Program Portfolio Manager-Scientist

Key skills

life sciences background

relevant managerial degree

Additional/Preferred Skills

Experience in CGIAR

Preferred Qualifications

MSc

                 Program Manager – Accelerated Crop Improvement

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic professionals for the position of Program Manager – Global Research Program Accelerated Crop Improvement (ACI) with focus on one of its flagship projects “Centre of Excellence for Millets in Bihar” and managing the ACI portfolio. This position will report to the Global Research Program Director – ACI and will be based at the Headquarters in Patancheru, Telangana.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 millions of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandated crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

Responsibilities:

–        Define strategies to fulfil the pivotal role and liaison between ICRISAT and Government of Bihar for implementing defined activities under the Centre of Excellence for Millets in Bihar project

–        Supervise, guide and coordinate with the on-ground staff at Gaya and Patna under Centre of Excellence for Millets in Bihar project

–        Work with Global Research Program Director-ACI to manage the ACI research program portfolio

–        Work with Global Research Program Director-ACI in coordinating program activities and communicating progress to the Governing Board and Program Committee Meetings

–          Work with ACI PIs to Map projects into MPRO/MEILA, including objectives, KPIs, milestones and deadlines

–          Flag financial deadlines to the Programme Financial manager to act on/escalate to Finance

–          Coordinate correspondence with donors and funding agencies

–          Develop reports and regularly communicate updates and progress on projects’ activities to various stakeholders

–          Coordinating communication with project partners, such as government officials, collaborators, and local administrators

–          Track report submission after GPD approval through BDU

–          Assist event organization for projects/meetings/training for NARES other stakeholders

–          Background research for grant applications

–          Functioned as the primary liaison for the Research Program Accelerated Crop Improvement, collaborating with the Research Program Director and Director of Communications to disseminate the outcomes and achievements of the research programs and projects through various channels and platforms

Required skills

–          The candidate should hold a relevant managerial degree with background in life science

–          At least 12 years of experience in the field of agricultural research and development

–          Experience with managing large projects across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa in an internationally focused research or development organization

–          Work experience and understanding of CGIAR organization

–          Experience of working with government of Bihar will be an added advantage

–          Excellent verbal and written communication skills

–          Willingness to travel nationally or internationally, as required.

General:

This is a contractual position for a period of 36 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 06 September 2024 with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer