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Director, Scaling for Impact Program

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Reports to: CGIAR Chief Scientist

Location: This position will be based in a duty station to be determined in a location with significant CGIAR operations relevant to the Program. Montpellier, shown above, is a default system setting and not the confirmed duty station.

Grade: SO8 / CG13 (Equivalent to UN D1)

Date Published: 24 March 2025

Closing Date for Applications: 15 April 2025 at 16:00 CEST.

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector.

About the position

CGIAR has an ambitious mission to deliver science and innovations that advance the transformation of food, land and water systems in a climate crisis to reduce poverty and inequity, enhance food and nutrition security, and improve natural resources and ecosystem services. CGIAR’s Integrated Partnership operates as a federated group of Centers and the CGIAR System Organization, united by common values and principles, and committed to achieving synergies that enhance their individual and collective contributions to CGIAR’s mission.

CGIAR’s 2025—30 science and innovation Portfolio encompasses eight Science Programs, a Scaling for Impact Program, and three Accelerators. The Portfolio is designed to harness CGIAR’s collective capabilities to address the most pressing global challenges. It aims to foster deeper and broader programmatic integration across Centers and disciplines, enabling science and innovation at a greater scale with enhanced reach and impact.

The Scaling for Impact Program Scaling aims to provide — for the first time — “whole-of-CGIAR” and transdisciplinary responses to evolving megatrends by dismantling the barriers that hinder the effective integration of research with scaling across CGIAR’s science and innovation Portfolio to achieve impact. Scaling for Impact is designed to advance the scaling of a broad range of promising technological, social, policy, and process innovations from CGIAR and its partners. By enhancing synergies across CGIAR’s Portfolio, it will also eliminate conceptual and practical obstacles, providing effective solutions to scaling challenges.

The Director, Scaling for Impact Program provides scientific leadership, adaptive management, and strategic alignment of the Program and its components as a coherent, joint undertaking that spans multiple CGIAR Centers, partners, and sources of funding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Drives strategic innovation by developing and implementing science-based scaling strategies that prioritize demand-led inclusive, and context-appropriate approaches.
Leads integration and alignment across CGIAR’s programs, accelerators, and bilateral projects to streamline scaling pathways, reduce inefficiencies, and address systemic barriers such as policy constraints, market gaps and socio-cultural challenges.
Provides scientific and strategic Leadership of the Program, ensuring continuous review and adaptive management of the Program’s vision, theory of change, and structure to maximize impact, relevance, and efficiency.
Oversees Program execution, aligning activities with CGIAR’s overarching vision, mission, and 2030 outcomes, including developing and managing work plans and budgets for Program, and fostering alignment of relevant of other bilaterally funded projects and programs with the Program’s high-level outcomes and theory of change.
Leads the Program’s Leadership team, comprising Area of Work Leads and Co-Leads, and Center Delegates defining a vision for the program and shared accountability.
Actively participates in CGIAR’s Global Science Team, driving coordinated science and innovation leadership across the Portfolio to achieve collective impact.
Guides and directs engagement with global enabling and engagement functions, a Program -level Independent Advisory Group, and CGIAR’s partnership-wide independent advisory and assurance bodies (i.e. Independent Science for Development Council, the Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service, the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment, and Internal Audit) combining scientific and political acumen.
Acts as a spokesperson, engaging with partners, funders and – when required – CGIAR’s partnership-wide governing bodies on matters related to the Program, including the CGIAR System Council and CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board.Top of Form
Directs the delivery, quality of science, and prioritization of activities and outputs, and assumes overall accountability for the use of such funds for their intended purpose under the Program.
Establishes performance and results management of the Program, including the development of technical and financial reporting and the implementation of regular pause and reflect processes.
Assigns and provides functional oversight of Area of Work Leads and Co-Leads and Program Management Unit staff in Centers.
Delivers high-quality, actionable, and scalable outputs by bridging research and application, enhancing resilience and food security across vulnerable systems.
Expands monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks for continuous improvement, scaling successful interventions, and addressing systemic barriers in alignment with CGIAR impact pathways.

Education and Experience

Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in International Development, Social Science, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, or a related field, with a specialization on scaling innovations, integrated systems, or sustainable development in food, land, and water systems.
Extensive experience leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder programs, particularly in scaling innovations and addressing challenges such as land degradation, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic equity.
Demonstrated expertise in scaling science and transdisciplinary approaches, including co-designing and implementing innovation pathways, evidence-based solutions, and policy frameworks to achieve measurable impact.
Proven ability to build and manage partnerships across public, private, and development sectors, with a track record of securing and managing financial investments to drive sustainable, large-scale solutions.
Extensive experience in resource mobilization, building strategic partnerships, and overseeing financial and operational management of multi-stakeholder programs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and maximizing impact.

Key Competences

Strategically aligning Program goals with CGIAR’s organizational strategies, global priorities, to deliver innovative, demand-led solutions for transforming food, land, and water systems, prioritizing inclusivity and sustainability.
Strong strategic and adaptive thinking, with pragmatism required to make decisions that balance scientific ambition with operational feasibility.
Systems thinking to address systemic barriers to scaling, including governance challenges, policy and market gaps, and socio-cultural constraints.
Effective communication with diverse stakeholders, including research partners, donors, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders, to articulate a compelling vision and drive engagement.
Fostering collaboration and consensus, navigating diverse perspectives and influencing decision-making across multidisciplinary teams and multi-stakeholder networks to achieve shared objectives.
Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to inspire and integrate multidisciplinary teams and manage talent, while promoting knowledge sharing, staff development and diversity.
Adherence to the highest ethical standards, fostering trust and treating all people with respect.

Languages

Fluency in English essential to communicate in writing and speaking. Knowledge of a second language desirable.

The selected staff member will be offered terms and conditions commensurate with the grade of the position, qualifications and experience.

Submitting Your Application

If you face challenges in submitting your application, please email recruitment@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line.

Please note that shortlisted candidates will be contacted by our partner, SRI Executive.

What You Should Know About Director, Scaling for Impact Program, CGIAR

Are you ready to make a significant impact in the world of agriculture and sustainable development? Join CGIAR as the Director of the Scaling for Impact Program! In this influential role, you'll work closely with a diverse network of partners to drive strategic innovation in food, land, and water systems amid a climate crisis. Your experience in leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder programs will be crucial as you develop and implement science-based scaling strategies. You'll facilitate the integration of CGIAR's various programs to create a seamless pathway for scaling solutions that enhance food security and tackle pressing global challenges. As the Director, you'll lead a passionate team, overseeing the alignment of activities with CGIAR’s overarching vision, ensuring that every initiative is innovative and demand-led. Leveraging your exceptional leadership and communication skills, you will engage with funding partners and stakeholders, acting as the voice of the program while ensuring continuous improvement through robust monitoring and evaluation processes. By enhancing synergies across CGIAR's operations, you will enable the effective delivery of high-quality, scalable outputs and foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth. This is not just a job; it's an opportunity to elevate research and development through integrated science and innovative strategies, ultimately driving real change in communities worldwide. If you thrive in dynamic environments and are passionate about leading impactful initiatives, apply now to join CGIAR in this vital role that aims to revolutionize agriculture and improve lives globally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Director, Scaling for Impact Program Role at CGIAR

What are the key responsibilities of the Director, Scaling for Impact Program at CGIAR?

The Director of the Scaling for Impact Program at CGIAR is responsible for driving strategic innovation, developing science-based scaling strategies, and overseeing program execution. This includes aligning activities with CGIAR’s overarching mission, managing budgets, and ensuring continuous improvement through effective monitoring and evaluation.