The Global Crop Diversity Trust is an international organization whose mission is to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide. The Global Crop Diversity Trust is a unique public-private partnership raising funds from individual, corporate and government donors to establish an endowment fund that will provide complete and continuous funding for key crop collections, in eternity.
The Global Crop Diversity Trust also implements a large programme of activities whose goal is to advance an efficient and sustainable global system of ex situ conservation by promoting the rescue, understanding, use and long-term conservation of priority crop collections. The Global Crop Diversity Trust works in partnership with implementing agencies worldwide to achieve this.
The Global Crop Diversity Trust is located in Rome, Italy, with its Secretariat at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. For further information on the Global Crop Diversity Trust, please visit http://www.croptrust.org/
The recruitment process for this position is being run by Bioversity International on behalf of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. The Global Crop Diversity Trust is now seeking well qualified candidates for the position of: Director of Operations
Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Operations will manage overall Trust managerial, governance and administrative undertakings to ensure the organisation remains effective, dynamic and fully functional. In particular, the Director of Programme and Operations will:
1. Contribute to the strategic management of the Trust as an active participant in the Trust’s senior management team. In particular, work closely with the Executive Director in managing Trust managerial, governance and administrative undertakings
• Work with the Executive Director on strategic management and governance issues
• Manage the overall administration of the Trust to ensure effective operations and compliance within existing FAO and Bioversity International operating procedures
• Coordinate and manage the full range of staff and human resource administration related issues
• Oversee the management of the IT and Information Management systems for the Trust
• Manage all Executive Board business as Board Secretary
• Work with the Director of Communications and Development in managing Donors’ Council business
where it interfaces with Executive Board business or governance issues
2. Develop and manage the Trust’s relationship with a wide range of partner institutions
• Manage the long-term grant processes of contracting, implementation and performance reporting
• Assist with relationship management and reporting to donors
• Act as the main focal point for relations with Trust co-sponsors FAO and Bioversity International
• Coordinate responses to unsolicited external requests for information, funding, etc.
3. Coordinate the development and implementation of Programme management policies, procedures and systems in accordance with best practice
• Oversee the ongoing maintenance, monitoring and application of institutional processes for awarding and monitoring performance of grants and reporting to donors
• Manage the maintenance and future development of Trust corporate systems for Project Management Information and Contacts Management (iMAP and eTapestry), ensuring synergies between them
4. Coordinate organisational information compilation and reporting and ensure the ability to evaluate impact and effectiveness in meeting the Trust’s mission
• Oversee information compilation and documentation strategies and implementation
• Oversee the regular monitoring and reporting of all Trust activities including the areas of fixed and long-term grant activities, fundraising, investment management, communications and partnerships
• Further develop and implement the Trust Evaluation Plan focusing on assessment of impact at a range of scales
Qualifications & Competencies:
Essential qualifications and competencies
• Advanced degree or equivalent professional qualifications in science, development, conservation or related fields.
• At least 10 years experience in senior management with a particular emphasis on experience with small organizations, multi-disciplinary teams and high-level Boards, and including substantial experience in an international environment.
• Highly effective management and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, initiative and decision making in policy development and program delivery.
• Strong understanding of organisational development and development of business and information management systems and demonstrated high performance in delivery of key outcomes.
• Highly effective communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Proven record in cultivating productive working relationships and demonstrated judgment, flexibility, and responsiveness.
• Personal drive and integrity.
Terms and conditions: This is an internationally recruited position. The Trust offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, housing allowance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars. The contract will be for a period of three years subject to a probationary period of one year.
Applications: Please apply online through the following link: Bioversity Employment Opportunities Webpage by clicking the “Apply” button. Alternatively, via e-mail to: bioversityvacancy@cgiar.org including a letter of application, curriculum vitae in English (that includes date of birth, gender and nationality) and the names and full contact details of at least three referees (telephone, fax and e-mail address); or via mail to: Human Resources Office, Bioversity International, Via de Tre Denari, 472/a, 00057 Maccarese, Rome, Italy; or via Fax to (39) 06 6118 341 no later than 22 November 2009. Please quote the source of advertisement.
Selection process: short listed candidates will be expected to attend personal interviews for the position in Rome, Italy on or around the 15th of December 2009.
The Trust is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality. All received applications will be acknowledged, but only short listed applicants will be further contacted