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Dryland Crops Director

Category: HR/Org. Development

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Job Description

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CIMMYT is seeking a visionary leader to serve as the Director of the Dryland Crops Program (DCP), focusing on advancing resilient agricultural systems in underserved environments. The role involves shaping strategic direction, building partnerships, and driving impact through scientific excellence and capacity building. The Director will lead a multidisciplinary team, ensuring the program's relevance and effectiveness in addressing climate resilience and food security. This position is based in Dakar, Senegal, and offers an opportunity to influence agricultural practices across multiple countries.

Job Responsibilities

Drive Impact Across Dryland Agricultural Systems:
Shape Strategic Direction and Scientific Leadership: Ensure a clear scientific agenda for the program and its continued relevance to the evolving needs of dryland farming systems.
Translate Science and Innovation into Adoption and Impact: Strengthen pathways that connect relevant scientific innovation with farmer adoption, resilience, productivity, and equitable livelihood outcomes.
Strengthen Farming Systems Resilience: Advance approaches that enhance climate adaptation, food security, and sustainable livelihood outcomes across dryland agricultural systems.
Build Strategic Partnerships and Mobilize Resources:
Build Strategic Partnerships: Strengthen collaboration scientific integration with research institutions, national agricultural systems, governments, development partners, foundations, and private-sector actors to accelerate innovation and sustainable impact across dryland agricultural systems.
Strengthen Global Influence: Represent CIMMYT and dryland system science in regional and international forums, helping shape agendas, influence investment priorities, and strengthen support for resilient dryland agriculture
Secure Resources for Long-Term Impact: Lead resource mobilization efforts and cultivate investor confidence in scientific excellence and delivery to secure the investments required to enhance CIMMYT’s reach, impact, and long-term sustainability.
Lead a High-Performing Global Program:
Inspire and Develop High-Performing Teams: Lead and develop a geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary workforce, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
Strengthen Organizational Alignment and Delivery: Foster effective collaboration across programs, departments, functions, and geographies while ensuring the successful execution of strategic priorities and operational objectives.
Guide the Program's Future Development: Build on CIMMYT's strong scientific foundations by strengthening organizational capability, advancing operational maturity, and positioning the program for its next phase of growth and impact.
Drive Organizational Learning and Culture Change: Foster collaboration across programs and functions, scaling successful approaches and strengthening institutional capability through influence rather than formal authority.

Other Educational Qualification

PhD in Agronomy, Plant Science, Crop Science, or related field.

Skills

Proven track record of leading complex, multidisciplinary programs operating across multiple countries and partners, while successfully translating scientific innovation into adoption, impact, and sustainable development outcomes.
Strong experience in building strategic partnerships and mobilizing resources from bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, governments, and other development partners, ideally within complex international agricultural systems.
Deep understanding of agricultural development challenges and opportunities in low- and middle-income countries, particularly within dryland production systems.
Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and represent the organization effectively across diverse international environments.
A collaborative and empowering leadership style, with a demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, build organizational capability, foster equitable partnerships, and deliver impact through networks.
Excellent written and spoken English communication skills; proficiency in French would be considered a significant asset given the program's growing engagement across West Africa.

Salary

Negotiable

Others

Benefits
Our Commitment to You:

Lead a Globally Significant Program: Shape the future of dryland agriculture by leading one of CIMMYT's flagship programs dedicated to strengthening resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods across some of the world's most vulnerable farming systems.
Drive Impact at Scale: Build on a strong foundation and help translate scientific innovation into meaningful outcomes for farming communities through adoption, partnerships, and systems-level change.
Lead a Diverse International Platform: Work with colleagues and partners across Africa, Asia, and other dryland regions while strengthening collaboration across the broader CIMMYT portfolio.
Expand Your Influence and Network: Engage with leading research institutions, governments, donors, development organizations, and private-sector partners to help shape the future of resilient dryland agriculture.
Join a Program Positioned for Continued Growth and Impact: The position is offered as a three-year, fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.
Receive Comprehensive Benefits: Benefit from a competitive international remuneration package, including housing support, health and life insurance, educational assistance for dependent children, annual home travel, retirement benefits, relocation support, and other expatriate benefits in accordance with CIMMYT policies.

Posted By

CIMMYT - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

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