Partnership Excellence Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
CIMMYT, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to addressing global agricultural challenges. Established to enhance the productivity and sustainability of maize and wheat production, CIMMYT operates primarily in the Global South, focusing on improving the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers. The organization collaborates with various partners to foster innovation in agricultural science, ensuring security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and resilience in agrifood systems. CIMMYT's mission is to develop sustainable agricultural practices that can withstand the pressures of climate change and resource scarcity, thereby contributing to a more productive and inclusive global food system. With a workforce of dedicated professionals, CIMMYT is committed to fostering partnerships that enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across multiple countries.

Job Overview:
The Partnership Excellence Specialist at CIMMYT plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of partnerships that are central to the organization's operations. This position is designed for a self-motivated and results-oriented professional who will report directly to the Chief Transformation Officer. The primary function of this role is to design and implement a risk-based, systems-enabled partnership management framework that will streamline how CIMMYT identifies, selects, manages, and monitors its partners. The specialist will work collaboratively with various departments, including Finance, Programs, Legal, Grants Management, and IT, to develop tools and processes that improve partnership management. A key focus will be on translating internal audit findings into actionable improvements in financial oversight and compliance monitoring. The role requires strong financial acumen and the ability to convert complex financial data into practical organizational tools and insights, ultimately aiming to strengthen CIMMYT's capacity to maintain high-quality partnerships at scale.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partnership Lifecycle Framework: Design and implement standardized processes across the partnership lifecycle, including identification, due diligence, contracting, management, and renewal. Develop workflows and documentation standards to ensure consistent practices aligned with institutional policies. Capture lessons learned to inform continuous improvement initiatives.
• Technical and Financial Performance Frameworks: Support the development of a partnership tracking system that monitors contractual agreements, deliverables, financial metrics, and project progress. Ensure consistency and transparency in partner financial reporting.
• Partner Selection & Due Diligence: Create structured tools and criteria for transparent partner selection. Enhance CIMMYT's risk-based due diligence approach and improve tracking for due diligence status.
• Systems, Data & Analytics: Improve the structure and accessibility of partnership-related data. Develop analytical tools and dashboards for portfolio-level visibility of partner activities and risks.
• Risk & Lifecycle Visibility: Design tools for consistent risk identification and tracking across the partnership lifecycle. Establish quality assurance protocols for partnership agreements.
• Implementation & Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with various stakeholders to co-design solutions and deliver targeted training on partnership management practices. Apply structured change management approaches to minimize disruption during implementation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as business management, finance, agriculture, or international development. A minimum of 5 years of experience in partnership management systems, financial management, or consulting roles within complex organizations is required. Strong financial acumen is essential, along with experience in financial controls, audit remediation, and risk management. Proven ability to design and implement frameworks and tools for financial monitoring and due diligence is necessary. Hands-on experience in developing analytical tools and dashboards is also required, as well as experience working in cross-functional environments and exposure to risk-based due diligence.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in business management, finance, agriculture, international development, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree in a relevant field is desirable and may provide an advantage in the selection process.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in supporting partnership management systems, financial management, or transformational roles in NGOs, international organizations, or research institutions. Experience in change management and the rollout of new tools and processes is also beneficial.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, and knowledge of Spanish is highly desirable, given the location and operational context of CIMMYT. Additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the regions in which CIMMYT operates.

Additional Notes:
The position is initially fixed-term for three years, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. CIMMYT offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including housing allowance, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children's education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, retirement plan contributions, and relocation assistance. Applications must include a CV with contact details of three work-related references and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and encourages women to apply.