Asia Director for Research Impact and Country Manager

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Job Description

The Asia Director for Research Impact provides strategic direction to strengthen IWMI’s development impact through research delivery, and government and regional partner engagement across the Asian continent. Reporting to the Deputy Director General – Research for Development, the Director supports and oversees management of research delivery for impact, and effective and coordinated operations by IWMI Country Representatives. The incumbent will ensure that leadership of government, partner, and network engagement by IWMI Country Representatives aligns to regional strategies, donor priorities, and IWMI’s strategic priorities. The Director will also maximize IWMI’s responsiveness and effectiveness in developing, funding, and implementing its research-for-development portfolio for impact in Asia. The Director leads IWMI representation to Asia-wide institutions, platforms, and processes, collaborating closely with Country Representatives and strategic partners.

The Director develops and maintains strong relationships with CGIAR, particularly with the CGIAR Asia Director and Country Coordinators, other CGIAR Centers and units. One CGIAR is an integrated partnership of CGIAR Research Centers with the overall objective of delivering science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land and water systems under climate change. The IWMI Asia Director for Research Impact ensures that the work of IWMI and the CGIAR Water Systems department in Asia are aligned to CGIAR programs and synergies are achieved to develop and sustain the funding for, delivery and impact of water systems science in the One CGIAR integrated partnership.

The Country Manager (CM) for Sri Lanka oversees the management of researchers based in IWMI’s Headquarters and the development of IWMI’s research portfolio in Sri Lanka. The CM also supports the IWMI Director General (DG) in engagement with government and national partners.

In this joint role, the Asia Director for Research Impact and Country Manager for Sri Lanka will spend a minimum of 80% of their time representing IWMI and providing oversight of IWMI research and engagement. The remaining time will be spent on project-specific research activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Management,

Oversee the strategic direction of IWMI Country Offices in Asia, ensuring responsiveness to demand and alignment between regional policies, strategies, and donor priorities and the IWMI and CGIAR strategies.
Provide strategic guidance and support the IWMI Country Representatives in Asia to ensure high-quality research delivery and efficient and effective operations that meet the needs of partners and clients and effect impacts.
Ensure the development of synergies with the roles of partner organizations and across offices in Asia and CGIAR to advance the IWMI Strategy 2024-2030 and the CGIAR Water Systems Integration Roadmap.
Ensure close coordination and integration between IWMI Country Offices and across Strategic Programs for the development, funding, and delivery of the IWMI research-for-development portfolio in Asia.
Oversee and support portfolio development and fundraising by IWMI Country Representatives, facilitate synergies in the portfolio for stronger impacts, develop a close network of donors, and contribute to and lead regional/continental project proposals development.
In Sri Lanka, oversee the strategic direction and development of the IWMI project portfolio, through coordination of technical engagement with government agencies and partners, support for fundraising and proposal development.
Build a strong commitment to teamwork, synergies, and collaboration among the IWMI Country Representatives in Asia and their teams, and with IWMI Strategic Programs, IWMI teams globally and CGIAR programs.
Manage IWMI Country Representatives in Asia, including performance management.
Manage research staff based at IWMI Headquarters in Sri Lanka, with the support of the Deputy Country Managers, to ensure delivery of high-quality, timely research and outputs that meet the requirements of partners and clients.
Provide substantive advice to the Director General, Deputy Director General, senior management and CGIAR leadership on the strategic demand for water systems science in Asia.
Contribute to the overall strategic leadership and management of IWMI as a member of the Management Team.

Representation and Partnerships,

Lead implementation of the IWMI Partnership Strategy in Asia in close coordination with the Division of Business Strategy and Delivery, through oversight of the development and management of partnerships by IWMI Country Offices across Asia and leadership of new partnerships at the continental Asia level for research, collective action, policy support and innovation.
Lead IWMI representation to Asia-wide institutions, platforms, and processes to raise the profile and visibility of IWMI and CGIAR’s water systems science and strengthen outcomes and impacts.
Oversee management by IWMI Country Representatives of IWMI’s relationship with host-country governments in Asia in close coordination with the Director General’s Office.
In Sri Lanka, support representation of IWMI by the Director General and manage relationships with host country technical agencies, including through coordination of technical liaison by lead specialists.
Serve as IWMI’s primary point of contact for CGIAR programmatic coordination and integration in Sri Lanka, and for the CGIAR Initiatives/Science Programs in the country in which IWMI is participating, in coordination with relevant leaders of Strategic Programs and projects.

Knowledge Management and MELIA,

Lead knowledge management for IWMI’s Asia portfolio, coordinating the integration of research results and their impact, and development of knowledge products across Country Offices to develop a stronger understanding of the collective impact of the work.
Oversee implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) for the Asia portfolio, in close coordination with IWMI and CGIAR units with lead responsibility for MELIA.
Promote the uptake of IWMI and CGIAR research outputs and application of innovations, in Asia and in Sri Lanka, in coordination with IWMI Country Representatives, Program Directors and Research Groups.
Strengthen Asia-level communications and outreach activities in coordination with IWMI Country Offices and the Communications and Knowledge Management unit, Business Development unit and CGIAR to make IWMI’s regional work and impact more visible.
In Sri Lanka, lead country-level communications/outreach activities in coordination with the communications and resource mobilization and partnership teams.
Ensure that projects follow IWMI’s Policy on Research Ethics and perform quality control of publications as assigned by IWMI’s workflows.

Research and Implementation,

Develop, implement, and contribute to projects and CGIAR Science programs within personal expertise and experience covering 20% of her/his time.
Ensure that projects follow IWMI’s Policy on Research Ethics and perform quality control of publications as assigned by IWMI’s workflows.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

PhD or Masters in one of the following disciplines: water resources management, climate change adaptation or mitigation, international development, environmental science, geography, development economics, development studies or sociology, with at least 10 years of relevant work experience holding positions of increasing responsibility.
A deep understanding of challenges and opportunities for water security, agricultural development, gender and social inclusion, and climate change within local development contexts in Asia.
Demonstrated experience in engaging with regional networks and building strong partnerships with different categories of stakeholders to deliver development outcomes and impacts.
A track record in knowledge management for research-for-development and application of knowledge, research, and innovation to development impact.
Demonstrated experience of promoting and enhancing gender, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and in research-for-development programs.
Demonstrated knowledge and research for development (R4D) experience relevant to IWMI’s overall mission of water management in Global South countries, as well as knowledge of the functioning of the CGIAR system.
Demonstrated skills of strategic planning and conceptual thinking.
Experience working with and influencing stakeholders, especially senior decision makers at national and regional levels, and a track record of liaising with donor agencies and fund raising.
Demonstrated skills in managing programs and personnel, including experience of forming, operating in and leading interdisciplinary teams that have delivered high-quality outputs on time and according to budget.
Fluent in English – both written and verbal and possibly conversant in a regional language.
Experience producing high-quality written proposals, reports, and academic papers. Proven ability to communicate research results to stakeholders at different management levels in multiple countries.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, and other stakeholders in a multicultural setting in Asia, with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Excellent experience of mentoring and guiding colleagues and continuously build organizational capacity on research for development impacts.