CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture)

ABOUT THE POSITIONThe Evaluation Function workstream within IAES has two core pillars of evaluative activity, responsive to demand from CGIAR’s Council and other CGIAR stakeholders. One of these pillars, for which IAES is recruiting this manager position, is to conduct external, evaluative reviews of CGIAR research centers. The Senior Manager has a critical role to manage the external reviews. The incumbent will work collaboratively with one other IAES Senior Evaluation Manager focused on the research portfolio evaluation pillar, as well as with other workstreams of IAES, as well as CGIAR and Center MEL colleagues, to ensure that information generated through independent evaluations is timely, of high quality, available and accessible, in support of management, learning and decision-making processes.The role requires an experienced evaluation professional and manager, with specific experience in evaluation of organizations or research institutes. The position holder will have a track record of designing, planning, overseeing, providing quality assurance, analyzing, and reporting on evaluations. Experience working in independent evaluation offices or implementing evaluation in the context of research for development or academic institutions is desirable in this role.MAIN RESPONSIBILITIESRole Summary The Senior Manager leads the implementation of the Center External Review framework, maintaining clear standards, criteria, and cadence to ensure rigor and consistency and periodically revalidating the design based on lessons learned. They ensure aggregable data across Centers through standardized methods, rating scales, and templates. They manage evaluator selection and workflows for Center reviews from the IAES roster and oversee quality assurance processes and cross-Center synthetic products. Furthermore, the manager coordinates the timely development and delivery of review materials to governing bodies and leads follow-up processes to track agreed actions and strengthen accountability. They actively contribute to and share expertise within MEL communities, primarily the CGIAR MEL Community of Practice.Specific Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Director of IAES and aligned with the multi-year evaluation plan (MYEP), specific responsibilities include:Leading the Center External Review pillar With a strong focus on standards, criteria, and cadence of Center External Reviews, with replicable and comparable methods, the incumbent will be responsible to: • Manage the Center External Review (CER) pillar of the multi-year evaluation program. • Coordinate the preparation of accessible, timely, and relevant evaluation information for use by the CGIAR governing bodies to assist their execution of their oversight and fiduciary duties as described in CGIAR governing documents. • Adhere to standards and principles within the CGIAR Evaluation Framework and Policy, associated and applicable Evaluation Guidelines, and IAES policies and procedures, to ensure objectivity and independence of outputs free of conflicts of interest. • Oversee, coordinate, and document a quality assurance process for all evaluations under management and contribute to peer-to-peer quality assurance. • Engage consultative and steering processes for Center External Reviews and ensure program management excellence across a suite of reviews. • Ensure internal communication and knowledge management strategies that support the effective use of evaluative evidence. • For evaluations under management, plan and organize evaluation-related meetings, events and workshops, including Validation, Recommendation Refinement, and After-Action Reviews. • Represent the IAES Evaluation workstream and evaluations under management at meetings, as requested by IAES director. • In concert with IAES director, prepare evaluative input to governance and assurance body secretariats to ensure governance endorsements and knowledge management tasks. • Contribute to other evaluative activities, including managing arising thematic evaluation as assigned, and back-up (peer) support to specified portfolio evaluation activities.Planning and resource management in the IAES context • Prepare management plans and ensure all project management actions required for activities under responsibility, in terms of human and financial management. • Participate in cross-functional activities of IAES to maintain a roster of world-class evaluation and subject-matter experts. • Foster and contribute to collaborative teamwork and communication within IAES, participating in coordination, knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives. • Manage CER product budgets (est. 500,000 USD per year), planning and managing the portion of IAES budget that supports the CER workplan, collaboratively with Senior Evaluation Manager and IAES Finance Specialist, in compliance with all internal systems and Standard Operation Procedures and oversight of IAES director. • Participate in IAES planning and reporting activities and collaborate across workstreams to deliver cross-functional priorities. Given the cross-cutting nature of the CER pillar, the role requires close coordination with colleagues across IAES functions. • The role will supervise analysts (consultants or, potentially, permanent staff), supporting Evaluation function activities, and project-specific consultants. Contributing to CGIAR’s multiyear evaluation plan, MEL framework, and evaluation policy • Coordinate with MEL professionals at Center and System level to ensure an efficient, cohesive, and harmonized approach to evaluations. Participate and contribute to CGIAR MEL Community of Practice. • Contribute to the development and adaptive management of CGIAR evaluation plans. • Support the IAES Director in the periodic review of the CGIAR Evaluation Framework and Policy, as well as associated standards, guidelines, and methodologies. • Ensure readiness of information to feed into MEL repositories of CGIAR and work closely with knowledge management professionals supporting IAES and Evaluation Function. • Maintain connections with relevant evaluation professional associations and follow emerging developments in the field; engage as relevant with counterparts in advanced research and development agencies and in the Rome-based food and agriculture agencies.Education qualifications and experience• At least a master’s degree in evaluation, organizational development, broader fields of social sciences, or a combination of equivalent degrees and certifications. • At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in evaluation, organizational assessment, performance review, or related fields, including at least 3–5 years managing complex organizational evaluations or review programs, preferably within international organizations, research-for-development institutions, academia, or not-for-profit organizations. • Proven robust program and financial management experience, with evidenced capabilities in working on the procurement and management of short-term subject-matter expert consultants in time-bound activities. • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage stakeholders at senior executive level, and coordinate external evaluation panels and consultants. • Preferably, working experience in the evaluation offices in multilateral organizations or international research for development organizations; past experience working in program management (operational and implementation roles) in development or research institutes will be viewed favorably. • Knowledge and skills in evaluation: past activities in collection, management, and analysis of data (including synthetic work), with an emphasis on mixed methods, and experience in evaluative reporting and knowledge management activities. • Proficient writing and speaking in English, with a proven ability to simplify and prioritize complex concepts and messages; Working knowledge of French or Spanish is highly desirable given the geographical and linguistic diversity of CGIAR Centers. • Well-developed diplomacy skills and ability to work in cross-cultural and cross-functional teams. • Proficient skills in software such as MS Office suite (including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint) and online meetings platforms including MS Teams. Skills in evaluation-specific software for data collection and analysis (MaxQDA, Kobo Toolbox, survey monkey, or similar).Terms of employmentThis is a two-year Internationally recruited position, hosted by the Alliance, subject to a probationary period of 6 months and renewable based on performance, availability of funds, and IAES needs.The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and involves international travel at approximately 20%, including visits to IAES office in Rome, Italy, and Centers under review.The salary is level 11, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT offers an attractive remuneration package including non-contributory retirement plan, home leave and housing allowance, as well as medical insurance. Salary and benefits are denominated and paid in US dollars.We are an equal opportunity employer, and strive for gender, diversity and inclusion in our staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic.<h2>How to apply</h2>Please apply online through the website https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/ no later than 30th August 2026 by submitting in English a curriculum vitae and a motivation letter, and, optionally, a writing sample pertinent to the role advertised along with the contact information (e.g., name, role, email address) of at least three references. Applications MUST include reference number Ref: (RFP500589) - IAES Senior Evaluation Manager: Center External Reviews as the position applied for. Please note that all application documents should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting.Note: The Alliance does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.Conflict of interestIAES is an independent office of CGIAR. Applicants should review the IAES conflict of interest policy prior to submitting applications; prior to hiring, a declaration of interest is required. Only eligible and qualified candidates will be contacted. N.B. This position is not on the CGIAR research professional track, and this is not a research role. However, applicants with past experience evaluating research, academic or scientific agencies, will be viewed favorably.<h2> </h2>