Job Description

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

This is an important leadership role at CIMMYT, with responsibility for ensuring that our global portfolio of donor-funded investments delivers on its commitments, strengthens donor confidence, and contributes to enduring partnerships and future investment. Leading the Grant Management function, the Grant Portfolio & Stewardship Manager will have a cross-institutional mandate to strengthen how CIMMYT manages performance, risk and donor stewardship across the full lifecycle of its active awards, working closely with Programs, Finance and other functions to turn donor commitments into successful delivery and demonstrable results.

The successful candidate will be expected not simply to manage the existing function, but to shape its next generation. They will ensure Grant Management at CIMMYT is a high-performing, data-driven and technology-enabled portfolio and stewardship capability—giving leadership clear visibility of portfolio performance and risk; strengthening the experience of donors and implementing partners; improving the quality and consistency of grant and subgrant management; and harnessing CRM, automation and responsible AI to make our systems simpler, smarter and more effective. Just as importantly, they will ensure that the intelligence generated through implementation informs donor engagement, renewal opportunities and institutional decision-making, helping CIMMYT translate strong delivery into stronger and more durable donor partnerships.

Key responsabilities:

1. Grant Portfolio Performance, Risk and Management Visibility

• Own the management view of CIMMYT's active post-award grant portfolio, ensuring that obligations, delivery performance, compliance exposure, reporting requirements, donor issues and renewal risks are visible early enough for action.
• Maintain a portfolio health framework covering delivery, expenditure, reporting, compliance, subgrants, donor experience and renewal potential.
• Ensure key milestones, reports, amendments, extensions, closures, audits and donor commitments are tracked with clear owners and escalation paths.
• Provide timely management information, dashboards and alerts to support prioritization, decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Lead regular portfolio reviews with Grant Management, Programs, Finance and other functions to identify blockers and agree corrective actions.

1. Grant Management Team Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead the Grant Management team as a portfolio and advisory function, not only an administrative service desk.
• Set annual objectives, work plans, service expectations and performance measures for Grant Management Analysts and subgrants roles.
• Allocate responsibilities and workloads according to portfolio risk, donor priority, staff capability and institutional need.
• Strengthen the team’s advisory capacity in donor requirements, compliance, portfolio risk, donor intelligence and problem solving.
• Promote knowledge sharing, case clinics, coaching and continuous professional development aligned with CIMMYT’s evolving fundraising and CRM operating model.

Requirements

• Significant progressive experience in grant management, award management, donor compliance, portfolio management or operations in an international organization, research institution, NGO, foundation, multilateral or comparable environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex institutional awards through implementation, reporting, amendments, risk management and closeout.
• Experience supervising and developing staff, setting work plans, managing quality and improving team performance.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance, contractual obligations, audit readiness, documentation standards and risk escalation.
• Experience working across functions such as Programs, Finance, Legal, Procurement, MEL, IT/data and senior management.
• Evidence of improving processes, systems, dashboards, data quality, CRM workflows, automation or operating models in a grant-management or comparable operational setting.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to engage professionally with donor focal points and challenge internal stakeholders constructively.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or comparable CRM/grants-management systems.
• Experience managing grants, subgrants, consortia, partnerships or donor-funded portfolios.
• Experience in agricultural research, food systems, climate resilience, or international research-for-development environments.
• Experience in donor engagement, stewardship and service improvement.
• Exposure to AI, automation, data management or digital tools in operational workflows.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Spanish highly valuable for a Mexico-based role.

Core competencies:

• Portfolio Judgement; Systems Thinking; Execution Discipline; Donor Orientation; People Leadership; Influencing Skills; Continuous Improvement; Integrity & Compliance.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Candidates must apply online. Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Internal applications could be considered in line with internal eligibility guidance, please contact HR for more information.

This position will remain open until filled.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.