Director, Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program

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

Date Published: 12 May 2025

Closing Date for Applications: 3 June 2025 at 16:00 CEST.

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a foodsecure 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. CGIARs 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 CGIARs mission.

CGIARs 202530 science and innovation Portfolio encompasses eight Science Programs a Scaling for Impact Program and three Accelerators. The Portfolio is designed to harness CGIARs 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 Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program aims to improve the lives and wellbeing of people in low and middleincome countries by sustainably transforming animal and aquatic food systems so they foster inclusive healthy and nutrientdense food supply chains that are climate and environmentally friendly. Through innovative research the Program enhances productivity resilience and sustainability in animal and aquatic food systems while integrating cuttingedge technologies and communityfocused strategies. By fostering collaboration and stakeholder engagement the Program transforms these sectors into drivers of economic growth environmental stewardship and improved nutrition outcomes.

The Director Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science 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

• Catalyzes crossdisciplinary research identifying opportunities for resource mobilization and promoting the adoption of transformative solutions that address global challenges and enhance local impact.
• Provides scientific and strategic leadership of the Program ensuring continuous review and adaptive management of the Programs vision theory of change and structure to maximize impact relevance and efficiency.
• Oversees Program execution aligning activities with CGIARs overarching vision mission and 2030 outcomes including developing and managing work plans and budgets for CGIAR Trust Fund Windows 1 and 2 (W1/2) funded activities and fostering alignment of relevant Window 3 (W3)/ bilaterally funded projects and programs with the Programs highlevel outcomes and theory of change.
• Leads the Programs Leadership team comprising Area of Work Leads and CoLeads and Center Delegates defining a vision for the program and shared accountability.
• Actively participates in CGIARs 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 CGIARs partnershipwide 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 CGIARs partnershipwide governing bodies on matters related to the Program including the CGIAR System Council and CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board.
• Drives innovation and scaling efforts by fostering collaborative partnerships with global and regional stakeholders including research institutions policymakers private sector actors and community organizations.
• Directs the delivery quality of science and prioritization of W1/2funded 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 CoLeads and Program Management Unit staff in Centers.
• Drives the development of scientifically robust actionable and scalable outputs that bridge research and practical application.
• Expands continuous improvement by implementing advanced monitoring evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks ensuring alignment with CGIARs impact pathways and transformative goals for animal and aquatic food systems.

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) in Animal Science Aquatic Food Systems Genetics Agricultural Sciences or a related field with a specialization relevant to sustainable animal or aquatic food production.
• Postdoctoral experience or additional certifications in breeding aquaculture systems or related technologies including data analytics and bioinformatics is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in incorporating advanced technologies such as genomics phenomics artificial intelligence and datadriven decisionmaking into breeding and food production programs.
• Proven track record of designing implementing and managing largescale interdisciplinary programs across diverse geographies and socioeconomic contexts.
• Familiarity with emerging tools and platforms for innovation in animal and aquatic food systems.
• Extensive experience in resource mobilization partnership development and financial oversight for complex projects ensuring alignment with strategic goals and efficient use of resources.

Key Competences

• Strategically aligning Program goals with CGIARs organizational strategies and global priorities in food systems transformation.
• Ability to strategically integrate Program goals with CGIARs organizational strategies sustainability targets market needs and global priorities in food systems transformation.
• Strong strategic and adaptive thinking with pragmatism required to make decisions that balance scientific ambition with operational feasibility.
• Systems thinking to understand interconnected challenges and design integrated solutions that maximize impact across animal and aquatic food systems.
• 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 decisionmaking across multidisciplinary teams and multistakeholder 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.

Submitting Your Application

If you face challenges in submitting your application please email with the position title in the subject line.

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