA research.
• Advise on new funding opportunities that match BISA strategic goals, and engage in the subsequent development of proposals and project documentation.
• Increase the awareness about BISA among partner institutions in South Asia.
• Execute other tasks related to BISA’s development as determined by the BISA Director General and Director of Research.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• PhD in Agricultural Sciences, biology or related disciplines.
• Good understanding of the challenges of productivity growth, sustainability and food security in South Asia, agricultural research and extension systems, and the policy environment.
• At least 12 years of post doctoral experience supported by an excellent publication record.
• Experience in research planning, coordination and IP management with proven achievements in fund raising and multi-institutional and international research project and partnership development.
• An effective and energetic team player with the ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Good communicator with excellent English writing skills.

The position will be based at CIMMYT’s Office in New Delhi, India, and will require frequent travel. The position is for an initial term of three years, renewable based on performance and strategic needs.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org), is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. The center works to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems and thus ensure global food security and reduce poverty. The center's outputs and services include improved maize and wheat varieties and cropping systems, the conservation of maize and wheat genetic resources, and capacity building. CIMMYT belongs to and is funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) and also receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks, and other public and private agencies.

CIMMYT has had enormous impact in the developing world. It is the center of excellence for work on two of the three most important food crops in the developing world. Its most famous employee, Dr. Norman Borlaug, is credited by many with saving more lives than any other individual in the history of the world. Borlaug’s work dramatically increased yields of wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains in the 1960s and 1970s, staving off starvation for hundreds of millions. For this work, Borlaug received the Nobel Prize in 1970. Scores of other CIMMYT efforts have saved or enriched millions of lives, from releasing disease-resistant varieties and varieties resistant to drought and heat and soil deficiencies, to dispersing techniques to reduce farmer costs and post-harvest losses. In developing countries, wheat varieties developed by CIMMYT and its partners cover 75% of the area planted to modern wheat varieties.

CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package paid in US dollars, with a range of benefits including housing allowance, life and health insurance, education allowance (for pre-school, elementary, secondary, and other pre-university grade levels), home leave, retirement fund, and relocation shipping assistance.

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality

Apply online no later than September 15, 2012.

Expressions of interest together with a detailed CV and supporting statement, highlighting your experience and skills against the position requirements should be directed to CIMMYT Human Resources Unit. Job Position Reference -2012/37

For further information, contact Dr. E. Duveiller, Director of Research South Asia e.duveiller@cgiar.org or the Human Resources Office, jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted